The Dallas Cowboys and Philadelphia Eagles are both in need of help in their rushing attacks, and they could turn to a familiar foe to assist them: Saquon Barkley.
Barkley, who currently plays for the New York Giants, is slated to hit free agency this offseason, and EmpireStakes.com has listed the Cowboys and Eagles among the favorites to land him. The site gives Philadelphia +1000 odds and has Dallas at +1200.
While it lists the Giants as the most likely team Barkley will be spending 2024 with, giving them +200 odds, it actually seems relatively hard to imagine the 26-year-old returning to New York next season.
Barkley was a free agent last year, as well, but the Giants slapped a franchise tag on him. The two sides were eventually able to come to an agreement on a one-year, $10 million deal, but they were unable to make any ground on a long-term contract. New York does not seem inclined to give Barkley a new deal now, either, so it seems like the star halfback stands a great chance of walking.
The Penn State product is coming off of a rather pedestrian 2023 campaign in which he rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns while averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He also caught 41 passes for 280 yards and four scores. Barkley missed three games due to a sprained ankle.
Missing time due to injury has become a rather common theme for Barkley, which has played a significant role in the Giants’ reluctance to provide him with a lucrative, long-term contract.
Barkley has not played a full season since his rookie campaign and has a torn ACL in his rearview mirror, so paying him will be risky.
That being said, when Barkley is healthy, there is no doubt that he is one of the best running backs in football. In 2022, for example, he was able to play in 16 games and rushed for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns while averaging 4.4 yards per carry.
We’ll see if the Cowboys and Eagles end up in a bidding war for Saquon Barkley this March.
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