Bears Reportedly Expected To Make A Run At Saquon Barkley

GM Ryan Poles has said his preference is to save money and high draft picks for what he calls the "premium" positions. These spots on a roster tend to impact the game the most: quarterback, left tackle, wide receiver, edge rusher, and cornerback. Other positions like guard, safety, linebacker, and running back are often easier to fill with cheaper options. However, there are always exceptions to rules. If Poles sense he has a chance to land somebody with "special" talent at a position, he won't be afraid to spend. That came true last year when he signed middle linebacker Tremaine Edmunds to a lucrative free agent contract. That is why it is unwise to assume Poles won't consider an aggressive move at a non-premium position if he senses the chance to get a dynamic playmaker. Enter Saquon Barkley.

Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News reported that the former Pro Bowl running back will hit the free agent market in mid-March after avoiding the franchise tag from the New York Giants. Multiple teams are expected to get involved in pursuing him, including the Bears.

"Barkley, 27, will be free to gauge his value on the open market for the first time in his career after six seasons with the franchise. The free agent negotiating window opens next Monday prior to the start of the new league year two days later, when deals can become official.

And while it’s still possible Barkley could return to the Giants after testing the waters, it’s more likely that he will be playing somewhere else in 2024.

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."

Saquon Barkley would be a calculated risk for the Bears.

They have the necessary cap space to pay him if they wish. Estimates are he will cost somewhere around $12 million per year. He has accounted for 7,311 total yards and 47 touchdowns already in his career despite missing most of the 2020 season with injuries. Barkley just turned 27 years old, so he is in his prime. There is no question he would be a massive talent upgrade over Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson for the Bears. The primary issue is the same one that has haunted running backs for years.

Longevity.

Most players at that position tend to fizzle out by their 30th birthday due to high mileage on their bodies. This is why teams prefer taking a back-by-committee approach these days. So the only way the Bears might justify signing Saquon Barkley would be if he's willing to take a three-year deal. That would mean he is a free agent again when he turns 30, allowing Chicago to avoid any dead money issues if he happens to lose steam. The obvious challenge is whether they can lure him here without overpaying.