The next time Saquon Barkley plays in a regular-season opener, he’ll likely be the highest paid running back in NFL history.
Barkley figures to receive an extension at some point between the conclusion of this, his third season in the NFL, and the start of the 2021 season. With many of his contemporaries following that payday pattern, Barkley is now officially next in line for a long-term deal.
He’s not exactly getting shortchanged . As the second overall pick in 2018 he signed a four-year, $31.2 million fully-guaranteed rookie contract. Add to that his contract with Nike that pays him a reported $25 million over four years plus the rest of his endorsements – you may have noticed the glut of Saquon commercials during games this weekend – and income is not an issue for Barkley.