Ryan Leaf Says Jim Harbaugh Has His Eye On Saquon Barkley

Saquon Barkley could be finding a new home in Los Angeles.

At least according to Ryan Leaf, who says the star running back is No. 1 on the wish list for newly-named Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. A former teammate of Harbaugh, Leaf revealed on NFL Network's Good Morning Football what he believes is the coach's plan.

"Austin Ekeler’s a big part of what it could be with them running the football, but I do think that Saquon Barkley’s going to be at the top of [Harbaugh]’s list, in terms of, what he wants to do with the running back position with him being a free agent," Leaf said.

After six years with the New York Giants, Barkley is an unrestricted free agent this off-season. But the two-time Pro Bowler took issue with the organization last year when it failed to give him a big-money contract extension. Eventually, he gave in and signed a $10.1 million guaranteed deal on a franchise tag.

"I think they [the Giants] could franchise tag him again," Leaf said. "I know that’s a lot of money. But it’s something I know that Jim Harbaugh wants to do. He wants to run the football, and he wants to use those guys down the field with play-action."

(Photo by Cooper Neill/Getty Images)

Sure, an Ekeler-Barkley backfield sounds enticing. But acquiring Barkley might be a pipe dream for the Chargers, who are already $45 million over the salary cap. And the 26-year-old running back has made it clear his services don't come cheap.

Barkley, the 2018 Rookie of the Year, totaled 962 yards and six touchdowns on the ground last year while adding 280 yards and four TDs in the air.

Meanwhile, the Chargers collapsed in 2023 — finishing 5-12 and fourth in the AFC West — following an injury to quarterback Justin Herbert. Harbaugh & Co. will have the No. 5 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.