The 2,000-yard, Super Bowl-winning running back deserves every single dollar of his record-setting contract extension.
The Philadelphia Eagles signed Saquon Barkley to a contract extension on Tuesday worth $41.2 million, including $36 million guaranteed, and $15 million in incentives. The team still had Barkley under his initial deal for another two seasons, but after running for 2,000 yards, being named first-team All Pro, winning Offensive Player of the Year, setting numerous franchise and league records, and winning a Super Bowl, the RB earned a contract more fitting of his contributions.
Here are all the reasons I’m excited the Eagles decided to give Barkley a raise:
1) He deserves it
It’s a really peaceful feeling knowing that the best and highest paid players on this Eagles team are some of the best people. Barkley is easy to root for, not only because he can jump backward over people, but also because he works hard, he’s kind, and he’s a great teammate — he’s the guy who recognizes a ball boy in a crowd of a million people and brings him to join the party.
It’s not my money, and it’s really fun to see guys who deserve it, are shown how much they’re appreciated.
2) He ultimately did reset the RB market
When the Giants used the franchise tag to keep Saquon Barkley from hitting free agency, he was among a group of the top running backs to hold out during the offseason in hopes of resetting the market. Ultimately, Barkley signed his tag and got back to work, but it took some leverage away from the cause.
It may have taken a couple extra years, but Barkley didn’t just give the position a small boost with this extension, he completely reset how the RB position is valued. And by setting that new threshold now, the Eagles avoid having to one-up another top-paid rusher — and maybe make a few other franchises mad in the process.
3) His trust in the Eagles paid off
Lurie and Roseman doing this deal with Barkley now leaves no doubt that they value him and what he brought to this team. Jalen Hurts told the RB during the Super Bowl that he was the missing piece, and the team has proven to Barkley that they respect his role and contribution.
It was reported that Barkley took a little less money to sign in Philly nearly a year ago, and it paid off with a Super Bowl win and now a historical extension.
4) He keeps setting records
Saquon Barkley kept running past franchise and NFL records all season long. Week-after-week he added his name to the history books, and just because the season is over, doesn’t mean that vibe has ended. The Eagles made Barkley the highest paid running back in NFL history with this new contract, setting a new stage for the position.
5) He was willing to commit to Philly long term
The Eagles have really put a lot of emphasis on cultivating a culture that attracts some of the best talent in the league. That guys like A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and now Saquon Barkley are willing to sign their extensions so early in a contract shows their commitment to the organization and the city. Being a place that players so willingly sign up for more time, is an underappreciated part of all these early deals Howie Roseman gets done.
6) It makes the Eagles look really good ahead of free agency
Barkley deserves it, and Roseman is known to take care of his players, but it’s also naïve to think that it’s a coincidence they got this deal done a week before free agency. It shows players about to hit the market that the Eagles will step up and make things happen, they don’t string guys along, and will reward players for their successes. It’s nothing if not a selling point.
7) This makes 6 offensive starters signed through 2028
The long term approach to the Eagles offense is really masterful. Howie Roseman has signed Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Saquon Barkley, Jordan Mailata, and Landon Dickerson through 2028, with the expectation that Cam Jurgens joins that list sometime this offseason. It’s so incredible for many reasons, not least of which is that the continuity will only take an already close group and make them even closer.
What are the reasons you’re excited that the Eagles signed Saquon Barkley to an extension? Let us know in the comments! (You can also complain if you don’t think they should have given him a raise, but respectfully, you’re wrong for the all the reasons I listed above.)
