Free agency in the NFL is a mechanism that has spanned decades and spawned hundreds of moves, including some of the biggest, landscape-altering moves in the history of the league. The best free agent signing in NFL history, though, was an extremely recent one.
In a ranking of the 10 best free agent signings in NFL history from CBS Sports, the Philadelphia Eagles adding superstar running back Saquon Barkley last offseason came in at No. 1 overall.
CBS Sports lists Saquon Barkley joining the Eagles as the best free agent signing ever
This isn't especially surprising, as Barkley turned in one of the best individual campaigns in NFL history during his first season as a member of the Eagles. Barkley led the league in rushing yards, was named the NFL Offensive Player of the Year and set the single-season rushing record for regular season and playoff games combined. Oh, and he also helped the Eagles win the second Super Bowl in franchise history.
From CBS:
"No free agent had the season or the immediate impact that Barkley did for the Eagles last season. During his first season in Philadelphia, Barkley became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season. ... He and the Eagles did just that, with Barkley becoming the third rushing champion to win the Super Bowl. Barkley also broke Terrell Davis' 26-year-old record for the most rushing yards in a season when you include the postseason."
Barkley signing with the Eagles beat out Reggie White joining the Green Bay Packers in 1993 and Peyton Manning signing with the Denver Broncos in 2012 to claim the top spot on the list.
Hey, we can't argue with the list here. No other player in league history has had the same immediate, seismic impact that Barkley had as a member of the Eagles in 2024. He turned in a historic season and immediately solidified himself as an Eagles legend.
And that's after just a single season. Much to the delight of Eagles fans, Barkley still has four years remaining with the Eagles after the team gave him a historic two-year extension after just a single season in Midnight Green.
So, Barkley should still have plenty of productive play in front of him in an Eagles uniform. By the time all is said and done, Philly's signing of Barkley will likely look even better than it already does, much to the chagrin of the New York Giants' front office.
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