The Philadelphia Eagles have locked up Saquon Barkley through the 2028 season after the two sides were able to agree on a two-year, $41.2 million extension shortly after helping lead the franchise to a Super Bowl championship.
The seven-year veteran was everything the Eagles could have hoped for in his first season in Philadelphia as he recorded 2,005 yards rushing and 15 total touchdowns in 16 regular-season starts. With the Eagles rewarding Barkley's efforts with an extension in March of 2025, the former Penn State University star will be part of the puzzle for the next few seasons.
However, the cost of business just went up if Howie Roseman and the rest of Philadelphia's front office want to hold on to Barkley beyond his current contract. With All-Pro running back Derrick Henry and the Baltimore Ravens coming to terms on a two-year, $30 million extension with $25 million of that deal being guaranteed, the running back market for veterans just took a major turn.
Derrick Henry’s Extension Could Have an Effect on Saquon Barkley Down the Line
Henry's new deal is the largest in league history for a running back over the age of 30 and will likely reshape the market for veteran rushers who perform at an elite level. As things currently stand, Barkley will turn 31 shortly before OTAs and training camp open ahead of the 2028 regular season, the final year of Saquon's current contract.
Should Barkley show no signs of slowing down between now and the end of the 2027 season, Roseman and the Eagles' brain trust will have a difficult decision to make. Do they offer the running back a deal that would eclipse what the Ravens just gave Henry, or do they risk letting Barkley walk in hopes of finding a younger, cheaper alternative?
While fans will certainly have an opinion on the matter, it is the franchise that will ultimately be responsible for cutting the checks and perhaps more so than any other professional league, decision makers siding with Father Time usually wins out in these scenarios.
Fortunately, that is a decision for the Eagles to face down the road, as right now the primary focus of Barkley and the rest of his Eagles teammates is defending their championship.