Reports: Philadelphia Eagles to sign RB Saquon Barkley, DE Bryce Huff
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) - Saquon Barkley is coming home, and the Philadelphia Eagles also have a new pass rusher: Bryce Huff.
The Eagles on Monday agreed to a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the former New York Giants running back, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. Barkley could earn up to $46.75 million and has $26 million fully guaranteed, Schefter reported.
Barkley posted two Eagles emojis on X shortly after the report.
According to ESPN and the NFL Network, the Eagles also agreed to a three-year, $51.1 million contract with former New York Jets defensive end Bryce Huff.
Huff thanked Jets fans and the organization in a social media post.
According to ESPN, the Eagles also plan to sign former New Orleans Saints linebacker Zack Baun to a one-year deal. Baun had 30 tackles in the 2023 season and mostly played special teams during his time with the Saints.
The Eagles agreed to a four-year contract extension with Pro Bowl guard Landon Dickerson earlier Monday.
The Eagles also have permitted Pro Bowl edge rusher Haason Reddick to seek a trade and reportedly are shopping defensive end Josh Sweat.
The NFL's legal tampering window opened at noon Monday, meaning teams can negotiate with free agents but can't officially sign a contract until the new league year begins at 4 p.m. Wednesday.
Breaking down Barkley's fit with the Eagles
Rumors swirled leading up to the legal tampering window of mutual interest between Barkley and the Eagles, so a match didn't come as a total surprise. But the free-agent deal for a running back is out-of-character for Eagles general manager Howie Roseman.
Since 2020, running backs haven't accounted for more than $5.2 million in cap space each season, according to Spotrac.
The Eagles also have had success operating in a running back-by-committee in recent years, so signing Barkley is a change of pace.
After six seasons with the Giants, Barkley will join the Birds, who drafted him No. 2 overall out of Penn State in 2018.
In six seasons in New York, Barkley has three 1,000-plus-yard rushing seasons while also displaying the ability to be a threat in the passing game. He won the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018 after he ran for 1,307 yards and added 721 receiving yards for 15 total touchdowns.
Last season, Barkley ran for 962 yards and caught 41 passes for 280 yards and 10 total TDs.
According to StatMuse, Barkley is in the top five among running backs since 2018 in receiving yards (2,100) and receptions (288).
A potential red flag for Barkley is his injury history - he played only two games in 2020 after tearing his ACL. But since, Barkley has played 13, 16 and 14 games, respectfully, in the last three seasons. He hasn't played a full season since his rookie campaign.
But Barkley also gives the Eagles an elite weapon out of the backfield and their best three-down back since LeSean McCoy.
Barkley also adds to an already strong offense featuring wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. He gives quarterback Jalen Hurts an option out of the backfield, and pairing him with Hurts should give opposing defenses nightmares.
Since Hurts became the Eagles' starting QB, the Birds have ranked in the top 10 every year in rushing.
What does Huff's signing mean for Reddick, Sweat?
Signing Huff likely means the Eagles will move either Sweat or Reddick.
Huff had a career year with the Jets last season and recorded 10 sacks. But he only played 42% of the team's defensive snaps last season.
Reddick and Sweat played more than 70% of Philadelphia's snaps on defense last season, so Huff would need to fill a bigger role than he has previously.
The Eagles are making a bet the 25-year-old Huff will continue to ascend.
Previously, Reddick said he wanted to remain in Philly but understands it's a business.
Reddick is in the final year of a three-year, $45 million deal and likely wants a raise after two Pro Bowl seasons with the Birds where he recorded double-digit sacks.
Giving Reddick an extension or restructuring his contract would save the Eagles $11 million on the cap, per Over The Cap.
Sweat had a down season in 2023 compared to his 2022 production where he had a career-high 11 sacks.
In 2023, Sweat recorded 6.5 sacks and didn't record any during the final eight weeks of the regular season. Like Reddick, Sweat is also in the final year of his contract.
