'Health Concerns' for Eagles' Saquon Barkley? Five Thoughts on Signing RB
PHILADELPHIA – The rumblings that the Philadelphia Eagles were going to pursue Saquon Barkley as soon as the New York Giants didn’t use the franchise tag on him for a second straight year turned out to be more than just rumblings after Philly agreed to terms with the running back on a monster contract on Monday.
Here are my five thoughts on the deal:
Team rushing record. It wouldn’t surprise me if Barkley finds his way into the top five this year for single-season rushing yards.
Why? Because he will have plenty of room to operate in the Eagles’ RPO and zone-blocking schemes. Also, because the New York Giants had the third-worst run-blocking offensive line in the league last year; the Eagles had the third-best.
His career-high is 1,312 set just two years ago and the Eagles aren’t paying him all this money to not use him.
The team record for most yards in a season is held by LeSean McCoy, who had 1,607 yards in 2013. After him, it’s Wilbert Montgomery (1,512 in 1979), Ricky Watters (1,411 in 1996), Montgomery again (1,402 in 1981), and Brian Westbrook (1,333 in 2007).
Yep, the race to see how high Barkley can go is on.
Saquon Barkley scores a TD against the Eagles, a team he will join after signing a big contract in free agency
USA Today
Health concerns? What health concerns? Saquon Barley tore his ACL in 2020 and played just two games. That was the only season he failed to play in at least 13. His “injury” history is overrated.
Catching the ball. Everyone thought D’Andre Swift would have more targets and receptions last year. He didn’t.
There were training camp practices where he’d line up in the slot, or motion into it, then do a quick inside slant. There was one practice leading up to the season opener where he practiced with the receivers.
He just wasn’t used properly in the passing game.
Along comes Barkley now, who can also catch, with at least 57 targets in each of the last three seasons. Will he be allowed to display that side of his game with Kellen Moore in charge of the offense?
He absolutely should be.
Jalen Hurts and the money. First of all, who cares about the big contract? General manager Howie Roseman always finds a way to work the salary cap in his team's favor and will again.
As for Hurts, maybe the quarterback won’t be so quick to flee the pocket now when other teams blitz, or even if they don’t blitz because Barkley is a willing and very good pass blocker. Also, he will take some of the load off Hurts as a runner.
Who’s stopping this offense? Adding Barkley makes the Eagles offense look even more scary when you add him to Hurts, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert.
It also gives rise to the belief that the Eagles aren't about to reset for a year before gearing up for another run at the Super Bowl. This team is relentless in that quest.
