In almost every situation, there is no way the Chicago Bears would be thinking about spending big money at running back. That isn’t the smart way to do business most of the time. However, this is a unique situation. GM Ryan Poles is about to draft a quarterback at #1 overall next month. That quarterback will almost certainly start right away. If that is the case, giving him as much help as possible on offense makes plenty of sense. That includes a dynamic running back he can lean on. Enter Saquon Barkley.
Buzz emerged this past week that the former Pro Bowl star for the New York Giants has the Bears’ interest. People were reluctant to believe it at first. That changed when proven insiders like Dianna Russini of The Athletic confirmed it. If that isn’t enough, Jeff Hughes of Da Bears Blog got in on the action. His connections to Halas Hall have been proven many times in recent years. While discussing various Bears topics on Twitter, he made one thing crystal clear. The interest in Barkley is real.
Saquon Barkley is an understandable target for the Bears.
Yes, paying running backs rarely works out for teams in this day and age. However, there are rare instances where the talent is worth the investment. Christian McCaffrey was one such example. Barkley is another. He is a special talent who can take over games with his ability. The Bears would know. He did that exact thing to them in 2022, rushing for 146 yards. The guy almost single-handedly carried the Giants to a playoff berth that year. This Bears offense is significantly more talented than the one he’s leaving behind in New York.
All that being said, the price tag will determine everything. Saquon Barkley no doubt hopes to reach the top tier of running back money, which is around $12 million or more per year. It isn’t clear if the Bears are willing to go that high or if they think he will have to settle for less. How many other teams are interested will determine how that goes. Poles has a reputation for never overpaying players, even if it’s at a position of need. If Barkley gets a better offer from somewhere else, don’t expect the Bears to beg.
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