3 running backs who deserve extensions next after Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook

Come on, you knew Saquon Barkley was going to be on this list. Barkley shined during his collegiate career at Penn State, and he was dubbed the greatest prospect once he declared for the 2018 NFL Draft. The New York Giants, who held the second-overall pick that year, wasted little time to select Barkley, even though the decision was met with a mixed bag of emotions from their fanbase. Regardless of positional value, Barkley was the best athlete of the class.

Barkley burst onto the scene in his rookie year, as he rushed 1,307 yards and 11 touchdowns on 261 carries behind New York’s turnstile of an offensive line, while also leading the league with 2,028 scrimmage yards. Those numbers netted him the NFL’s Offensive Rookie of the Year award. Last season, Barkley missed three games due to a high ankle sprain suffered in Week 3 against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Despite being less than 100-percent for the remainder of the campaign, Barkley still managed to rush for 1,003 yards and six scores.

In two years, Barkley has proven that he’s a top-tier running back in the NFL. He’s got the speed footwork and pure power that makes him a matchup nightmare against defenses. Did we mention he can catch passes out of the backfield? Because Barkley can catch passes out of the backfield.

Paying Barkley will be a no brainer for the Giants. They’re looking to build a powerhouse offense with Barkley and quarterback Daniel Jones leading the way, and to do so, they’ll have to sign the running back before he hits free agency in 2023. Expect Barkley to crush Cook and Kamara’s financial figures and become the highest-paid running back in the NFL in the very near future.