thelesterlee
“With the number two pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, the New York Giants select Saquon Barkley, running back out of Penn State”. The words that have set the Giants franchise back and made them wholly irrelevant for the last 6 years. Well, it’s over. It’s finally over.
Former Giants RB Saquon Barkley reached agreement with the Philadelphia Eagles on a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75M and includes $26M fully guaranteed at signing, per sources.
Barkley now beats the franchise tag number and has a maximum… pic.twitter.com/d2TnEWhaQ0
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 11, 2024
Saquon Barkley has signed a 3-year $37 million contract with a division rival, the Philadelphia Eagles. Cool.
Last season, Barkley rushed for 962 yards with 10 total touchdowns on 3.9 yards per carry. The Eagles are getting a guy who can turn a 1-yard gain into a 70-yard police chase to the crib. He’s so quick, it’s like he suddenly teleports behind linebackers lunging to tackle him.
Barkley is not only a threat in the backfield but can motion out wide and run some decent routes, giving your offense a level of unpredictability. A potential huge advantage for an offense led by Jalen Hurts—who could use all the help he can get.
Why New York Giants fans shouldn’t worry?
The Giants lost Saquon and immediately pivoted to another back.
Reports: We have agreed to terms with RB Devin Singletary
Details: https://t.co/aFPuXqbGsj pic.twitter.com/3nU6CSCmQZ
— New York Giants (@Giants) March 11, 2024
Devin Singletary doesn’t have the explosiveness and creativity of Saquon but he’s a more focused running back. However, unlike Barkley, he gets from point A to point B without many detours while Saquon likes to go sight-seeing, often resulting in getting jumped behind the line of scrimmage.
Here’s a cute stat. Let’s look at their yards from scrimmage since 2019:
- Saquon Barkley: 5,283
- Devin Singletary: 5,213
Barkley also missed 24 games during that span. The Giants will pay Singletary almost half as much for more availability and similar production.
If you’re a Giants fan, you shouldn’t even expect Saquon to be healthy when New York plays the Eagles. He was never healthy when it was the other way around. Aging one more year won’t suddenly make his body more durable.
Plus, the Eagles already have their own internal issues. Head coach, Nick Sirianni, lost the locker room last year. AJ Brown was screaming at Jalen Hurts on the sidelines. And now the team lost a retiring Jason Kelce—the leader and table setter of this franchise. Saquon Barkley is walking into an awkward locker room that’s one bad loss away from a Jets vs. Sharks knife fight.
The Saquon Barkley Giants era only led to one playoff win and he wasn’t at fault. But don’t expect him to suddenly realize his potential in a building full of leaking gasoline, one lit match away from an explosion.
Is this Saquon contract a mistake for Philly? Leave a comment below. Respond on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram. Or shoot me an email at Deadseriousmailbag@gmail.com. Let’s chat, bay-beeeee. Let me know if you think the Saquon Barkley Philadelphia Eagles team will be dominant so I can block you.
