After six seasons with the New York Giants, Saquon Barkley is joining a division rival.
The star running back reached an agreement Monday on a three-year contract with the Philadelphia Eagles, according to multiple reports. The $37.75 million contract could be worth up to $46.75 million and includes $26 million fully guaranteed at signing, sources told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
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The Giants responded to Barkley’s departure by bolstering their pass rush. They acquired edge rusher Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers, according to multiple reports. Burns had 46 sacks in five seasons with the Panthers, and was named to the Pro Bowl in 2021 and 2022.
The Giants traded a 2024 second-round pick and a 2025 fifth-round pick to the Panthers in exchange for Burns, NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport and Mike Garafolo reported. The Giants also signed Burns to a five-year deal worth a maximum of $150 million with $87.5 million guaranteed, according to multiple reports.
Burns joins a defense that just lost its best safety, Xavier McKinney. According to multiple reports, the 24-year-old agreed to a four-year, $68 million deal with the Green Bay Packers, providing his new team with an upgrade in the secondary. McKinney played every defensive snap for the Giants last season, recording 116 tackles, three interceptions and 11 passes defended.
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Barkley, 27, was drafted second overall by the Giants in the 2018 NFL Draft. He rushed for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns during his time with the franchise, and also caught 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.
The two-time Pro Bowler is coming off a subpar season, rushing for 962 yards and six touchdowns. He missed three games after suffering a high ankle sprain during a comeback win over the Arizona Cardinals in Week 2.
Barkley’s best season was his rookie campaign in 2018, when he tallied a career-best 2,028 total yards and was named the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. But he has missed at least three games due to injury in four of the past five seasons, most notably in 2020, when he was sidelined after suffering a torn ACL in Week 2.
However, Barkley was able to stay healthy in 2022, and rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns that season. It was also the only year Big Blue made the playoffs during Barkley’s tenure, and he helped the Giants win an NFC Wild Card game in Minnesota, notching 109 total yards and two rushing touchdowns.
The Giants chose not to franchise tag Barkley ahead of last Tuesday’s deadline, allowing him to become a free agent.
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Barkley said he wanted to be a “Giant for life” several times during his tenure with the Giants. But he went through contentious contract negotiations before signing a one-year, $10.1 million deal last offseason, and in November, he said that “loyalty means nothing.”
The Giants have struggled against the Eagles in recent years, going 3-10 against their rival since Barkley was drafted, including a 38-7 blowout loss in an NFC divisional playoff game two seasons ago. In those 13 head-to-head matchups, the Giants were outscored by the Eagles a combined score of 347-237.
The fan favorite took to X, formerly known as Twitter, to thank “everyone who has shown me love and support over the past 6 years.” He also posted two Eagles emojis, in an apparent hint to his next destination.
Barkley, who grew up in Pennsylvania and played college football at Penn State University, could be the missing piece for his new team. The Eagles struggled offensively last season and needed a running back after D’Andre Swift reportedly agreed to terms on a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears earlier Monday.
The Eagles also added to their defense Monday, signing Bryce Huff to a three-year contract, according to multiple reports. The 25-year old spent the last four seasons with the New York Jets, recording 10 sacks last year. He is now the highest-paid non-quarterback undrafted free agent in NFL history, Adam Schefter reported.
The Jets were quiet in free agency Monday, failing to add an offensive lineman, quarterback or wide receiver. However, they did re-sign kicker Greg Zuerlein to a two-year, $8.4 million contract, according to multiple reports.
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