NFL free agency begins next week, and all eyes will be on the future of former Giants Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley. Following an interesting offseason last year, it appears that the Giants and Saquon may be parting ways. Barkley ended 2023 with 1,242 total yards and 10 touchdowns. The sixth-year running back has demonstrated that he still has a lot to provide and has recently remained pretty healthy. The upcoming running-back draft class has not received much attention, making Barkley perhaps the hottest commodity in the running-back market. DraftKings Sportsbook recently released betting odds on who the Pro Bowl running back will suit up for next year, providing insight into his future.
This season, new head coach Jim Harbaugh hopes to reintroduce his smash-mouth running philosophy to the NFL. With former starting running back Austin Ekeler set to face free agency, the Chargers will be looking for a replacement running back. Adding Saquon Barkley would be an excellent match for the Harbaugh system, relieving pressure on inexperienced quarterback Justin Herbert. However, the Chargers face a difficult financial predicament, and bringing in the Pro Bowl running back would necessitate some salary cap manoeuvring.
The New York Giants are still considered to have the potential to bring back Saquon, although it is unknown where both parties stand. Following the drama in contract discussions last offseason, most people doubt the Giants and their Pro Bowl running back will reach an agreement. The Giants have more pressing issues to address, including the future of quarterback Daniel Jones and whether or not drafting a young quarterback in the upcoming draft is the wisest decision for the team. As a result, the Giants’ commitment to the running-back market could be questionedThe Chicago Bears, although considered long shots, could be a sleeper team in their pursuit of Saquon Barkley.
Many believe the Bears will spend the first overall choice in the 2018 draft on a franchise quarterback, moving on from current quarterback Justin Fields. Following the trend of recent years, teams have taken advantage of the low contract associated with rookie quarterbacks by spending heavily on other positions. Adding a Pro Bowl running back like Barkley to the backfield would alleviate some of the strain on a first-year quarterback while also providing steadiness for the rest of the offence.
