The New York Giants recently decided to part ways with Saquon Barkley instead of keeping him on the team for another season. The Giants chose not to offer Barkley a contract out of respect and to avoid low-balling him. Owner John Mara expressed his desire to have Barkley stay with the team, but ultimately they decided not to prioritize signing a running back in free agency. General manager Joe Schoen believed it would be more beneficial to wait until the second week of free agency to sign a running back, rather than rushing into a deal.
The Giants were hesitant to pay a 27-year-old running back $12 million a year, especially with other options like Tony Pollard and Josh Jacobs available in free agency. However, the Philadelphia Eagles were willing to offer Barkley $12.5 million per season on a three-year contract, which the Giants were not willing to match. When Schoen was questioned by Frank Gore, who holds the record for the most rushing yards by a player in his 30s in NFL history, about running backs declining at age 27, Schoen pointed to data that supported this claim. He highlighted Barkley’s workload at Penn State and in the NFL, emphasizing the need for value in their investments.
Looking at the statistics of running backs before and after they turn 27 years old, there is a mixed bag of results. Players like Derrick Henry and Christian McCaffrey have seen an increase in yards per game after turning 27, while others like Melvin Gordon and Ezekiel Elliott have experienced a decline. Frank Gore stands out as an outlier, playing well into his 30s and maintaining consistent performance. Aaron Jones has actually improved since turning 27, showcasing the uncertainty of predicting a running back’s performance based on age alone.
While the data may have influenced the Giants’ decision, the results are not definitive. Each player’s performance after turning 27 varies, indicating that it is not an exact science. Despite the Giants’ choice to let Barkley go, only time will tell if their decision was the right one. Barkley’s future with the Philadelphia Eagles will provide more insight into his performance in the coming years.