Sources: Eagles Reward Saquon Barkley with $41.2M Extension
PHILADELPHIA – The Eagles are showing appreciation to star running back Saquon Barkley for his record-breaking season with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, sources have told ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
The contract, which includes $36 million guaranteed at signing, makes Barkley the first running back in NFL history to earn over $20 million per year. Additionally, he can earn up to $15 million more through incentives and escalators.
Barkley delivered one of the greatest seasons by a running back in NFL history. He rushed for a total of 2,504 yards during the regular season and playoffs, breaking the previous single-season record set by Terrell Davis, while leading his team to a Super Bowl appearance.
Although Barkley had a chance to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, the Eagles opted to rest their starters in the final game against Barkley’s former team, the New York Giants. He finished 101 yards short of Dickerson’s record of 2,105 yards.
Barkley’s remarkable success led the Eagles to take the rare step of extending his contract just one year into his deal – and within the same league year they initially signed him.
Back in March, the Eagles made headlines by signing Barkley to a three-year, $38 million contract, a move that seemed out of character for the team, which had typically been reluctant to invest heavily in the running back position.
However, with running back salaries generally lower than those of other skill positions, the Eagles saw an opportunity in the market and believed that Barkley would thrive in an environment with more support from teammates compared to his experience in New York.
At the start of last offseason, the league’s top-paid running back, Christian McCaffrey, earned an average of $16 million annually. Only six running backs made more than $10 million a year, including Barkley at $13 million.
In contrast, 16 wide receivers earned over $20 million per season, and another 13 players made at least $10 million a year, many of whom weren’t even the primary receiving options on their teams.
“Has the pendulum swung too far for this position — I mean, the guy touches the ball 300 times a year, hopefully?” said Roseman last March. “There aren’t many other skill position players who touch the ball that much and have that kind of impact.”
This deal could signal a shift in favor of running backs once again.
Barkley, 28, has rushed for 7,216 yards over seven seasons with the Giants and Eagles, scoring 48 touchdowns. He earned his third Pro Bowl selection this season, was named first-team All-Pro, and was honored as the NFL’s Offensive Player of the Year.
