Last offseason, he parted ways with the New York Giants, who had drafted him second overall out of Penn State in the 2017 NFL Draft. He then signed a three-year, $38 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles in free agency. Free from the struggles in New York, he thrived, delivering a dominant 2,000-yard season that helped propel Philadelphia to the Super Bowl. On Tuesday, he was rewarded for his stellar performance.
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Philadelphia Eagles make Saquon Barkley the highest-paid running back in NFL history
Despite his remarkable performance last season, Saquon Barkley had minimal leverage just one year into his three-year contract. Nevertheless, he still managed to secure a significant deal, becoming the first running back in the league to surpass $20 million.
With 2,005 rushing yards, Barkley fell just 100 yards short of breaking Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record. The former Penn State standout also chose to sit out the final week of the regular season when the Eagles had already secured the No. 2 seed in the NFC. In the postseason, Barkley rushed for 499 yards and five touchdowns during Philadelphia’s four-game playoff run, including a standout 205-yard, two-touchdown performance in the divisional round win over the LA Rams.
Barkley earned the NFL Offensive Player of the Year award, was named a First-Team All-Pro for the first time in his career, and finished third in MVP voting behind Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson.
Though there’s little precedent for this type of extension, especially for a 28-year-old running back with a history of injuries, the NFL is starting to move back toward paying top running backs, with Barkley and Derrick Henry dominating much of the 2024-25 season.
When Barkley left Penn State, expectations were high that he would become the best running back in football. While struggles in New York, including poor offensive line play and organizational issues, hindered his progress, Barkley is now fully realizing his potential in Pennsylvania.
