The Philadelphia Eagles are making history—again. Less than a year after signing Saquon Barkley in a shocking free agency move, the team is rewarding their star running back with a two-year, $41.2 million extension according to ESPN insider Adam Schefter.
A year after leaving the New York Giants, Barkley is now the highest-paid running back in NFL history. The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed and could see Barkley earn an additional $15 million in incentives according to the report.
Not only is this well-deserved, but it is a brilliant move by Eagles general manager Howie Roseman. A true win for everyone.
Why the Saquon Barkley Contract is a Win For the Eagles (and for Barkley)
This extension comes just one year into Barkley's original three-year deal, a rare and aggressive move by Eagles GM Howie Roseman, who continues to set the standard for roster management and managing the cap. Even more impressively, the Eagles managed to cut Barkley’s 2025 cap hit in half, dropping it from $13.57 million to approximately $7.361 million per Spotrac.
Roseman said they needed to be creative last week at the NFL combine and so far they are finding ways to shed serious dollars.
Roseman is no stranger to redoing deals to move money around, and expect more to come.
Barkley’s extension is the ultimate reward for an unprecedented season in which he won a Super Bowl for the first time after rushing for over 2,000 yards and breaking the single-season (playoff-included) rushing record and was named Offensive Player of the Year.
This is a win-win for everyone: Barkley and his agent will be happy with the historic deal and Roseman will be happy to shed dollars off the cap. This comes after the Eagles decided to cut cornerbacks Darius Slay and James Bradberry, saving about $6.5 Million dollars between those players alone. Add Barkley to the mix and the Eagles have already saved more than $12 million dollars on the books.
From free agency gamble to Super Bowl hero, Barkley’s rapid ascent in Philly is nothing short of legendary. With this new deal, the Eagles ensure their star remains the centerpiece of their offense for years to come.