Joe Schoen, the general manager of the New York Giants, had the unfortunate task of overseeing one of the most controversial free agency exits in recent memory.
The football world witnessed Schoen allow running back Saquon Barkley go to the Philadelphia Eagles for merely three years and $37.75 million – a deal that is quickly seeming unwise to pass up. The former Giants star’s contract is making headlines following his recent postseason performance. Barkley rushed for 205 yards and two touchdowns against the Los Angeles Rams, two of which were long.
He gave the Eagles an early lead with a 62-yard run in the first quarter and clinched the victory with a 78-yard touchdown in the final minutes. Again, he appeared to be the best player on the field. However, because he played a low-value position, his contract was insignificant in compared to his opponents for Offensive Player of the Year. “Saquon Barkley wouldn’t even rank among the top 30 highest-paid wide receivers in the NFL with his Eagles contract,” Ari Meirov noted in an email. “That’s how ludicrous the whole RB market discussion about overpaying and underpaying went this summer. For reference, Gabe Davis signed a higher contract with the Jaguars in free agency (since he is a wide receiver) than Saquon did. That sounds stupid. The Eagles would not be in the NFC Championship game without Saquon, who was easily the best free agent signing of last year.
Barkley has become a bargain for Philadelphia. As the offense’s closer, he worked with the offensive line to achieve 2,005 running yards in a remarkable season. However, every Eagles victory reflects negatively on New York, especially since Barkley headlines the festivities. Barkley could have become a Giant for little over $12 million a year, which is significantly less than the $19 million average annual value of San Francisco 49ers running back Christian McCaffrey.
He would not have run for 2,000 yards. New York would not have made the playoffs, let alone the championship game. However, the offence would have been closer to competency, and with the offensive line’s outstanding performance before injuries struck, the unit may have exceeded expectations.
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