In the end, star running back Saquon Barkley picked the team that gave him the most money.
The Houston Texans offered Barkley around a three-year, $33 million deal, according to KPRC 2’s Aaron Wilson. He ended up signing a three-year, $37.7 million deal worth up to $46.75 million to join the Philadelphia Eagles instead.
On #Texans and Saquon Barkley, sources emphasize they were extremely competitive on their offer three years and a bit more than $33 million. In the end, Barkley got three years, base of $37.7M with max of $46.75M and preferred to stay in NFC East @KPRC2 https://t.co/0W2VscQ0vE https://t.co/rDci70eMFX
— Aaron Wilson (@AaronWilson_NFL) March 11, 2024
This would have been the move that elevated the Texans to another level. Instead, general manager Nick Caserio opted to stand firm on his contract value for Barkley rather than get into a bidding war with the Eagles.
Barkley accrued 1,242 scrimmage yards and 10 combined touchdowns this past season — his second consecutive year with that type of production. He rushed 247 times for 962 yards and six touchdowns and caught 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns.
While that production is good, Barkley has played a full season’s slate of games just twice in his six-year career – his rookie year in 2018 and in 2022 (he sat the season final with the Giants’ playoff spot locked up). He missed three games with an ankle sprain in 2023, four games with an ankle injury in 2021, 14 games with an ACL injury in 2020 and three games with an ankle injury in 2019.
So while Barkley would have been a great addition to the Texans, Caserio and company opted not to spend lavishly in free agency. Houston also missed out on Josh Jacobs (who agreed to a deal with the Green Bay Packers), Tony Pollard (who went to the Tennessee Titans) and D’Andre Swift (who went to the Chicago Bears). Devin Singletary, the Texans’ leading rushing in 2023, also left for the New York Giants.
Head coach DeMeco Ryans said he wanted to improve the running back. But six hours into the legal tampering period, the only running back on the Texans roster is Dameon Pierce.