Saquon Barkley says he’s thrilled that younger running backs like Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs have surpassed the contract he signed last year, calling it exactly how the position should work.
What Barkley Actually Said
“I love it. That’s how it’s supposed to be,” Barkley said Thursday, per Zach Berman of The Athletic.
“Christian [McCaffrey] did it before me. I did it after Christian. And now we have three in a row. I look forward to the next guys to do it.”
Barkley added that running backs have historically lagged behind other positions in year-over-year pay growth, and that seeing three straight market-setting deals is a sign that’s starting to change.
Why Robinson and Gibbs’s Deals Matter
Barkley signed a two-year, $41.2 million extension with the Philadelphia Eagles in March 2025, making him the league’s first $20 million-a-year running back with a $20.6 million average annual value.
That mark didn’t last.
Bijan Robinson signed a three-year, $75 million extension with the Falcons on Aug. 4, then Jahmyr Gibbs topped that two days later with a three-year, $67.5 million deal worth up to $75.75 million, carrying a $22.5 million average annual value with Detroit.
Barkley’s Long-Stated Goal for the Position
This isn’t a new stance for Barkley.
When he signed his own extension in 2025, he said he hoped it would help push the market higher for running backs behind him, specifically naming Robinson, Gibbs, and Bills back James Cook.
“I don’t care, ‘Is this guy going to be paid more than me?'” Barkley said at the time.
“That’s not what this sport is about. It’s putting the position up.”
Seeing that play out with two of the same players he named over a year ago is why Barkley’s reaction this week reads less like generosity and more like validation.
