Cowboys Among Favorites to Sign Projected $22 Million Star RB.
The Dallas Cowboys weren’t exactly a bad running team in 2023. Simply put, Tony Pollard took over as the starting quarterback in lieu of Ezekiel
Elliott, and as a result, they were mediocre and found it difficult to execute short passes. Naturally, that has nothing to do with the team’s first-
round playoff loss to the Packers, but it did contribute to the team’s reputation as a pass-heavy offense that lacked consistency all season.
The Cowboys were first in points (509) this year, and fifth in yardage (6,317), but were just 14th in yards on the ground (1,920).
Pollard will bear the brunt of it, fair or not. Because of this, there are increasing rumors that the Cowboys may soon cut ties with Pollard, who is a free agency this offseason, in order to pursue an improved running back. They might not have to go far because they are among the favorites to sign division rival running back Saquon Barkley of the Giants in free agency this offseason, according to the gambling website EmpireStakes.com.
Out of the eight teams that could be interested in Barkley, the Cowboys are tying the Patriots for seventh place with 12-to-1 odds (or 7.7%).
Saquon Barkley Makes Sense as a Cowboys Free Agency Target
Barkley was a Pro Bowl running back in 2022, but slipped some in 2023 as the Giants’ offense sputtered and he fought his way through an ankle injury that cost him three games and slowed him down for longer. He finished the year with 962 yards on 247 carries, and posted an average of only 3.9 yards per carry.
Still, when healthy, Barkley is among the best backs in the NFL, and could wind up being a bargain given the unimpressive season he had with the
Giants. Barkley is projected at Spotrac to have a market value of $6.6 million per year, and projected to garner a three-year, $20 million contract.
Pro Football Focus is a little more bullish on the running back market in free agency and is projecting a two-year deal worth $22 million for
Barkley. The site rates him as the top running back in free agency this offseason.
“Barkley is still able to produce a highlight-reel catch at any time and showed this in 2023 with a wheel route touchdown against the Arizona
Cardinals in Week 2 that culminated in a dive for the pylon. Barkley’s peak performance is unquestionably higher than that of any running back in
the league, but navigating the position market in 2024 will be challenging given that he has missed significant time in three of the previous four seasons. PFF ranked Barkley as the 29th overall free agent.
“The good news for Barkley and all free agent running backs this offseason is that the 2024 running back draft class is not perceived to be strong.”
Staying Put With the Giants?
Barkley’s future may be determined by how the Giants treat him. The Giants have the best odds of any team on the board at EmpireStakes.com—2-to-1, or a 33.3% likelihood of staying in New York. Barkley expressed his desire to play for the Giants for the rest of his career. (The list also includes the Bears, Broncos, Texans, Eagles, and Packers.)
Barkley has acknowledged his desire to win, though, and the Giants are obviously still a long way from the Super Bowl.
This month, Barkley told USA Today, “I want to compete and I want to accomplish everything I want to accomplish in my career.” “Super Bowl victories are objectives I’d like to add to my career hopefully next year.”
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