Though he will still play a lot, Saquon Barkley’s tenure with the New York Giants is coming to an end.

When official free agency begins on Monday, NFL Network Insiders Ian Rapoport, Tom Pelissero, and Mike Garafolo reported that the running back is expected to sign with the rival Philadelphia Eagles, citing sources.

With his three-year, $37.75 million contract, Barkley will be the running back with one of the highest current contracts, trailing just Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara, and Jonathan Taylor.

For the second year in a row, the Giants decided against assigning Barkley the franchise tag, saving themselves $12.1 million. After Barkley was tagged in 2023, there was a brief holdout before a revised one-year deal was reached last season, keep him in New York.

However, the Giants seemed to want him back—at their price, as they added veteran running back Devin Singletary later on Monday.

Reporters were told by Giants General Manager Joe Schoen, “He’s a guy we’d like to have back,” last month in Indianapolis during the 2024 NFL Scouting Combine.

Barkley, 27, was productive in 2023. In 14 starts, he finished with 962 rush yards and six rushing touchdowns. He also had 41 receptions for 280 yards and four touchdowns. However, it was not as good as his outstanding 2022 campaign, in which he amassed 1,650 yards from scrimmage.

In addition, since joining the NFL in 2018 as the second overall pick in the draft, injuries have dogged his career. He suffered an ankle injury last season that kept him out of three games impacted his 2021 season as well. In 2020, Barkley also sustained torn ACL and MCLs, which kept him out of action for just two games.

For the second consecutive offseason, the Eagles have made significant progress at running back. They pulled off a trade with the Lions in the 2023 NFL Draft last year to acquire D’Andre Swift. Swift, who is anticipated to sign with the Bears at the beginning of free agency, is about to leave the Eagles.

Barkley has run 147 times for 676 yards and six touchdowns in 10 games against the Eagles (including a 2022 playoff game at Philadelphia). He has also added 36 receptions for 271 yards and one touchdown. Against the Eagles, he only had two 100-yard rushing performances occurred throughout his 2018 season as the Offensive Rookie of the Year. The Giants will now play their former star twice a season, at the very least.

Since Barkley grew up in Coplay, Pennsylvania, which is just outside of Allentown and approximately an hour away from the Eagles’ stadium, the relocation actually takes him a little bit closer to his hometown. And, providing Barkley’s health doesn’t deteriorate once more, it adds another elite player to the Eagles’ offensive line that already includes Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith.