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Newly-signed Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is happy to have been named one of the top 100 New York Giants after leaving his former team in free agency.
“All love… Appreciate it,” Barkley wrote in response to being ranked No. 95 on the list.
Saquon Barkley @saquon
All love 💙 tbh I think this is really dope! Appreciate it ✊🏾 https://t.co/2A39zgLiJU
The Top 100 countdown is a promotion created by the Giants in honor of the franchise’s 100th season.
Alongside Barkley among the first 10 players named to the list were Rich Seubert, Brad Benson, Eddie Price, Hakeem Nicks, Willie Williams, Erik Howard, Terry Kinard and Darrell Dess.
The listed players were selected by a committee that includes former Giants general manager Ernie Accorsi, play-by-play announcer Bob Papa and other Giants front office members, journalists and fans.
Barkley recorded 5,211 rushing yards and 35 touchdowns over six regular seasons with the Giants. He added 2,100 receiving yards and 12 touchdowns through the air.
The second pick of the 2018 NFL Draft was named Offensive Rookie of the Year during his Pro Bowl rookie season. He later bounced back from a torn ACL in 2020 to earn a second Pro Bowl nomination with a career-high 1,312 rushing yards in 2022.
Last season, he recorded 962 rushing yards and six touchdowns amid contract tensions with the Giants.
The franchise tagged Barkley prior to the 2023 season, which resulted in a holdout and a revised contract, but allowed the veteran to hit free agency this spring. He ended up signing a three-year, $37.75 million deal to become one of the highest-paid running backs in the NFL.
Giants leadership was reportedly disappointed to see Barkley go, especially to a divisional rival, but the committee’s inclusion of the former No. 2 pick shows not all the bridges have been burned between Barkley and his former team.
