(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)
The NFL’s free agent market features some big names at the running back position this year, with former New York Giant Saquon Barkley being perhaps the biggest target available.
New York isn’t out of the mix, but has balked at Barkley’s contract demands in the past as he now tests the open market where he will have his pick of the litter.
Art Stapleton of USA Today is hearing that the Texans, Ravens, and Bears are the three teams connected to Barkley so far as potential landing spots.
Been hearing Texans, Bears and Ravens all as possible suitors for Saquon, depending on who you talk to around the league.
One source says Texans, the next source says Texans love Pollard. That’s how this goes. We’ll all gain a lot more clarity beginning Monday afternoon. https://t.co/9jBnkSVaK7
— Art Stapleton (@art_stapleton) March 9, 2024
The Giants have $41 million in cap room according to Spotrac, but have balked at the idea of paying Barkley over $10 million a year in the past.
If another team is willing to go that high, Barkley could very well be gone and the Giants would have to find a new centerpiece for their offense.
Barkley is still just 26 years old and this is likely his last chance at a big contract.
The Bears ($63.5 million) and Texans ($62.8 million) sit 4th and 5th in the league in cap space, so both franchises would easily be able to stomach a Barkley deal and slot him in next to their young quarterbacks.
Baltimore is a more surprising option, as the Ravens are barely below the cap.
The Ravens are firmly in the middle of their Super Bowl window and have had a revolving door of running backs over the past few years due to injuries.
We’ll likely have a better idea of Barkley’s market over the next few days, but it will be interesting to see if he can buck the recent trend and land himself a big running back contract.
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