Saquon Barkley is a free agent this offseason. All rumors and thoughts point to him leaving NY and exploring other options. Saquon has had his ups and downs in NY; he started his career hot with a 2,000-yard scrimmage season and followed that up with another 1,000-yard rushing season. But the next two years saw him go down with injuries, and while he bounced back, he has been a great back the past two seasons. The Giants want to avoid committing to him since the running back position has a concise lifespan nowadays.
I believe Saquon still has a lot left in the tank. He’s got at least 2-4 good years left. He rushed for 1,300 yards just two years ago and nearly rushed for 1,000 yards this season. Saquon thinks he wants to be in a win now, considering his age and the current RB market.
Saquon Barkley exploring a link with Stroud
There have been rumors this week that Saquon is in contact with Houston Texans rookie phenom CJ Stroud and has plans to link up with Stroud in Houston possibly. The Texans surprised many people this year when they won the AFC South and a playoff game. They look to have a bright future behind Stroud, Collins, and Dell offensively and Anderson, Harris, and Stingley on the defensive end. If they were to add Saquon, that would give Stroud a dependable, proven back who can also be a factor in the passing game. This opens up the Texans to running more play-action and scheming to open their receivers, which would greatly help Stroud.
How the Texans can make this happen
The Texans currently have 67.4 million dollars in cap space, which opens them up to many options. They would certainly be wise to use some of that money on Saquon. Say they gave him a 3-year deal, about 30-35 million a year. Barkley would be happy with that money, considering it would be near the top of the RB market. This would also allow them to keep Devin Singeltary, their leading rusher last season, who has a mutual interest in staying with Houston. This would also allow them to explore trade options for Dameion Pierce, who was fizzled out of the running attack last season. He’s still a solid back who rushed for 1,000 yards the year prior and has age on his side.
Free agency opens up on March 13th. If Saquon Barkley were to sign with the Texans, this would make them a serious contender in the AFC. Their offensive attack will be lethal if Stroud builds on that fantastic rookie campaign. Especially since Tank Dell, Stroud’s top target before going down with a season-ending leg injury, will be back next season. This signing would benefit both parties greatly, and I would be surprised to see Saquon sign anywhere else. What do you think? Should the Texans sign Saquon Barkley, or should he go elsewhere?