Saquon Barkley spurns Giants for rival Eagles on three-year contract

Since the New York Giants took him with the No. 2 overall pick of the 2018 NFL draft, Saquon Barkley maintained a public position that he wanted to spend his entire career with the team.

He'll see them on the opposing sideline twice a year now instead.

Barkley and the Philadelphia Eagles agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75M and includes $26M fully guaranteed, a person with knowledge of the deal told USA TODAY Sports' Tyler Dragon. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose terms of the deal.

ESPN was first to report the agreement.

The two-time Pro Bowl back will remain in the NFC East and will go closer to where he played collegiately at Penn State.

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Barkley effectively confirmed the signing with a social media post of two bald eagle emojis.

Barkley joins Philadelphia as a rare big-money running back for a franchise that has typically avoided them under executive vice president and general manager Howie Roseman's watch.

Earlier Monday, former Eagles running back D'Andre Swift signed a three-year deal with the Chicago Bears.

The Giants placed the franchise tag on Barkley prior to last season, and the two sides were unsuccessful in negotiating a long-term contract extension. New York gave him a $2 million signing bonus on top of the $10.091 salary he commanded from the tag. Barkley could have been tagged again, but the Giants allowed him to hit the open market.

Barkley has shown the promise of a No. 2 pick and why he was viewed as a future dynamo of the league while also battling injuries, running behind a porous offensive line and playing for three different head coaches over six seasons in New York.

He won the 2018 Offensive Rookie of the Year after finishing that season with 1,307 rushing yards, 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 total touchdowns. Barkley had 1,003 yards on the ground in 13 games the following year. He suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 of the 2020 season, and he missed four weeks in the middle of the next season.

In 2022, Barkley resembled his pre-injury self, as he rushed for a career-best 1,312 yards and 10 touchdowns while the Giants had their most successful season since he joined the organization by advancing to the NFC divisional round. He finished third in Comeback Player of the Year voting and was named to his second Pro Bowl.

The Giants regressed in 2023, however, and Barkley, who averaged 3.9 yards per carry and missed three games with a high ankle sprain, mentioned seeking a "clean slate" ahead of the upcoming season.

“Everything I want to accomplish in my career is still out there and I want to compete,” Barkley told USA TODAY in January. “I want to win Super Bowls and those are goals I want to add to my career hopefully next year.”

Contributing: Tyler Dragon