The NFL is a twelve-month soap opera that capitalizes on every event, even during the offseason. Kudos to them because we all eat it up.
The Super Bowl is over, but just like that, it is about to be the NFL combine next week, and then before we know it, free agency will be here. For Penn State fans, free agency this year will include one of its best players in recent memory in [autotag]Saquon Barkley[/autotag]. Barkley hits the open market for the first time after signing the one-year franchise tag with the New York Giants during the last offseason.
Barkley won’t play under the tag a second year in a row, so a reunion with the Giants without a long-term contract is extremely unlikely. Barkley only just turned 27 but is coming off a season where he only averaged 3.9 yards per carry and missed three games due to injuries. His best season in terms of yardage came in 2022 when he rushed for 1,312 yards and ten touchdowns.
Can Barkley repeat and gain his 2022 form back? That will be the big question for teams looking to sign the former second-overall pick.
Running backs have been devalued around the league, but as we have seen before, a true top-tier back can make a good offense that must be more dynamic.
Add the wrinkle that this year’s running back class could be loaded with talent depending on who becomes a free agent; there might be fewer running back openings for the top-tier guys. Austin Ekeler, Josh Jacobs, Derrick Henry, and Tony Pollard could join Barkley as some of the biggest names on the market.
There have been rumblings that Barkley could be headed to an AFC South team, so the rumor mill is already swirling.
That said, let us dive into some possible teams that seem like natural fits for the former Penn State running back.