In a single year, Saquon Barkley is resetting the running back trajectory.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Barkley agreed to a two-year contract extension worth $41.2 million in new money, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport and Tom Pelissero reported Tuesday, per sources informed of the deal. The deal includes $36 million guaranteed with $15 million more in incentives.
The Eagles later announced Barkley had signed a two-year extension.
The $20.6 million new-money average makes Barkley the first $20-plus million running back in NFL history. The $36 million in guaranteed money is also the most ever by a running back on a contract of three years or less, per Over The Cap.
Last offseason, Barkley inked a three-year contract worth a base value of $37.75 million ($12.6 million APY) with $26 million guaranteed plus incentives. Now, he's under contract through 2028.
It's a well-earned bump in pay for the electric running back who helped spearhead the Eagles' Super Bowl run. A big-play machine, Barkley rumbled for a league-high 2,005 rushing yards on 345 carries with 13 rushing touchdowns.
Barkley also set a new single-season rushing record, including playoffs, with 2,504 yards, passing Terrell Davis.
Playing behind the best offensive line in football after years of wallowing in New York, Barkley showed off his big-play ability, highlighted by seven runs of 40-plus yards in the regular season. He could have chased the NFL's all-time single-season rushing record had Philly not decided to rest him in Week 18. He'll gladly settle for a Super Bowl win.
Barkley's extension is a deserved reward coming off the best season of any running back. Once again, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman showed he's not afraid to pay for production and get ahead of the curve. Barkley is now locked in for the future in Philly. While specifics of the contract have yet to be revealed, it's probable the deal also lowers Barkley's salary cap figure this year ($7.4 million) to make it possible for the Eagles to re-sign other free agents.
In the past year, Barkley has now signed two contracts, set himself up for the long-term security he's always desired, rushed for 2K yards, won a Lombardi Trophy, won an Offensive Player of the Year award, oh, and had a baby penguin named after him.
It was a good year.
