The Eagles have agreed to sign Barkley, a long-standing figure of the New York Giants, and Bryce Huff, a former defensive back for the New York Jets, according to individuals familiar with the agreements speaking to the Associated Press on Monday. As rivals in the NFC East, the Eagles and the Giants will face each other twice this season.
Why did The Eagles choose Barkley for this campaign?
According to Eagles insiders, General Manager Howie Roseman has traditionally invested little on running back—the last time he issued such a contract was in 2012 when he signed LeSean McCoy to a five-year deal worth $45 million. The Eagles let Miles Sanders go free in the previous season after he surpassed 1,200 yards on his way to his first Pro Bowl appearance. The Eagles traded a fourth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for D’Andre Swift, who, like Sanders before him, is in the final year of his rookie contract earning less than $2 million in base salary.
However, Barkley is seen differently by the Eagles as a threat when playing for a rival team. Barkley’s running, receiving, and blocking skills are considered superior to many others. Since joining the NFL in 2018, Barkley has averaged 98.8 scrimmage yards per game, ranking fifth in the NFL. According to ESPN, he has rushed for over 5,200 yards and has more than 2,100 receiving yards with a total of 47 touchdowns in six seasons. He also ranks sixth among running backs in blocking over the past two seasons. Notably, Barkley reached a career peak in the 2022 season with 1,312 rushing yards at 4.4 yards per attempt, helping the Giants achieve a 9-7-1 record and a surprising playoff appearance.
After the Giants decided not to place the franchise tag on the second overall pick of the 2018 draft, the Eagles made a move and turned Barkley into the highest-paid player in franchise history, joining him with Nick Foles, Jon Runyan, and Troy Vincent among the largest free-agent signings in history.
Barkley wrote on X: “Thank you to everyone who has shown me love and support over the past 6 years… forever grateful! Excited for the next chapter.” His next post was simply two eagle emojis.
Signing with the Eagles, the challenges and benefits
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Saquon Barkley smoothly signed a 3-year contract with Philadelphia worth $37.75 million, which could go up to $46.75 million and includes $26 million fully guaranteed upon signing.
Barkley is anticipated to be a three-down back under head coach Nick Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore. It’s not hard to envision Barkley thriving in this offense, which features top talents at quarterback with Jalen Hurts and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, along with one of the best offensive lines in march—though this unit has lost star center Jason Kelce to retirement this season. Barkley could provide the physical running style largely missing last season and address long-standing penalty issues. However, this move also carries risks. Barkley has faced several lower body injuries in recent years. He has missed games due to ankle injuries, which could significantly impact his current fitness. This is also a balancing act for the coaches, with plenty of talent in the team. How Moore and Sirianni manage to keep all players happy, with only one ball to be shared by Brown, Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Barkley, remains to be seen.
Conclusion
the Eagles’ strategic acquisition of Saquon Barkley from their NFC East rival, the New York Giants, marks a bold move that could significantly impact the dynamics of the upcoming NFL season. By bringing in a player of Barkley’s caliber, the Eagles not only strengthen their roster but also send a clear message about their ambitions to compete at the highest levels. Barkley’s proven track record of versatility and high performance, despite his injury concerns, adds a new dimension to the Eagles’ offense, promising to enhance their ground game and overall offensive versatility.
