The Saquon Barkley chapter that has haunted Giants fans for the last two seasons could be nearing its final page.
Barkley’s departure in the 2024 offseason already stung badly enough. Then he landed with the Philadelphia Eagles, the one destination New York supporters wanted least, and immediately made the move feel even harsher.
He ran for over 2,000 yards and 13 touchdowns in his first season with the Giants’ biggest rival, then watched Philadelphia roll to a Super Bowl 59 blowout win over the Chiefs. For Giants fans, the whole thing was a slow-motion gut punch.
The good news, if you want to call it that, is that Barkley’s production dipped in 2026. He still turned in a strong season, but it was a clear step back from the monster year he posted the season before.
Now there’s a real possibility the Eagles are looking at the next move already. Sports Illustrated Eagles reporter Jeff Kerr wrote that the team’s relationship with Barkley could be approaching its end, and the contract situation is a big reason why.
"Barkley makes $20.6 million a season on average and has an option bonus of $14.405 million in 2027. This plays a role in what the Eagles will do regrading Barkley's future. The Eagles could designate Barkley as a post-June 1 cut and save just over $5 million against the salary cap -- which would be a smart business decision.
"If the Eagles pick up the option, they are paying a lot of money for a 30-year-old running back. Barkley wasn't elite last seaosn, and it may not matter if he's elite this season.
"The contract extension the Eagles gave him last offseason did Barkley no favors, but maybe he and the Eagles both knew that. This has been a good ride, but it may be coming to an end."
That’s the reality of the running back position: even a season with 1,100 yards doesn’t always buy much security. Barkley was a wrecking ball for Philadelphia in 2024, but the Eagles may already be weighing whether he’s a piece they can move on from.
For Giants fans, the damage is already done. Barkley’s run with the Eagles was as painful as it gets. But if Philadelphia does decide to go another direction, at least the reminders of that chapter won’t be sitting in the division anymore.
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For the Giants, the bigger question is whether moving on was the right call as they try to stay in the mix in the NFC East. Lawrence now gets a reset with the Bengals, while New York is left to see if the trade helps it balance the roster in the long run, with the return package becoming part of the larger argument about whether the front office sold high or simply moved on at the right time. [Read more 🡒]
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Isaiah Likely is the name that could change the conversation most, even if the full shape of his role still has to play out. With Ricard and Likely both coming from Baltimore and Mooney arriving from a previous stop with Nagy, the Giants are clearly leaning on players who already know how to fit into established systems, and the bigger question now is how quickly all of that translates into real help for Dart and an offense that needed it. [Read more 🡒]
Giants May Already Be Eyeing Their Next Left Guard Fix
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One name that fits the early conversation is Minnesotas Greg Johnson, a massive blocker at 6-foot-6 and 325 pounds who has also been asked to handle emergency snaps at both tackle spots. He brings the kind of athleticism, power and competitive edge that can make a line coach take notice, though his tape still shows the usual developmental questions around technique and consistency. For the Giants, the appeal is obvious, even if the full answer on how he might fit remains a little ahead of schedule. [Read more 🡒]