The Philadelphia Eagles made a lot of big additions this offseason. None grabbed more headlines than when it was announced the team was signing former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley.
The two sides agreed to a massive three-year, $37.8 million deal. Given the current landscape of the running back market, that agreement shocked a lot of people. It was also surprising because of how the Eagles normally go about the position.
For years, Philadelphia was on a budget when it came to running backs. They would bargain bin shop, using draft picks or acquiring players near the end of their rookie contracts. If there was any team in the NFL that proved that you didn’t need a top-of-the-market running back to find success, it was the Eagles.
But, they went with the opposite approach when it came to Saquon Barkley. In the opinion of Kristopher Knox of Bleacher Report, it is one they will come to regret. Not only did they pay a lot, but the Penn State star hasn’t been able to stay healthy during his career.
“The reality is that Philly probably could have gone with a much more budget-friendly running back and gotten good results. They went the bargain route with Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift over the past two years and saw each make the Pro Bowl.
Barkley’s history of injuries and inconsistent results makes him a significant risk, and he isn’t an ideal long-term fit. He’s struggled to stay on the field, he logged 640 touches over the past two seasons, and he’ll be 30 years old if he makes it to the end of his new contract,” Knox wrote.
His underwhelming production in 2023 is a cause for concern for some people as well. Alas, most of that can be traced back to a poor supporting cast around him with the Giants. There wasn’t much of a threat to be beaten through the air and the offensive line was among the worst in the NFL.
When healthy, Saquon Barkley is among the best running backs in the NFL. Unfortunately, that has been a challenge for him. He has missed at least one game in every season of his career, after his rookie campaign, including 3+ in four out of the last five. That makes this deal a very risky one for the Eagles, but Barkley isn’t even in his prime years yet, as he turned 27 in February.
