Bears listed as potential suitor for Giants RB Saquon Barkley

The prevailing theme in modern NFL roster building is that teams shouldn’t spend first-round picks or big money in free agency on running backs. The reasons why are obvious: running backs have a short lifespan in the league, and productive players are often found on Day 3 of the draft. Translation? You can get good rushing production at a rookie-contract discount.

That’s why some Chicago Bears fans won’t be happy with the latest free agency rumor swirling around: The Bears are expected to be in the mix to sign New York Giants free agent running back Saquon Barkley.

The New York Daily News listed the Bears as one of six teams likely to be interested.

“Sources view the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas Raiders, Chicago Bears, New England Patriots, Houston Texans and Philadelphia Eagles as some primary potential suitors who have the resources, need and interest to possibly sign Barkley,” Pat Leonard wrote.

I understand why fans might be upset if Ryan Poles opens the checkbook for a running back, but Barkley is… different. He’s equal parts wide receiver and running back, he’s closer to Christian McCaffrey than Derrick Henry.

The impact McCaffrey has had on Brock Purdy and the San Francisco 49ers offense is undeniable, and Saquon Barkley would do the same for Caleb Williams (assuming he’s the pick at No. 1 overall in the 2024 NFL Draft) and the rest of Chicago’s playmakers.

Barkley is the rare exception to the running back rule. He was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, and he produced more than 2,000 yards of total offense as a rookie. Injuries plagued him in the years that followed, but he returned to elite status in 2022 when he ran for 1,312 yards and 10 scores.

In 2023, Barkley ran for just 962 yards while playing with a quarterback best known for a hand gesture and a cast of receivers who couldn’t catch a cold. The fact he nearly topped 1,000 yards again is quite remarkable.

Adding Saquon Barkley to a Bears roster that already features DJ Moore, Cole Kmet, and (maybe) a first-round wide receiver would be fun. However, it’ll also be expensive—Barkley’s market value is around $10 million per season, which will make the anti-running back crowd screech in fear.

It won’t take long into the legal tampering period to know if Poles is interested in Barkley. I imagine he’ll be one of the first handful of free agents to agree to terms with his next team. Whether it’s the Bears or not will depend on how much they value his do-it-all skill set.