Running backs are back in style.
Or at least those of Saquon Barkley‘s caliber.
Which may only be Barkley, but that didn’t stop Buffalo Bills running back James Cook from taking notice to what the Philadelphia Eagles just did for their superstar.
ESPN’s Adam Schefter has reported that the Eagles just made Barkley the highest-paid running back in league history.
“Eagles are rewarding Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, per sources,” Schefter wrote on X.
“The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million+ per-year running back. Barkley also has the ability to earn an additional $15 million in incentives and escalators.
“The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing.
“The Eagles are taking the rare step of extending Barkley one year into his three-year deal – and in the same league year in which they signed him to the initial contract.”
General manager Howie Roseman doesn’t care about precedents, he just set a massive one of his own.
Barkley is coming off a historic season in which he set all kinds of records, including rushing for the most yards in a single season (including the postseason) with 2,504 yards.
He won Offensive Player of the Year and helped the Eagles win their second Lombardi Trophy in franchise history.
He is plenty worth the extension.
The question is, are there any other running backs that are?
The short answer is no.
Not even Cook.
But that won’t stop him from trying to get in the vicinity of Barkely’s price tag.
Cook quoted Schefter’s report with the eyes emoji, along with the shrug emoji on another post related to Barkley’s extension.
He referred to what the Eagles did for their RB as “Good business!”
Cook has one year remaining on his rookie contract that is set to pay him $5.2 million next season.
He has made it no secret in wanting to sign an extension before then.
Shortly after the season came to a close, Cook hinted at wanting to be paid $15 million per year on Instagram and doubled down on it again on X.
The $15M salary he desires would place him only behind Barkley and San Francisco 49ers Christian McCaffrey, who is at $16 million per year.
Cook tied for the lead league in rushing touchdowns last season, along with Derrick Henry and Jalen Hurts, at 19 apiece.
The 25-year-old is no doubt due for a substantial pay raise, it’s just a matter of how much?
And while he won’t sniff Barkley’s $20M+ per year, he may very well get his wish around the $15M range.
Whenever a running back gets paid, it’s a win for the entire position.
The floor is elevated.
But what the Eagles and Barkley did, smashed through the entire ceiling.
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