Saquon Barkley and Josh Jacobs might not be free agents for long.
According to ESPN's Jeremy Fowler, the pair of star running backs could "go off the board fairly early," adding that the Las Vegas Raiders "have been attempting" to re-sign Jacobs but "this late in the game he appears headed for the open market."
With the NFL's legal tampering period beginning at noon ET on Monday, the rumors were coming in fast and furious.
The Philadelphia Eagles are among the teams expected to pursue Barkley, a move that would keep him in the NFC East:
Jonathan Jones @jjones9As the legal tampering window begins to open, Saquon Barkley is being eyed by several NFL teams. The Eagles are expected to be in extremely hot pursuit of the NFC East RB, sources say
Dianna Russini @DMRussiniThe Eagles and Texans are expected to have strong interest in signing running back Saquon Barkley, per sources
Art Stapleton @art_stapletonFrom luke warm, then "not a likely option" Saturday night to this: now hearing Eagles are preparing strong push for Saquon Barkley, per sources.<br>Not sure yet if it'll be enough to beat out other suitors, but it's real. <a href="">#NYGiants</a>
It will be fascinating to see whether Barkley or Jacobs earns the bigger contract in free agency. Each makes a compelling case.
Barkley, 27, arguably has the bigger upside, given his ability to be a dynamic playmaker in the passing game, and his 2018 rookie season (1,307 rushing yards, 91 catches for 721 yards, 15 total touchdowns) is the best season between the two players.
But injuries have kept Barkley from consistently producing at that level. He was very good in 2022, putting up 1,650 yards from scrimmage and 10 scores, but regressed again in 2023 (1,242 yards from scrimmage, 10 touchdowns in 14 games).
The Giants were a mess and Barkley again missed some time to injuries, it should be noted, and his overall talent makes him an obvious target for contenders looking to add more weapons.
In Philadelphia, he'd be an excellent pairing for quarterback Jalen Hurts, giving the Eagles even more of a threat in their read-option packages and a solid check-down option in the passing game. It just remains to be seen whether an Eagles team with serious needs all across the defense will use major financial resources on a running back.
Jacobs is a year younger, meanwhile, and more durable. His best season came in 2022, when he led the NFL in rushing yards (1,653) and scored 12 total touchdowns, and he's never dipped below 800 rushing yards in his five years. For a team looking for a reliable, between-the-tackles runner—like his former team, the Las Vegas Raiders, under new head coach Antonio Pierce—Jacobs may be the top running back on the board.
Either way, both are expected to have healthy markets. They won't be getting Christian McCaffrey money (four years, $64 million), but a deal similar to Jonathan Taylor's three-year, $42 million extension with the Indianapolis Colts wouldn't be surprising for either player.
