Saquon Barkley going to the Philadelphia Eagles may go down as the greatest free-agent signing of all time.
Coming over from the New York Giants, Barkley inked a three-year, $37.5 million contract as Big Blue inexplicably decided to let him walk for nothing. All Barkley did in return was put up a historic season.
Barkley became just the ninth player to rush for 2,000 yards (ranking eighth all-time with 2,005), led the NFL in yards from scrimmage (2,283) and rushing yards per game (125.3), scored 15 total touchdowns, was named the Offensive Player of the Year, and won a Super Bowl.
Now, the Eagles have surprisingly signed Barkley to a record-breaking extension just one year into his deal.
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Philadelphia Eagles’ Saquon Barkley to become first $20 million-a-year running back
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Eagles have given Barkley a two-year, $41.2 million extension, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history.
“The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million+ per-year running back. Barkley also has the ability to earn an additional $15 million in incentives and escalators. The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing,” Schefter reports.
Schefter also noted, “The Eagles are taking the rare step of extending Barkley one year into his three-year deal – and in the same league year in which they signed him to the initial contract.”
Eagles are rewarding Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, per sources. The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million+ per-year running back. Barkley also has the ability to earn an… pic.twitter.com/h5iEf5IWe2
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 4, 2025
The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane reports the Eagles will likely receive some salary cap space from the restructuring, though specific details aren’t yet known.
Will still have to see the details of the extension, but the #Eagles likely get some salary cap space in the immediate in return.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 4, 2025
Barkley, of course, gets what he has rightfully earned. We’ll see if there are guarantees beyond the next two years, but he will be 30 and 31 years… https://t.co/PZt9L3JbQN
With this extension, Barkley, quarterback Jalen Hurts, and wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown are now all locked in with the Eagles through the 2028 season, cementing the core of their offense for years to come.
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