5 landing spots for Saquon Barkley in 2024 free agency
Associated PressSaquon Barkley will become a free agent after the New York Giants held off on franchise tagging him. With the NFL landscape at his fingertips, where could the former Pro Bowler play in 2024?
From his own admission, it’s clear that the New Jersey native desires more than the average $8.24 million annual salary he’s earned since 2018.
Barkley has a handful of teams in both conferences that would be thrilled to have his services in 2024. It helps that a potential suitor can also give him more than what the 6-11 Giants and their horrendous offensive line could. Barkley’s decision will hang on both crucial factors.
While he won’t realize his dream of being a lifelong Giant, another franchise could provide him with a winning environment and a massive paycheck to compensate for that.
5 teams Saquon Barkley could sign with this offseason
Even before officially becoming a free agent, the 232-pound back dropped nuggets on where he’d potentially like to play next.
His praise for Jim Harbaugh and Justin Herbert raised L.A. Chargers speculations while social media activity made the Texans frontrunners. Though, Barkley’s future is uncertain. These five teams can give Barkley the football world.
Dallas Cowboys
If Barkley wants to remain in a big market, the Dallas is the perfect place to be. The Cowboys are $10.6 million above the cap but owner Jerry Jones will spend on top talent that can help them contend.
The Penn State product would fit right in with Dak Prescott and an offensive line that allowed their backfield to sport a respectable 24.2 percent rushing 1st down percentage.
If Barkley can weather massive expectations and media scrutiny, he’ll amplify the Cowboys’ offense and be able to get back at the Giants for undervaluing him in the NFC East.
Baltimore Ravens
The 27-year-old could form one half of the best rushing unit in all of football on the Baltimore Ravens. He and reigning NFL MVP Lamar Jackson would need some time to adjust to one another in the backfield.
However, the Ravens seem to be one piece away from getting over the hump in the AFC. Barkley would help a Ravens offense that can sometimes get stagnant in pivotal moments. The Ravens also have interest in the superstar rusher.
The one detracting factor with the Ravens is that they don’t feed their running backs anywhere close to 200 carries a year due to Jackson’s prowess. Barkley is used to almost 250.
No matter, a legitimate shot at dethroning Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs en route to a Super Bowl next season could be worth the sacrifice.
Cincinnati Bengals
The Bengals are only a year removed from their Super Bowl LVI appearance, but their run game regressed well below the mean in 2023.
Barkley can slide right in and bolster the league’s second-worst rushing attack (1,527 rush yards) and compete for a championship in a mid-market city. Rumors suggest the Bengals may cut bait with featured back Joe Mixon, opening up the top spot on their running unit.
What better way to welcome QB Joe Burrow back from his season-ending torn wrist ligament injury than by pairing him with the superstar ball carrier? Alongside Burrow, Ja’Marr Chase, and Tee Higgins, Barkley can do a lot of winning in the AFC.
Philadelphia Eagles
Are the Philadelphia Eagles an upper-crust franchise? Yes. Do they have an elite quarterback under center? Absolutely. Is there room for Barkley to get the lion share of carries in their backfield? Indeed.
The Eagles make sense for many reasons. Philadelphia has $41.9 million in cap space. They can give Barkley the sizable contract he desires and an even more sizable role in their offense.
The Eagles are also reported to be major players in the Barkley sweepstakes, as Pat Leonard of The New York Daily News shared on X.
The former 2022 NFC champions went 11-6 last season. Jalen Hurts is one of the best RPO quarterbacks in the league and can create misdirections that will open up holes for Barkley to exploit. The Eagles make as much sense as any team and have been given favorable odds to land him.
Houston Texans
Barkley seems to favor the Houston Texans over the field. He followed QB C.J. Stroud and three other Texans offensive weapons on Instagram, indicating his interest in teaming up.
Houston presents a picture-perfect scenario for the former All-Pro rusher. They have $70 million at their disposal for next season and can make Barkley one of the highest paid at his position.
Stroud and company are a young and energetic offensive unit that can make Barkley the center of their scheme. They lack in the rushing department, having generated the fourth-fewest rush TD’s in 2023 (10). Barkley would be the perfect compliment to help the rising franchise rise next year.
