New York Giants trade running back Saquon Barkley to Philadelphia Eagles. What do we know about the deal?

Easily one of the best running backs in the NFL, the Giants star has set the league alight in recent seasons. Sadly, his contributions have not been compensated in the manner that one might imagine which in itself has sparked debate about what those who play the position are paid. Regardless, he’s now on the move, and with that, we can only wait to see how this pans out.

Giants’ Saquon Barkley is heading to Philly

According to reports, New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley has agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles. As per reports, the $37.75 million deal could rise in value to as much as $46.75 million if the 27-year-old manages to meet all of the stated incentives. This of course is a major step up for Barkley, who would have received a salary of just $12.1 million in 2024 by comparison had the Giants used the franchise tag on him. Alas, that was not the case and with that, Barkley was given the green light to test the waters in the free agency market.

So that we’re clear, Barkley will now be earning an average of $12.58 million per year from the Eagles. Even better, is the fact that the deal also sees him pocketing $26 million in guaranteed money which if you didn’t know, is the second most for any running back in the league at present. Christian McCaffrey is currently the highest-earning RB. For his part, Barkley gave a short but sincere acknowledgment of the move on social media in a post that included two emojis. “Thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support over the past 6 years… forever grateful,” Barkley wrote on social media. “Excited for the next chapter.” It’s worth noting that 2023 was not Barkley’s best year. Yet, he still managed to post 962 rushing yards which was good enough to put him in the top 20 of the league. Keep in mind that he struggled with injuries for the large majority of the season, and actually missed three Games due to an ankle injury i.e., he could have done a lot more damage.

Regardless, the former No. 2 overall pick will end his time in New York with a total of 5,211 yards, which ranks fifth on the team’s all-time rushing list. Interestingly, his move comes as somewhat of a contradiction in that he has indicated on numerous occasions that he wanted to be a “Giant for life,” but it’s now clear that both he and the franchise were unable to agree on a deal that could make that a reality. To that end, he will now join an Eagles team that is not shy when it comes to the run game. Frankly, the Eagles are one of only three teams in the league that has ranked among the top eight in rushing yards for the past two seasons. In the end, Philly gets a player that has averaged 23 carries of 30 yards or more per season in every campaign since his rookie year (2018), while the Giants get to know they now have to face him twice every season.