Saquon Barkley’s time in New York ended when he left the Giants for the Philadelphia Eagles on March 13. What were the key events leading to his move to Pennsylvania?
The Giants clearly didn’t want to lose their star running back. The franchise owner believed Barkley to be their most popular player and, as seen on HBO’s Hard Knocks, they quickly engaged his agent, asking for his price.
The price was steep. To keep Barkley, the Giants would have needed to offer $12.5 million per year on a three-year contract, with $25 million of the total $37.5 million guaranteed. General Manager Joe Schoen immediately contacted the owner.
While waiting for John Mara to arrive, Schoen and his coaching team discussed other options, mentioning players like Tyrod Taylor, Jon Runyan, Robert Hunt, Jermaine Eluemunor, Gardner Minshew, Drew Lock, and Sam Darnold.
They also considered D’Andre Swift, but he eventually signed with the Chicago Bears after a strong season with the Philadelphia Eagles in 2023/24. When Mara arrived, he expressed his concern.
“I’ll have a tough time sleeping if Saquon goes to Philly, I’ll tell you that,” Mara said, according to HBO. “As I’ve told you, I’ve been around enough players, but he’s by far the most popular player we have.”
However, the Giants couldn’t compete with the Eagles’ $37.75 million offer, with $26 million guaranteed. Without much to say, Mara simply added, “Alright,” and the rest, as they say, is history.
The Giants spent big on Brian Burns
One of the new additions to the Giants, who will be playing at MetLife Stadium, the venue for the 2026 FIFA World Cup final, is Brian Burns from the Carolina Panthers. His acquisition wasn’t cheap either.
Burns signed a five-year, $141 million deal, with $87.5 million guaranteed. Schoen quickly informed his defensive coordinator that the budget had been exhausted.
“That’s probably all you’re getting,” Schoen told Shane Bowen. We’ll see if the Giants can improve their defense to better their .353 record from the 2023/24 season, where they allowed 407 points.
