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Earlier this month, the Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles handed Saquon Barkley a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension, making him the highest-paid running back in NFL history. Until the new Barkley extension, which makes his two-year deal a four-year commitment, no NFL running back had ever been paid $20+ million per season.
According to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, the contract includes clauses that enable Barkley to earn an additional $15 million in performance-based add-ons while also fully guaranteeing a cool $36 million. This concept is known as "resetting the market" at a given position, and it may not be long before we see two Baltimore Ravens do the same—Kyle Hamilton for safeties and Tyler Linderbaum for centers.
And that's why the Barkley deal could be somewhat predictive, or at least substantially indicative, of what Derrick Henry might be offered when his negotiations for his next contract begin. So much was said about Barkley this past season, and deservedly so, but perhaps San Francisco 49ers legend Vernon Davis summed it up best.
"It's crazy," the two-time Pro Bowl tight end said in an exclusive with RG. "Saquon Barkley, he was a great addition to that team. No one probably knew what he was going to be able to bring this year, but he's one of the best running backs in the league right now, which is unbelievable."
Davis is right—no one expected Barkley to break out like he did, and that's why the Eagles made sure not to make the same mistake that the New York Giants did. They locked him up, and the Ravens could do the same with Henry next offseason, as The King is entering the final season of his two-year contract.
Barkley, 28, and Henry, 31, outperformed even the most optimistic expectations with their new teams in 2024. And Henry's numbers (325 rushing attempts for 1,921 yards, 5.9 yards-per-carry, and 16 TDs) are as good, and in some cases better, than Barkley's (325 rushing attempts for 1,921 yards, 5.9 yards-per-carry, and 16 TDs).
If Henry can replicate his 2024 production and success again in 2025, then the Barkley deal will undoubtedly be top of mind for his camp when talks begin.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Saquon Barkley's extension could be a precursor to a pay raise for Ravens RB Derrick Henry
Continue reading...
According to ESPN reporter Adam Schefter, the contract includes clauses that enable Barkley to earn an additional $15 million in performance-based add-ons while also fully guaranteeing a cool $36 million. This concept is known as "resetting the market" at a given position, and it may not be long before we see two Baltimore Ravens do the same—Kyle Hamilton for safeties and Tyler Linderbaum for centers.
And that's why the Barkley deal could be somewhat predictive, or at least substantially indicative, of what Derrick Henry might be offered when his negotiations for his next contract begin. So much was said about Barkley this past season, and deservedly so, but perhaps San Francisco 49ers legend Vernon Davis summed it up best.
"It's crazy," the two-time Pro Bowl tight end said in an exclusive with RG. "Saquon Barkley, he was a great addition to that team. No one probably knew what he was going to be able to bring this year, but he's one of the best running backs in the league right now, which is unbelievable."
Davis is right—no one expected Barkley to break out like he did, and that's why the Eagles made sure not to make the same mistake that the New York Giants did. They locked him up, and the Ravens could do the same with Henry next offseason, as The King is entering the final season of his two-year contract.
Barkley, 28, and Henry, 31, outperformed even the most optimistic expectations with their new teams in 2024. And Henry's numbers (325 rushing attempts for 1,921 yards, 5.9 yards-per-carry, and 16 TDs) are as good, and in some cases better, than Barkley's (325 rushing attempts for 1,921 yards, 5.9 yards-per-carry, and 16 TDs).
If Henry can replicate his 2024 production and success again in 2025, then the Barkley deal will undoubtedly be top of mind for his camp when talks begin.
This article originally appeared on Ravens Wire: Saquon Barkley's extension could be a precursor to a pay raise for Ravens RB Derrick Henry
Continue reading...
