Many analysts criticized the New York Giants for selecting Saquon Barkley as the second pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, he immediately proved them wrong by winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, amassing 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns. Barkley went on to have just two more 1,000-yard rushing seasons and three seasons where he surpassed 1,000 yards from scrimmage while dealing with injuries, including an ACL tear in 2020. When he became an unrestricted free agent, the Giants did not make a competitive offer, leading Barkley to sign a three-year, $37.5 million contract with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Giants were once again criticized, this time for not retaining their best skill-position player. The fact that Barkley joined a rival contender only intensified the criticism.
The Eagles, however, did not face backlash for paying a 27-year-old running back a near top-of-market value, particularly since they signed a two-time Pro Bowler who might not have been utilized correctly with the Giants. In Philadelphia, Barkley will have the opportunity to run behind one of the NFL’s traditionally best offensive lines. Despite the retirement of Jason Kelce, the Eagles still boast a strong foundation. According to ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler, there are expectations for Barkley to have a career year. His career-high in rushing yards came in 2022 with 1,312 yards on 295 carries, and there is a belief that he can be even better in Philadelphia, where he will be part of an offense featuring multiple playmakers such as Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith.
While Barkley has already proven himself to be a good player, this will be an opportunity to see just how great he can be. If he can take a leap similar to Christian McCaffrey, the Eagles will gain one of the best all-around running backs in the NFL, much like the 49ers have with McCaffrey. McCaffrey’s previous career-high in rushing yards was 1,387 in 2019, but he surpassed that last season with 1,459 yards on 272 carries, also adding 564 receiving yards to achieve an NFL-best 2,023 yards from scrimmage.
If the Eagles can utilize Barkley in a similar way to how Kyle Shanahan has used McCaffrey, they might see a record-setting season from Barkley, leaving the Giants to regret their decision.