Top landing places for RB Saquon Barkley
Saquon Barkley’s future is still undetermined. A return to the New York Giants isn’t off the table, but it’s getting increasingly more probable by the day he will be wearing another uniform in 2024.
The Giants could place the franchise tag on the former No. 2 overall pick for a second consecutive season, but that’s unlikely to please Barkley. Ralph Vacchiano of Fox Sports recently claimed that the feeling feels like the duo are “headed for a divorce.”
With the writing presumably on the wall, here are four prospective landing destinations for Barkley:
Chicago Bears.
The Bears ranked second in the NFL in rushing this season, but quarterback Justin Fields was the team’s most productive rusher, recording a team-high 657 yards on the ground. No one wants to remove Fields’ playmaking abilities with his legs, but finishing only eight rush attempts short of leader Khalil Herbert (132) isn’t sustainable.
Whether the Bears elect to utilize one of two top-10 picks in April’s draft on a quarterback or not, adding Barkley to a unit that already includes WR D.J. Moore would give the Bears an intimidating offense – on paper, anyway. Furthermore, according to Over The Cap, the team can afford him, boasting a projected $50.8 million to spend on free agents this offseason, the eighth-most in the NFL.
Green Bay Packers
Staying in the NFC North, the Packers might be on the market for a talent like Barkley, too. Oft-injured running back Aaron Jones is 29 years old and if he is back in 2024, will likely have to accept a pay reduction (expected to make $12 million), while 2020 second-rounder AJ Dillon has shown to be simply a supporting element over four seasons.
Packers QB Jordan Love emerged as the team’s clear No. 1 following a terrific debut season as the starter despite being surrounded by the most inexperienced offense in the league. Barkley’s spectacular rushing ability and ability to catch the ball out of the backfield might be essential to Love’s maturity while helping the seemingly ahead-of-schedule Packers push the Lions atop the division.
Houston Texans
The Texans offense rated 12th in the NFL overall but only 22nd in running this season. Five-year veteran Devin Singletary brought balance, starting the final nine games, but the team still lacks an outstanding playmaker in the backfield.
Singletary had a career year in fall, rushing for 898 yards after muscling RB1 duties from second-year back Dameon Pierce. Imagine what Barkley would be capable of partnering wideouts Tank Dell, Nico Collins and dynamic QB CJ Stroud. Much like the Packers, the two-time Pro Bowler would be an intriguing piece for the Texans, who could be aiming to speed the steps of an already generally successful reconstruction.
Philadelphia Eagles
If the Giants decide to split ways with Barkley, walking south on the turnpike to join the Eagles would be the ultimate retribution. Furthermore, it’d be a homecoming for him, having played football at Whitehall High, nearly an hour outside of Philadelphia, before his NCAA stint at Penn State.
The move would make sense for the Eagles, too. D’Andre Swift posted his first career 1,000-yard performance this fall, but has been used inconsistently and will be a free agency at season’s conclusion. Without Swift, the Eagles have only one RB under contract for 2024, Kenneth Gainwell, so they’ll need to find someone to run the football behind probably one of the greatest offensive lines in football. Why not Barkley?
Barkley is still an exceptionally versatile back who would offer any of the top teams a big upgrade in the backfield. While health has always been a problem, the 26-year-old has played 43-of-51 games since sustaining a season-ending torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 campaign.
Barkley has also been productive on disappointing Giants teams. From 2021-23, he has averaged nearly 1,000 yards (956) per season, adding 139 receptions (881 yards) and eight total touchdowns. Over that time, six quarterbacks made starts for the Giants, including Daniel Jones, Mike Glennon, Jake Fromm, Davis Webb, Tyrod Taylor and Tommy DeVito.
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