Saquon Barkley could very well be the New York Giants' answer to revamping their offense behind veteran quarterback Eli Manning. They sure did pay him as if he was just that on Sunday, signing him to a four-year, $31.2 million rookie contract. The second overall pick out of Penn State also got paid off $15 million immediately, which is the largest immediate payout in the past five years.
Barkely is the first of the top four NFL Draft picks to sign their rookie deal, and that does include quarterback Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns. Mayfield was selected with the top overall pick out of Oklahoma, but some do not see him starting this season.
The former Nittany Lion already ranks among the highest paid running backs in the league, as he will be the highest paid by the end of 2018 after collecting $21 million. The rookie tailback averages $8 million per season, which sits behind only Le'Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and LeSean McCoy at that position. The 21-year-old has already bought his parents a home in Pennsylvania, as he plans on following the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Marshawn Lynch by living off of his endorsement money.
Barkley already has deals with Nike, Pepsi, and Panini America, as companies are quickly seeing the value in him, as is his football team. He is expected to take over in the backfield to being the 2018 season. Now that the contract is out of the way, he can finally just focus on football, which began with the first practice of camp on Monday.
Barkely is the first of the top four NFL Draft picks to sign their rookie deal, and that does include quarterback Baker Mayfield of the Cleveland Browns. Mayfield was selected with the top overall pick out of Oklahoma, but some do not see him starting this season.
The former Nittany Lion already ranks among the highest paid running backs in the league, as he will be the highest paid by the end of 2018 after collecting $21 million. The rookie tailback averages $8 million per season, which sits behind only Le'Veon Bell, Devonta Freeman, and LeSean McCoy at that position. The 21-year-old has already bought his parents a home in Pennsylvania, as he plans on following the likes of Rob Gronkowski and Marshawn Lynch by living off of his endorsement money.
Barkley already has deals with Nike, Pepsi, and Panini America, as companies are quickly seeing the value in him, as is his football team. He is expected to take over in the backfield to being the 2018 season. Now that the contract is out of the way, he can finally just focus on football, which began with the first practice of camp on Monday.