Free agency’s “legal tampering” window opens today at noon and the buzz continues to build around the Ravens going after a big-time running back.
On Sunday, ESPN’s Jordan Raanan reported that the Ravens, Los Angeles Chargers, and Chicago Bears are “believed to be serious suitors” for running back Saquon Barkley.
The Philadelphia Eagles and Dallas Cowboys are also rumored to be in the hunt, but “aren’t expected to reach Barkley’s price point,” and the Houston Texans may also be in the hunt. The expected price point has been rumored to be around $10 million per season.
Barkley, Derrick Henry, and Josh Jacobs are seen as the top three options in a loaded free agent running back class.
Last season, Barkley ran for 962 yards and six touchdowns and 41 passes and another four touchdowns.
“If he was in San Francisco, he would be Christian McCaffrey,” one pro personnel director told Raanan. “He hasn’t had an offensive line, ever, in New York.”
There’s also a chance that Barkley returns to the New York Giants, who Raanan reports could be more interested in bringing him back if it’s the Eagles or Cowboys who make a run at poaching their talented back.
“If Barkley gets offered more money elsewhere from a team that is ready to compete, he’s likely gone,” Raanan wrote. “And the Giants don’t seem willing to stop him. It’s just a matter of how much another team is willing to pay.”
On Friday evening, the Ravens announced they’ve reached an agreement on a four-year contract extension with defensive lineman Justin Madubuike. Pundits gave their reaction to the blockbuster signing days before the start of free agency.
The Athletic’s Jeff Zrebiec: “[Friday’s] news was, far and away, the best-case scenario for the Ravens as they accelerate another crucial offseason. General manager Eric DeCosta got things started by coming to a verbal agreement with Madubuike on a four-year, $98 million contract extension that includes $75.5 million in total guarantees, according to a team source involved in the negotiations.”
Jamison Hensley: “Madubuike delivered one of the best recent seasons by an interior defensive lineman, recording 11.5 of his 13 sacks when lining up on the interior of the defensive line. That’s the fourth-most by an interior defensive lineman since NFL Next Gen Stats started tracking this stat in 2016.”
The Baltimore Banner’s Jonas Shaffer: “Madubuike had one of the Ravens’ best-ever seasons for a defensive lineman in 2023, finishing with a team-high 13 sacks, the most by any NFL interior lineman. An ascending talent at the position, Madubuike has boosted his pressure rate each of the past three seasons, according to the NFL’s Next Gen Stats, from 5.1% to 6.5% to an elite 13.1%. He’s also been one of the Ravens’ most durable players and most consistent run defenders.”
