Facebook Pixel

    Get To Know New Eagles Running Back Saquon Barkley

    Published on

    After spending six seasons with New York Giants, Saquon Barkley signed with the rival Philadelphia Eagles. Get to know him more here.

    Free agency in 2024 saw a plethora of good players find new homes. However, not many were more notable than former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley signing with the rival Philadelphia Eagles. The move angered many in New York but marked a new era for Barkley as he returns to the state of Pennsylvania.

    It looked likely that Barkley was going somewhere new in 2024, but not many people knew it’d be the Eagles. However, with the team letting go of starting running back D’Andre Swift, they needed someone to fill that spot, and they found an upgrade.

    While Eagles fans might already know what they’re getting, having played against him for the last handful of years, here’s a look at what he could bring to Philadelphia.

    Who Is New Eagles RB Saquon Barkley?

    Barkley was born on Feb. 9, 1997, in the Bronx, New York City. He is the son of Alibay Barkley, a boxer, and Tonya Johnson. He also had three brothers and two sisters. One of his brothers, Alibay Jr., was a baseball player drafted by the Los Angeles Angels.

    He attended Whitehall High School in Whitehall Township, Pennsylvania. This was after his family moved to Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, in 2001 in search of a safer and more suburban environment. They moved to neighboring Allentown and Coplay in later years.

    During his time at Whitehall, Barkley rushed for 3,646 yards and 63 touchdowns from his sophomore to senior year. In his senior season alone, he had 1,856 yards and 31 touchdowns. According to 247Sports, Barkley was ranked as a four-star prospect heading into college.

    Eventually, he committed to Penn State, where he really kicked off his legacy. He spent just three seasons with the Nittany Lions, totaling 3,843 yards and 43 TDs on 672 attempts. He also had 102 receptions for 1,195 yards and eight more scores. To make matters even crazier, he had two kick return touchdowns to boot.

    He finished his college career with a plethora of awards, including being a consensus All-American in 2017. He also swept a majority of the Big Ten offensive awards for which he qualified.

    His electric college career did him favors in the 2018 NFL Draft. He was taken second overall by the Giants, just one pick behind Baker Mayfield.

    Barkley’s Contract Details

    The demise of Barkley’s New York Giant career came down to one thing: money. The Giants didn’t want to pay Barkley what he thought he was worth, while the Eagles did. Prior to 2024, Barkley had been franchise-tagged and signed to a one-year deal after a holdout. Finally, he was allowed to hit the open market and get a deal.

    Shortly after the legal tampering period opened up, Barkley and the Eagles agreed to terms on a three-year, $37.75 million deal. The deal included a $11.625 million signing bonus and $26 million guaranteed.

    The contract does, however, feature a potential out in 2026, when he will be 29. If he does make the roster, though, he will earn a $1 million signing bonus and a base salary of $12 million. His $15.5 million cap hit will make that an interesting question when the time comes. In 2023, he had just a $3.95 million cap hit.

    Barkley’s Career Stats

    Since being in the NFL, Barkley has done nothing besides impress. He won NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 and is a two-time Pro Bowler in 2018 and 2022. While he’s found a lot of success, he has suffered some injuries that have hindered potential production he could’ve had.

    Despite all of that, he’s had 5,211 yards (4.3 yards per attempt) and 35 touchdowns in his six-year career.

    He also adds 288 receptions for 2,100 yards and 12 more touchdowns. Additionally, He set the NFL record for most receptions by a rookie running back in a single season with 91.

    KEEP READING: NFL Free Agency 2024 Hypotheticals

    Miss football? The 2024 NFL Draft is almost here, boss. Pro Football Network has you covered with everything from team draft needs to the Top 100 prospects available. Plus, fire up PFN’s Mock Draft Simulator to put yourself in the general manager’s seat and make all the calls!

    Related Stories