PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles do not sometimes spend massive cash on operating backs. Then once more, gamers like Saquon Barkley aren’t obtainable day-after-day.
That is the gist of why Philadelphia went out of character and agreed to phrases with Barkley on a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could possibly be value as much as $46.75 million and contains $26 million absolutely assured at signing, based on ESPN’s Adam Schefter.
Common supervisor Howie Roseman does not have a historical past of investing closely within the place — the final time he gave this type of contract to a operating again was in 2012 when he signed LeSean McCoy to a five-year, $45 million deal. The Eagles let Miles Sanders stroll in free company final offseason after he racked up over 1,200 yards en path to his first Professional Bowl look. Sanders inked a four-year, $25.4 million contract with the Carolina Panthers and the Eagles traded a fourth-round choose to the Detroit Lions for D’Andre Swift, who, like Sanders earlier than him, was within the last 12 months of his rookie contract with a base wage of beneath $2 million.
However the calculus is totally different with Barkley.
The Eagles view him as a multithreat weapon that excels as a runner, receiver and pass-blocker. The numbers again that up: Since getting into the NFL in 2018, Barkley has averaged 98.8 scrimmage yards per recreation, fifth most within the NFL, based on ESPN Stats & Data. He has rushed for over 5,200 yards and has greater than 2,100 receiving yards with a complete of 47 touchdowns over six seasons. He has additionally ranked sixth as a pass-blocker amongst operating backs the previous two seasons.
Barkley, in different phrases, has an entire recreation and is projected to be a three-down again beneath coach Nick Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.
It is not laborious to image Barkley thriving on this offense, which has top-level ability place gamers in quarterback Jalen Hurts and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and options one of many high offensive strains in soccer — although the unit did lose star middle Jason Kelce to retirement this offseason.
Barkley goes from a Giants offensive line that ranked thirty first in run block win price final season to an Eagles offensive entrance that ranked first within the class in 2023. There may be an expectation Barkley, 27, will really feel rejuvenated within the new setting after being unable to stay a “Big for all times.”
The transfer does carry some threat. Barkley has handled varied lower-body accidents in recent times and has a good quantity of mileage on him with over 3,700 profession snaps and over 1,200 carries.
And it is to be seen how Moore and Sirianni will preserve the entire playmakers completely satisfied, with only one ball to be shared by Brown, Smith, tight finish Dallas Goedert and Barkley.
The upside, although, is important. Barkley can add a bodily fashion of operating that was largely lacking final season and assist unlock an offense that acquired stale down the stretch. And with a repute of getting robust character, the expectation is he’ll be a locker room match.
Backside line, Barkley checked sufficient packing containers for the Eagles to exit of their consolation zone and pay a operating again massive {dollars}.