data-mm-id=”_d5mzroxrb”>NFL free agency is set to open on March 11 and there are a whole lot of exciting running backs available for teams to sign. The teams themselves may no longer value the position very much but they remain among the best athletes on the field and great running backs are prone to highlight-reel plays on any given snap. So much talent at the position hitting the open market at one time will make for a fun free agency season, even if their impact is marginalized in comparison to previous seasons. Saquon Barkely is one of those running backs. After an outspoken holdout following the New York Giants' application of the franchise tag to prevent him from becoming a free agent last offseason, Barkley played out 2023 on a modified one-year deal that was not really a win but apparently more acceptable to sign than the tag. In a season where everything went sideways at the Meadowlands Barkley was perhaps the lone bright spot, rushing for 962 yards and six touchdowns in 14 games. He also added 41 catches for 280 yards and another four touchdowns. It wasn't his best year stats-wise but pretty good in proportion to how terrible the Giants were. Now he'll be hitting the open market, as he wanted all along, and the Giants probably aren't going to bring him back. Bridges have been burned and GM Joe Schoen clearly has no interest in a long-term deal. That will probably be Barkley's priority heading into free agency, which means he may have to sacrifice on the annual salary front. That broadens the possibilities a bit. Here are three possible destinations for Barkley once free agency opens on March 11. Houston Texans The Texans are far and away the front-runner in the Barkley sweepstakes. They have a need at the position with Devin Singletary hitting free agency. Singletary had a good season in 2023 but it was his best year in the NFL by a wide enough margin that it's probably safe to consider it an outlier. Replacing him with a star back is the right move with CJ Stroud under contract for the next four seasons on a rookie deal. They can afford to overpay Barkley a bit relative to their competitors to make him feel wanted, and any help they can get on the offensive side of the ball for their budding star quarterback is money well spent. Which is pretty much what this all comes down to. The Texans are in the best position in football right now. They have a great quarterback who will not break the bank anytime soon. Overspending on Barkley to improve production out of the backfield is fine. Encouraged, even. And if they can get him to sign a market-rate deal to join an up-and-coming contender? Even better. At this point it looks pretty darn likely Barkely is a Texan for 2024. Dallas Cowboys Buuuuuut, as we know, anything can happen in negotiations. If the Texans don't work out for whatever reason then the other Texas team is also in need of a running back. The Cowboys didn't get much out of Tony Pollard after he came back from a nasty leg injury and played on the franchise tag in 2023. The easy option is to ink him to a nice and cheap deal and bank on a bounceback. But this is a big season for Dallas, one in which many jobs will be lost on the sideline and the field if things don't go well. They may want to go for a splashy name to prove to the fans that they are serious about competing this year. Barkley would qualify as such. He'd make an excellent offense even more dangerous and could take revenge on the Giants at least twice next season. They currently have no money to spend and will not have a ton even after renegotiating and extending some deals, but if Barkley finds the market is dead due to how many other good running backs are available then there's no better place to end up than Dallas. Half their games are on national television every year. He can boost his profile on a winning team, stacking touchdowns and wins in equal measure in order to cash in next offseason. A risky bet but one that could be worth taking depending on how things shake out. Philadelphia Eagles Last year proved that the Eagles should not and probably cannot make the whole rushing attack plane out of Jalen Hurts. The star quarterback spent the second half of the season banged up and it hindered him in more ways than his ability to run the ball. Philly should be interested in getting him some backfield help since D'Andre Swift is a free agent and Kenneth Gainwell tries his best but isn't going to get it done alone. Barkley would be a tremendous addition, both in that it sticks it to the Giants and in that he'd be an electric component of an already-loaded offense. It would be fair to point out that Philly's problem probably won't be scoring points next season and they need to use their money to fix a defense that fell to pieces down the stretch last season. But Barkley's sheer presence could transform both the running and the passing game and gives the Eagles another 250-ish carries. Hurts' ability to run is part of what makes him a winning quarterback but that doesn't mean Philly should be fine with leaving him as the only threat out of the backfield on any given week. This could be a good fit for both sides.
Related Posts
Frank Farina has been sacked as Sydney FC head coach following the club s fifth-place finish in the A-League and early finals exit.
The 49-year-old reportedly had a deal to remain in charge next season, despite it having previously been claimed that he needed to secure a spot in the top four to earn an extension.
But his failure to do so, followed by last Friday s 2-1 elimination final defeat away to Melbourne Victory, has sealed the fate of the former Australia boss.
The club issued a statement on Wednesday confirming they had moved to dismiss Farina.
Frank joined us as coach in a difficult period last season and has always given his absolute dedication and commitment to the club, chairman Scott Barlow said.
Frank has shown great integrity and resolve in w…
Reigning champions Nigeria are on the verge of completing a late charge for 2015 Africa Cup of Nations qualification.
The West African side failed to win a single one of their opening three Group A matches, casting doubt over whether they would get the chance to defend the title they won in South Africa in 2013.
Nigeria now sit second following victories over Sudan and Congo, but know anything less than a win against the already qualified South Africa on Wednesday could end their hopes of making the tournament in Equatorial Guinea.
Congo third by virtue of their inferior head-to-head record against Nigeria head to Sudan knowing they must better Nigeria s result.
Group E remains wide open, with all four teams still harbouring dreams of qualification.
…
Giorgio Chiellini said he believes Italy are on the right track as they prepare for their Euro 2012 finals campaign.
The Juventus defender admitted the national team initially struggled after the 2010 World Cup, but is confident that they have since made steps forward.
It has been a gradual growing process. To begin with we struggled a bit because it took a while to shake off the disappointment of our World Cup campaign and we had to turn over a new leaf by introducing a raft of new players, Chiellini told Uefa.com.
But then slowly but surely we began to grow in confidence and believe in ourselves and the new style of football that we were playing. The positive results also helped our cause and gave us the belief that we were on the right track.
Italy…
Massimiliano Allegri believes Juventus home support will aid them in their bid to qualify as UEFA Champions League Group A winners.
The Serie A champions take on Atletico Madrid at Juventus Stadium on Tuesday, with Diego Simeone s side already assured of their progress to the last 16.
Juventus need a point to guarantee their own qualification, but a victory by two or more goals would see them leapfrog Atletico and advance as group winners.
With Juve s strong record at home they are unbeaten at Juventus Stadium in 38 matches, since a 2-0 defeat to Bayern Munich in the Champions League quarter-finals in April 2013 Allegri believes they are well placed to secure top spot.
Our aim is to get through as group winners, he said. It would enable us to face a s…
Joselu scored two late goals on his international debut as Spain opened Euro 2024 qualification with a 3-0 win over Norway at La Rosaleda in Luis de la Fuente s first game in charge.
Spain were by no means impressive, with the Erling Haaland-less visitors wasting several fine opportunities, but Joselu repaid De la Fuente s faith towards the end.
De la Fuente – appointed Luis Enrique s successor after World Cup elimination – named an unfamiliar-looking starting XI yet saw his side take an early lead through Dani Olmo.
They held Norway at bay through some excellent Kepa Arrizabalaga saves and a big miss from Alexander Sorloth, and substitute Joselu punished them with two goals in as many minutes.
It took Spain just 13 minutes to get the first goal of th…
Erik ten Hag has given his Manchester United players the chance to make amends for Sunday s annihilation at Liverpool by naming an unchanged XI for the visit of Real Betis.
United suffered the joint-worst competitive defeat in their history at Anfield, losing 7-0 as they found themselves on the end of a second-half blitz.
Ten Hag s men had arguably been the more threatening side in the first half, but after going into the interval a goal down, they capitulated in spectacular fashion and Liverpool ran riot.
Thursday s Europa League last-16 first leg provides United with the opportunity respond to that embarrassment, and Ten Hag surprisingly resisted the urge the drop any of those involved in Sunday s debacle.
David de Gea, Bruno Fernandes, Casemiro and Luk…
Bordeaux have announced that Jocelyn Gourvennec has left his role as head coach.
The 45-year-old, who took charge in May 2016, has endured a miserable run of results this season.
Tuesday s 2-0 defeat at home to Caen was Bordeaux s seventh in their last eight matches in all competitions and left them in 13th in Ligue 1, just two points above the bottom three.
Coach Eric Bedouet has been placed in temporary charge of the first team before a permanent successor is named.
0.57 Jocelyn Gourvennec had 1.64 points per game as Bordeaux manager in Ligue 1 before the game against Paris on 30 September 2017, 0.57 since then. Watershed.
— OptaJean (@OptaJean)
As of today, Jocelyn Gourvennec no longer assumes the responsibility of coaching the firs…
Arsene Wenger insists Arsenal are no closer to a deal that would bring Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to Emirates Stadium as the Gabon striker prepares for a possible first-team return at Borussia Dortmund.
The Bundesliga side revealed an initial bid had been received from Arsenal last weekend after Aubameyang was dropped for Dortmund s trip to Hertha Berlin as his focus was called into question.
Head coach Peter Stoger had already omitted the 28-year-old from the prior 0-0 draw against Wolfsburg after he missed a team meeting but told a Thursday news conference that his performances in training this week meant selection for the forthcoming visit of Frieburg was a possibility.
Though he was careful not to rule out the transfer at his latest media briefing, Wenger insi…
Wigan Athletic chairman Dave Whelan says Chelsea are taking the mickey in their attempt to poach winger Victor Moses.
Whelan slammed the Champions League winners for trying to lure Moses, who has just 12 months remaining on his deal at the DW Stadium.
The Nigeria international joined Wigan from Crystal Palace in 2010 but has stalled on discussions to extend his contract.
Chelsea would need to get realistic before we would even listen to them. They made a bid at 6pm last night and we turned it down flat, Whelan told ESPN on Tuesday.
Roberto Martinez has brought this player on and he needs at least another year with Roberto to become a top player.
We have offered him a new contract but it seems the agent, more than the player, wants to move him …
Former Chelsea coach Andre Villas-Boas has denied holding talks with Premier League side Tottenham over the vacant managerial position.
The Portuguese has been out of a job since March after his sacking from the Blues, and with Spurs parting ways with Harry Redknapp earlier in June, reports suggested that chairman Daniel Levy had considered the 34-year-old to take over at White Hart Lane.
Nevertheless, Villas-Boas has dismissed any links with the club, telling Portuguese newspaper O Jogo that he has heard nothing from the Spurs hierarchy.
There is nothing, it is all lies, Villas-Boas was quoted as saying by the paper.
Despite winning the Portuguese Liga Sagres and Europa League with Porto in 2010-11, Villas-Boas endured a tough time in his first season …