'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,/9j/4AAQSkZJRgABAQAAAQABAAD/2wCEAAMDAwMDAwQEBAQFBQUFBQcHBgYHBwsICQgJCAsRCwwLCwwLEQ8SDw4PEg8bFRMTFRsfGhkaHyYiIiYwLTA+PlQBAwMDAwMDBAQEBAUFBQUFBwcGBgcHCwgJCAkICxELDAsLDAsRDxIPDg8SDxsVExMVGx8aGRofJiIiJjAtMD4+VP/AABEIAAYACgMBIgACEQEDEQH/xABgAAEBAQAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAABwgQAAICAwEAAwAAAAAAAAAAAAECAxEABAUSBhMUAQEBAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAEBhEAAgICAwEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAQIDBAARIUFRkf/aAAwDAQACEQMRAD8AzVsdN+x8LO7y9nZggimp/wBPiWVj9vkk0KoM48rYoDJ/s9bZl2JZJOr0Xd5GZ3Kx2xJsnGMZJZlgrwlAm2UbJjVt/QctI6FWw7mRDyxPDMvSnoj3P//Z'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Saquon Barkley will be one of the NFL’s top running back free agents this offseason. If he winds up leaving the New York Giants, would the Chicago Bears be wrong to sign him to a deal?
The running back has had an up-and-down career since the Giants made him the second overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft. After hitting the 1,000 rushing-yard mark in each of his first two years, he played only two games during the 2020 season due to a torn ACL.
The former Penn State star returned to the field the following year, but put up a disappointing 593 rushing yards, 3.7 yards per carry, and two rushing touchdowns.
Barkley bounced back this season, producing a career-high 1,312 yards for 10 TDs. He was also named to the Pro Bowl for the first time since his rookie year in 2018.
With the fifth-year back and quarterback Daniel Jones leading the way, the Giants earned their first playoff berth in six years.
Saquon Barkley could team up with Justin Fields to form an exciting Chicago Bears backfield tandem
Signing Barkley isn’t a must for the Bears, who finished this season with a league-leading 3,014 rushing yards. However, it would be fun to see him and quarterback Justin Fields in Chicago’s backfield.
Fields is easily one of the league’s best rushing quarterbacks. The Ohio State product ran for 1,143 yards (seventh-best in the league) in 2022.
He is one of only three quarterbacks in NFL history to rush for over 1,000 yards during a season. Michael Vick accomplished the feat once (2006) and current Baltimore Ravens star Lamar Jackson has done it twice (2019 and 2020).
Implications of adding Saquon Barkley to the Bears roster
Chicago general manager Ryan Poles has a ton of decisions to make. The team owns the top pick in the draft, which they might end up trading to a quarterback-needy team. Moreover, they have over $100 million in salary cap room this offseason.
The Bears have a lot of holes to fill, especially on the offensive and defensive lines.
When it comes to their backfield, perhaps the smart thing to do is re-sign David Montgomery, who rushed for 801 yards this season. Retaining him would be much cheaper than signing the Giants rusher to a massive long-term deal.
While acquiring an elite running back like Barkley would be enticing, the Bears need to spend their money addressing other positions such as pass rushers and wide receivers.
