In one of the biggest surprises of the 2024 NFL offseason, Saquon Barkley, who spent six seasons with the New York Giants, left the team and signed with their division rivals, the Philadelphia Eagles. This unexpected move came after a series of contract disputes, financial issues, and concerns over Barkley’s lingering injuries.

Now that Barkley is thriving with the Eagles, it’s worth looking back at why he left the Giants and how his path led him to one of the most explosive offenses in the league.

The Giants’ Reluctance To Keep Barkley

The relationship between Barkley and the Giants started to sour over the years, and by the 2024 offseason, things had reached a breaking point. The main reason for his departure was that the Giants refused to meet his contract demands. Barkley had dealt with multiple injuries throughout his career, including a torn ACL in 2020 and an ankle issue in 2021, both of which took a toll on his performance. Despite that, he had a solid comeback in 2022, rushing for 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns. But by 2023, injuries caught up with him again, limiting him to just 962 rushing yards and 6 touchdowns.

Despite his proven ability, the Giants chose not to offer him a long-term contract, focusing their financial resources elsewhere. Giants GM Joe Schoen made the decision to commit big money to quarterback Daniel Jones, who signed a hefty $40 million deal, rather than giving Barkley a large salary. In an interview for Hard Knocks: Offseason, Schoen explained his position, saying, “You’re paying Daniel Jones $40 million, and it’s not to hand the ball off to a $12 million back.” As a result, Barkley was placed under the franchise tag for two seasons, 2022 and 2023. But when the Giants decided against tagging him for 2024, he became a free agent.

Barkley’s Time With The Giants

By the time Saquon Barkley left, he’d already made a name for himself as one of the best running backs in the NFL, and he’s always going to be remembered as one of the best to ever play for the Giants. After being drafted second overall in 2018, Barkley hit the ground running. In his rookie year, he rushed for 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns, winning Offensive Rookie of the Year. Over his six years with the Giants, he ran for 5,211 yards and 35 touchdowns on 1,201 carries. He also added 288 catches for 2,100 yards and 12 touchdowns.

Even though injuries haunted him, Barkley was still important to the Giants’ offense. In 2022, after getting tagged for a second year in a row, he showed he had still got plenty of gas in the tank, rushing for over 1,300 yards and 10 touchdowns. While the Giants have moved forward with Devin Singletary, he hasn’t been able to replicate Barkley’s level of production. Meanwhile, Barkley’s success in Philadelphia only shows what the Giants have lost.

Barkley’s Move To The Philadelphia Eagles

Once Barkley hit the open market, the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t waste any time in showing interest, and Barkley saw this as a perfect chance for a fresh start. On the first day of free agency, he signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles, including $26 million guaranteed and an $11.625 million signing bonus. Barkley’s new chapter in Philly got off to a blazing start. In his first three games with the Eagles, he put up 404 all-purpose yards and scored 5 touchdowns.

Once Barkley hit the open market, the Philadelphia Eagles didn’t waste any time in showing interest, and Barkley saw this as a perfect chance for a fresh start. On the first day of free agency, he signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles, including $26 million guaranteed and an $11.625 million signing bonus. Barkley’s new chapter in Philly got off to a blazing start. In his first three games with the Eagles, he put up 404 all-purpose yards and scored 5 touchdowns.

Barkley’s performance in Philadelphia has been nothing short of impressive. He has racked up 2,283 yards from scrimmage in the regular season, leading the league. His incredible performance has continued into the postseason, leading the Eagles to the NFC Championship Game against the Washington Commanders. He put up 122 yards and three touchdowns in a dominant 55-23 victory, sending the Eagles to Super Bowl 59, where they will face the Kansas City Chiefs.

His move led to strong reactions, including from his mother, Tonya Johnson, who recently spoke out about his treatment with the Giants and expressed relief that he can now showcase his full talent. She said, “It’s great for him to finally be somewhere where he was able to showcase his talent without people talking about this or that and hearing that running backs don’t deserve this or deserve that.” Even former Dallas Cowboys receiver Dez Bryant got in on the action, poking fun at the Giants for letting Barkley go. With Saquon Barkley now playing at an elite level, the decision to let him leave might be one of the most questionable moves in recent NFL history.