The NFL’s regular season is over, which for most teams, means it’s time to start figuring out plans for the offseason.

NFL free agency is a huge part of the process, and along with the NFL Draft, it has everyone preparing for what should be a very active couple of months.

We’ve officially come up with our own contract projections for the NFL’s top free agents that include context behind each player’s 2023 season, the likelihood of a franchise tag, the projection itself, and the first-year cap hit for a team that’s “all-in” and is needing to reduce that first-year hit in order to maximize their cap dollars.

So, without further ado, let’s check out the projection for New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley.

Saquon Barkley 2024 Contract Projection

Once considered a generational prospect at running back, injuries have reduced his effectiveness to where Barkley will no longer be considered a player who can reset his positional market. Still, Barkley is one of the best in the league at his position and a true three-down back.

With 962 rushing yards and a yards per carry of less than 4.0 in 2023, Barkley’s production fell substantially from the year prior when he reasserted himself as one of the best in the game. But Barkley was able to eclipse 10 total touchdowns while averaging over 45 catches per season over the past three years.

Long gone are the days where Barkley can be counted on for 3+ yards after contact per carry or a forced missed tackle rate north of 20%. But Barkley’s 60 carries of 10+ yards since the beginning of 2022 is second to only one other running back…Christian McCaffrey.

Franchise Tag Likelihood: Low
3 years, $31.5 million, $10.5 million APY, $15 million GTD
Year One Cap Hit: $4.2 million
Be sure to check back in and around the site for more projections, as we will add more in the coming days and weeks.