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The Philadelphia Eagles have agreed to sign New York Giants star running back Saquon Barkley, according to Adam Schefter of ESPN.
It’s a three-year, $37.75 million deal that could be worth up to $46.75 million in incentives. Barkley will get $26 million guaranteed at signing.
Barkley will be earning $15.83 million annually, which makes him the second-highest paid halfback in NFL history in terms of yearly salary.
The 27-year-old, who played his collegiate football at Penn State, was selected by the Giants with the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.
He burst on to the scene during his rookie campaign, racking up 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns on the ground while averaging a robust five yards per carry. In addition, he hauled in 91 receptions for 721 yards and four scores. He made the Pro Bowl for his efforts.
However, since then, Barkley’s career has largely been defined by his inability to stay on the field.
Barkley has not played a full season since his debut, and this past year, he missed three games due to an ankle injury. When he was on the field, his production was middling, as he rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns while logging a pedestrian 3.9 yards per attempt. He also caught 41 passes for 280 yards while reaching the end zone four times.
Of course, the Bronx native just two years removed from setting a career-high with 1,312 rushing yards en route to his second trip to the Pro Bowl, so the Eagles obviously hope they are getting that version of Barkley. As a matter of fact, Barkley played in all but one game in 2022.
Philadelphia lost D’Andre Swift to the Chicago Bears earlier on Monday, as Swift agreed to a three-year, $24 million contract with the Bears. However, if healthy, there is no question that Barkley represents an upgrade over Swift, and a significant one, at that.
But that’s the million dollar question, or in Barkley’s case, the $46.75 million question: can he avoid injury?
If Philly is able to keep Saquon Barkley healthy, he may end up haunting the Giants twice a year for the next several seasons.
More must-reads:
- Bills turn focus to Super Bowl pursuit by ending James Cook contract saga
- Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
- The 'NFL single-season reception leaders' quiz
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Three teams that should take a flier on Odell Beckham Jr. for the 2025 season
Former New York Giants superstar and current free-agent wide receiver Odell Beckham Jr. emerged in the headlines on Tuesday afternoon. The 32-year-old took to X (formerly Twitter) to shut down a fake report that he was retiring from the NFL. Beckham spent the 2024 season with the Miami Dolphins in a very limited role, recording just nine receptions for 55 yards in nine games. However, he was a solid contributor as a Baltimore Raven the year prior, showing that he can still provide some production at this point in his career. Given that OBJ has no interest in calling it quits just yet, let’s look at three teams that should take a shot on the three-time Pro Bowler to see how much juice he’s got left in him. New York Giants How about a reunion in the Big Apple? It would only be fitting for Beckham to finish his career in the place where it all started. Superstar wide receiver Malik Nabers runs the show on offense, but after that, there are plenty of question marks. Wide receivers Wan'Dale Robinson and Darius Slayton slot in as solid options behind Nabers, but it would not hurt to add a veteran like Beckham into the mix. He knows what it's like playing in such a big market and could mentor the Giants' young offensive weapons while providing some depth production when called upon. Las Vegas Raiders There may not be a team with more of a need at the wide receiver position than the Las Vegas Raiders. The targets are understandably funneled to superstar tight end Brock Bowers and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers, but they need help beyond those two. Third-year wide receiver Tre Tucker and rookie wideouts Jack Bech and Dont'e Thornton Jr. are next in line. While those three may play big roles right from the start, the Raiders could certainly use another experienced pass-catcher, and Beckham is a nice option to fill that role. Perhaps he even shows himself to be worthy of the WR2 spot. Buffalo Bills The third team that could be in play for Beckham is the Buffalo Bills. With Josh Allen in his prime, they need to continue putting weapons around him whenever possible. Second-year wide receiver Keon Coleman and free-agent signing Joshua Palmer are atop the depth chart in Buffalo, while reliable wideout Khalil Shakir is nicked up with an ankle injury. Longtime Carolina Panthers receiver Curtis Samuel also remains in the mix but is dealing with a hamstring ailment and has had injury woes in the past. Outside of Shakir, it's hard to know what you're going to get from the rest of the position group. Beckham will likely want to join a contender or somewhere he can play more of a factor than he did with the Dolphins in 2024-25, so keep an eye on the Bills.
Notre Dame believed to be trending toward surprise choice at quarterback
The quarterback battle for Notre Dame is set to come to an end shortly, and it might be a surprise considering how the national media predicted the race to finish. Per Eric Hansen of On3, head coach Marcus Freeman is set to name the starting quarterback by Sunday when he meets the media. The Irish are still letting the quarterback battle play out until then, but it appears sophomore quarterback Kenny Minchey is the favorite to start at Hard Rock Stadium against the Miami Hurricanes on Aug. 31. Minchey has shown improvement in numerous areas throughout camp, and he has the edge on freshman quarterback CJ Carr in what is believed to be the final week of the competition. "As of Wednesday, the line between 1 and 2 remained blurred," Hansen wrote. "The tiebreaker may eventually go to Minchey, per the source, because of his ability to be a true running threat and offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock’s preference to have that element to put pressure on opposing defenses. "But he also has a preference for QBs who can transcend adversity, and the training camp phase was choreographed to test precisely that. While both contenders responded persistently in a manner that defies their inexperience, Minchey has been exceptional in that regard." Throughout the summer, ESPN writers such as Bill Connelly and Mark Schlabach have written as though it were a forgone conclusion that Carr would win the battle in training camp. However, Minchey appears to be a natural fit for how offensive coordinator Mike Denbrock likes to scheme against a defense. He helped dual-threat Jayden Daniels earn a Heisman Trophy in 2023 and took Notre Dame to a national championship appearance with Riley Leonard. The battle isn't over, but the edge appears to be running Minchey's way.
King of New York: Pete Alonso breaks major Mets all-time record
Pete Alonso is now the New York Mets' all-time home run king. With his opposite-field, two-run home run in the bottom of the third inning against the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday night, Alonso clubbed the 253rd and 254th home runs of his Mets career, moving him into sole possession of first place on the team's all-time list. He moved two home runs ahead of the previous record-holder, Darryl Strawberry, who hit 252 home runs with the team between the 1983 and 1990 seasons. Here is a look at his record-setting home run. Later in the bottom of the sixth inning, Alonso hit his 254th home run: Along with the all-time Mets home run lead, Alonso is also the Mets' single-season home run leader with 53 home runs during the 2019 season. Strawberry congratulated Alonso on breaking his record: His home runs on Tuesday were his 27th and 28th of the season. It is a big deal for Alonso because there was some doubt this past offseason about whether he would have a chance to set this record. Even though he was close, the uncertainty around his future, given his free-agent status, created a lot of questions about where he would play. Ultimately, the Mets re-signed him to a two-year, $54 million contract that includes an opt-out clause following the 2025 season. That opt-out will again create some uncertainty about his future, but it is pretty clear Alonso still has a lot of power left in his bat. Whether he returns to the Mets or goes somewhere else, he will remain the franchise's greatest home run hitter for the foreseeable future. He is now on top of the record books for the single season and career.
Terry McLaurin caught in the crossfire of Commanders' increasing obsession
Terry McLaurin is looking to be paid in keeping with some of the league's best wide receivers. Unfortunately for the player, the Washington Commanders are basing their valuation on what he could do for the franchise moving forward. And according to one respected team insider, the major issue lies in the metrics. McLaurin has done everything in his power to force the issue. He skipped voluntary OTAs and mandatory minicamp. He held out of training camp before holding in on the physically unable to perform list. He even sent shockwaves through the organization by handing in a trade request. Commanders' increasing reliance on analytics is working against Terry McLaurin Adam Peters didn't blink at any stage. The general manager isn't just going to throw endless amounts of cash to McLaurin. He wants a deal that benefits the player of the franchise — something that provides him with some extra leeway in case performance levels regress. There's been no sign of that as yet, but one doesn't have to look far around the league for examples of wideouts who fall off quickly after getting their third NFL contracts. It's a complex situation. John Keim from ESPN, citing sources around the league, thought that around $28 million per year could be the eventual compromise. McLaurin is going off D.K. Metcalf's recent deal, but the Commanders' increasing reliance on analytics makes this a real stumbling block. One league source said he could see the Commanders eventually agreeing to pay $28 million per year -- but would that be enough? According to various reports and multiple sources, DK Metcalf's contract has served as a guide for [Terry] McLaurin -- though whether that's in terms of average per year ($33 million) or total guarantees ($60 million) remains uncertain. The Commanders rely heavily on analytics, and the numbers aren't kind to receivers at that age. According to ESPN Research, over the past five seasons only three receivers 31 years or older have played at least 10 games and averaged 70-plus receiving yards per game; six have averaged 60-plus.John Keim Keim added that the Commanders are looking to pay McLaurin not based on his previous production, but rather his future outlook. That's probably why the wideout feels disrespected and undervalued during this ongoing saga that has dragged on much longer than fans ever thought possible. In the real world, past performance would be the biggest factor in getting a new contract or a potential pay increase from an employer. But as we all know, the NFL is an alternate reality, and the Commanders' unwillingness to budge put the onus squarely on McLaurin's camp to back down. The former third-round pick out of Ohio State was on the sidelines watching this week's team scrimmage. McLaurin also spoke briefly wth Peters, which brought hope that something was imminent. But unless the wideout threatens to sit out in the regular season and lose $850,000 a week in game checks, the Commanders have the upper hand. That's the bottom line. More Commanders news and analysis
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