The Philadelphia Eagles have informed other teams they will not trade running back Saquon Barkley before the NFL’s Nov. 10 trade deadline, according to NFL Network.
The report, relayed by sources close to the situation, ends speculation that the 29-year-old could be moved as Philadelphia sits at 2-5 and trends toward a lost season. General manager Howie Roseman has surveyed the market on other players in hopes of acquiring future draft capital, but the organization has made clear that Barkley is not available.
Philadelphia believes it still has enough talent to compete in 2027 and beyond. Barkley remains under contract through the 2028 season with roughly $35 million remaining over the next two years after signing a two-year, $41.2 million extension in March 2025 that included $36 million guaranteed.
That deal made him the highest-paid running back in league history at the time.
A trade before the deadline would create a significant salary-cap hit. Moving Barkley now would leave the Eagles with approximately $26 million in dead money in 2027, according to previous reporting on the contract structure. That figure has contributed to the team’s decision to hold firm, as no offer has emerged that would justify absorbing the charge while giving up a productive back still viewed as part of the long-term plan.
The Eagles have already dealt one veteran this season, sending center Cam Jurgens to the Baltimore Ravens in early October along with a 2027 seventh-round pick in exchange for a 2027 fifth-round selection and a 2028 second-rounder. That move came days after right tackle Lane Johnson retired. Officials have indicated, however, that the Jurgens deal does not signal a broader sell-off of players whose contracts would create large future cap obligations.
Cap math makes a post-June 1 trade in 2027 more practical if the team later decides to move on. The Eagles followed that approach with wide receiver A.J. Brown, trading him to the New England Patriots after June 1, 2026, for a 2028 first-round pick and a 2027 fifth-rounder.
Spreading the dead-money charge over two seasons reduced the immediate impact. Any similar chatter involving Barkley would likely surface in the offseason rather than before next week’s deadline.
Barkley’s production has dropped amid injuries this year. Through five games he has 43 carries for 244 yards and one touchdown, averaging 5.7 yards per attempt. He missed time with a hamstring issue and played only about 10 snaps last week against the Dallas Cowboys because of a back injury, though he is expected to suit up Sunday night against the Washington Commanders.
The decline follows two strong seasons in Philadelphia. In 2024 he rushed for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns in the regular season while helping the Eagles win Super Bowl LIX, then added more production in the playoffs. In 2025 he finished with 1,140 rushing yards and seven touchdowns across 16 games. Those numbers established him as a franchise cornerstone before the current injury-limited campaign.
Quarterback Jalen Hurts is out for the remainder of the season with blood clots in his lungs, further complicating the offense. Backup Tanner McKee has started in his place. The combination of the 2-5 record, key absences and Barkley’s limited snaps has fueled trade talk around the roster, but the organization continues to view the running back as essential for next year rather than a piece to flip for draft picks.
With Barkley off the market, Indianapolis Colts running back Jonathan Taylor stands as the primary high-end option potentially available before the deadline. Sources have indicated the Colts are open to trading Taylor. Several contenders have shown interest, though any deal would still need to clear the Nov. 10 cutoff.
Roseman has a history of activity near the deadline, usually as a buyer. This year the 2-5 mark and injuries create a rare chance to operate as a seller on certain contracts, but the team has drawn a line at Barkley. Officials have also left open the possibility of acquiring a player if the price fits long-term needs.
Barkley turns 30 in February. His durability and production over the next two seasons will shape how the Eagles handle his remaining contract. For now, the message to the rest of the league is straightforward: he is staying in Philadelphia through the deadline.
The report arrived nine days before the cutoff, which some observers interpret as a signal that the Eagles have already gauged the market and found no compelling offer. Attention now turns to whether Philadelphia makes other moves before Nov. 10 or simply holds its roster as it tries to salvage a difficult season while planning for 2027.
