Eagles Will Not Trade Saquon Barkley Before NFL Deadline

The Philadelphia Eagles do not plan to trade running back Saquon Barkley before the Nov. 10 NFL trade deadline, according to ESPN, even as the team's season unravels at 2-5.

The decision keeps one of the league's most productive backs off a market that is otherwise expected to be active. Several teams with losing records are weighing roster moves ahead of the deadline, and Philadelphia is among them, the New York Post reported. But Barkley, 29, is not part of that calculus, ESPN told the Post, despite injuries that have sidelined Barkley for parts of the season and sent the Eagles into a tailspin two years after their Super Bowl win.

Why won't the Eagles trade Saquon Barkley?

Philadelphia still views itself as a contender in future seasons, according to ESPN's reporting cited by the Post. The Eagles won the Super Bowl in February 2025 — Barkley's first season with the team after he signed as a free agent from the New York Giants. That core, including Barkley, is part of the front office's long-term plan even as the current season slips away, the report said.

What is Barkley's contract and recent performance?

Barkley has two years and roughly $35 million remaining on his contract, per the Post's report. His workload this season bears little resemblance to his 2024 campaign, when he ran for 2,005 yards — 100 yards short of Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. In 2026, Barkley has played in five games, rushing for 244 yards and one touchdown while managing back and hamstring injuries.

By the numbers

• 2-5: Philadelphia's record through Week 8
• 244: Barkley's rushing yards this season, across five games
• 2,005: Barkley's rushing total in 2024, 100 yards shy of the NFL single-season record
• $35 million: Money remaining on Barkley's contract over two years
• Nov. 10: The NFL's 2026 trade deadline

Which running back is available instead?

With Barkley off the table, the Indianapolis Colts' Jonathan Taylor becomes the top running back in trade conversations, the Post reported. Indianapolis is in "active talks" to move Taylor, a four-time 1,000-yard rusher, after already trading guard Quenton Nelson and defensive tackle DeForest Buckner last week, according to the Post's reporting. The Giants are among the teams reportedly interested in Taylor, per a related Post story linked in the original report.

How bad is Philadelphia's season so far?

The Eagles' 2-5 start follows their Super Bowl title two seasons ago, and the roster has been hit hard by injuries. Quarterback Jalen Hurts will miss the rest of the season, the Post reported, compounding a stretch that has included Barkley's own back and hamstring issues. Barkley was limited by those injuries but had planned to play Sunday night against the Washington Commanders, according to the Post.

What did Barkley say about playing through injury?

Asked Friday about continuing to play despite the back and hamstring problems, Barkley made clear he intends to keep taking the field when he can.

"One day I'm not going to be playing football. Whenever that is, I don't want to look back and be like, 'I could've gave it a chance and I didn't.' I like playing football. So if I have an opportunity to play, I'm going to try my best to play."

That approach lines up with the Eagles' stated plan to keep Barkley on the roster rather than shop him before the deadline, even with the team well outside playoff position at the moment.

The trade deadline arrives Nov. 10. Barring a change in direction from Philadelphia's front office, Barkley will remain an Eagle through the rest of the season, while Taylor's situation in Indianapolis is expected to develop in the days ahead, according to the Post's reporting.

What other trade deadline storylines are developing?

The Barkley and Taylor situations are not the only moves teams are weighing before Nov. 10. The Post also reported that New York Jets cornerback Nahshon Wright could be dealt after what the outlet described as a "frustrating" season, and that the Jacksonville Jaguars have fueled speculation around wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. by leaving him out of a team Halloween promotion. Neither situation is tied directly to Barkley's case, but both underscore how active the market is shaping up to be as losing teams across the league reassess their rosters ahead of the deadline.