What’s the best move a general manager can pull off after locking in Saquon Barkley and winning a Super Bowl?
Simple—sign him again.
And that’s exactly what the Eagles just did. Just when you thought Howie Roseman had already outdone himself, he proves there’s always another level. Fans were left wondering how he could possibly top last year’s offseason magic, and the answer was sitting right there all along.
Sure, extending Barkley’s contract wasn’t the most urgent task on the Eagles’ to-do list. After all, he was only one year into his three-year, $37.75 million deal, with a reasonable salary-cap hit of $7.4 million. But Roseman—being Roseman—figured out a way to make it work, sweetening the deal with a reported $41.2 million in extra earnings for Barkley while likely creating more financial flexibility for the team. Classic move.
Whatever the final contract details end up being, it just feels like good karma. Think back to last offseason—the Eagles didn’t just bring in Barkley, they also added Zack Baun on a steal of a one-year deal. Now, Baun’s return is high on their priority list, and keeping him around would be another power move. While they’re at it, why not find a way to redraft Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean too?
Run it back. Every step. Every piece.
A Running Back Built Different
There’s something almost unfair about comparing Barkley to other running backs. The guy isn’t normal. At 27, he’s still leaping over defenders like he’s in a video game. Most running backs start slowing down by their late 20s, but Barkley seems to be redefining the timeline.
Just look at last year’s numbers:
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2,005 rushing yards
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5.8 yards per carry
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15 total touchdowns
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2,283 yards from scrimmage
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14 games with 100+ yards, including three in the postseason
Yeah, take a moment to let that sink in. Feels good, doesn’t it?
This wasn’t just a no-brainer extension—it was the football equivalent of Thomas Jefferson securing the Louisiana Purchase. Absolute steal.
The Longevity Question
We’ll have to wait for the full contract structure before diving into how it impacts the Eagles’ cap space down the road. Football contracts tend to be more of a suggestion than a guarantee, but on paper, Barkley is now locked in through his age-31 season. That’s ancient in running back years.
To put it in perspective, none of the NFL’s top 60 rushers last season were over 30. The oldest player to crack the list was Ameer Abdullah, who had just 311 yards on 66 carries. The only other running back over 31 to make any kind of dent? Cordarrelle Patterson, with a grand total of 135 yards at age 33.
Yet somehow, you get the feeling that Barkley isn’t going to follow that trend. If there’s any running back capable of rewriting the rules of longevity, it’s him. Baltimore’s Derrick Henry finished second in rushing last season at 30 years old with 1,921 yards on 325 carries. Minnesota’s Aaron Jones? Still getting it done at 30 with 1,138 yards on 255 carries. Barkley isn’t just keeping up—he’s blowing past expectations.
Chasing Franchise Greatness
Even if this extension doesn’t guarantee Barkley retires in Eagles green, it certainly raises the chances that he sticks around for at least three more seasons. Under his previous contract, his cap hit would have jumped to a monstrous $21.4 million in 2027—an almost unthinkable number for a running back. Now? The Eagles get to keep one of the most dynamic players in the league while maintaining financial flexibility.
And let’s talk about legacy for a second. A year ago, the idea of Barkley challenging LeSean McCoy’s franchise record of 6,792 career rushing yards would’ve sounded absurd. But now? If he keeps averaging 1,600 yards per season over the next three years, he’ll own that record. Just imagine watching Barkley cement himself as the best running back in Eagles history.
Pay the Man (Again, If Necessary)
Some deals just don’t need a hot take. This is one of them. Howie Roseman made the right move, plain and simple. And if Barkley keeps playing like this?
Might as well do it all over again in 2026.
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