New AFC head coach predicted to have Saquon Barkley at the top of his wish list

The Giants are still hoping to hang on to Saquon this offseason

Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants
Philadelphia Eagles v New York Giants | Cooper Neill/GettyImages

As we all know by now, if NY Giants general manager Joe Schoen lets Saquon Barkley walk in free agency, teams are going to be lining up to try and sign him. Over the past year or so, Barkley has been linked with the Chiefs, Bucs, Eagles and more.

Well, how about some Los Angeles sunshine for No. 26 starting next campaign? On Friday, former first-round pick Ryan Leaf was on Good Morning Football and he said that he expects Saquon to be at the top of the wish list for new Chargers head coach Jim Harbaugh. You don't say?

Ryan Leaf thinks Jim Harbaugh will aggressively go after Saquon Barkley in free agency

"Austin Ekeler is a big part of what could be with them running the football, but I do think that Saquon Barkley is going to be at the top of his list in terms of what he wants to do with the running back position with him being a free agent. I think they (Giants) can franchise tag him again - 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 use those guys down the field with play-action. "
Ryan Leaf

Leaf has his inside sources and he seems pretty dang confident that Harbaugh will push for the two-time Pro Bowler if he hits free agency. There's still a chance that Barkley is back with the G-Men in 2024, but the last thing he wants is to be placed on the franchise tag again.

Schoen is set to meet with Barkley's agent at the NFL Combine, which we now know is CAA's Ed Berry. Barkley is going to let Berry solely handle contract talks this offseason. If Schoen and Berry can't come to an agreement, then we can fully expect Harbaugh to give him a call.

Countless Giants fans want Barkley back in East Rutherford next season, but all of a sudden buzz is growing that he could be headed to California instead. Let's hope not.

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