Bears Talk ran a poll on Wednesday evening asking Chicago Bears fans to provide their feedback on the potential signing of superstar running back Saquon Barkley in free agency. Despite the perceived negative narrative regarding the Bears spending money on a running back, the poll results were overwhelmingly positive.
Roughly 57% of Bears fans voted "yes" to Barkley, with nearly 1,000 replies, most of which showcased excitement over Barkley potentially joining the Bears.
The Bears have already been linked to pursuing Barkley. The Giants opted against applying the franchise tag to Barkley for a second consecutive offseason. Unless Barkley and Giants GM Joe Schoen reach an agreement this weekend, Barkley will reach the open market when the legal tampering window opens on Monday afternoon.
Saquon Barkley doubles as an effective runner and pass catcher. His impact on Chicago's offense would be massive, particularly if the Bears select a rookie quarterback like Caleb Williams, who needs to acclimate to the next level. Pairing Barkley with D.J. Moore and Cole Kmet would give the Bears' next quarterback an exciting supporting cast to work with.
D'Onta Foreman, who averaged a team-high 12.1 carries per game, is slated for free agency. If the Bears want to avoid another running back by committee situation that features Khalil Herbert and Roschon Johnson, they'll have to sign a proven veteran back. Barkley certainly checks a lot of boxes.
Spotrac projects Barkley to sign a three-year contract worth $29.9 million. The approximated annual salary of $9.9 million is on the high end for a non-premium position, but it's worth acknowledging that Barkley will face competition in free agency from a slew of backs like Derrick Henry, Josh Jacobs, Austin Ekeler, and Tony Pollard. Perhaps the Bears could get Barkley for less than $10 million annually.
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