On the first day of the legal tampering period of free agency, the Eagles were active by all reports. It’s no surprise General Manager Howie Roseman would not just sit around with the way the Eagles finished the season last year. Likely the biggest move he will make this offseason is the Eagles free agent signing of Saquon Barkley. Barkley signed a three-year deal worth about $12.5 million annually with $26 million guaranteed. With D’andre Swift signing to the Chicago Bears, the Eagles not only fill the void but upgrade as well. Barkley can become the next Eagles superstar that pushes them over the top. Much in the same way, Christian McCaffrey did for the San Francisco 49ers.
Saquon Barkley Will Level the Team Up
Saquon Barkley’s Talent
In Barkley’s six-year stint with the New York Giants, he’s been up and down statistically. However, that does not tell the full story with Barkley. The Giants offensive line throughout Barkely’s tenure was not only bad but arguably the worst in the league. Not only was Barkley able to make big plays under those circumstances, but he also regularly elevated the offense. Barkley did not get enough credit for how often he turned negative plays into five or six-yard gains for the Giants.
It wasn’t as flashy as people hoped, just because Barkley had to work around the poor Giants offense. He has superstar traits in size, speed, and elusiveness and can still turn any play into a 40-plus-yard gain. There will be some health concerns for Barkley, the same as any running back with a prior ACL injury. However, he’s been healthy for the most part the last few years and when he’s healthy he’s a superstar and a big Eagles free agent addition.
The Fit into the Eagles Offense
Even with Jason Kelce’s recent retirement, the Eagles offensive line will be miles ahead of the Giants. It will be Barkley’s best offensive line, but also the best supporting cast he’s ever had. A.J. Brown and Devonta Smith will make teams think twice about focusing too hard on stopping Barkley. It will put defenses in a bind that could resemble the 2022 Eagles offense. New Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore will be excited about the addition as well. He’ll use him as a traditional runner and a receiver similar to Ezekiel Elliott in 2019.
However, the most important thing here for the Eagles is that he’s someone who can minimize negative plays. Saquon Barkley will see more running lanes than he ever has in the NFL. But the Eagles know they now have someone who can alleviate mistakes on the offensive line. He’ll be a steadying presence for the Eagles whenever he’s on the field and he’ll be a great addition to an already stacked offense.
Eagles Free Agent Signing: Final Thoughts
Being a Penn State alumnus and growing up in Pennsylvania, Bakley will be a beloved addition to Eagles fans in the same way as D’andre Swift. Interestingly, this is the first time Howie Roseman decided to spend big on a running back. There is some obvious downside as with all older free agent running backs, However, everyone has seen what the addition of Christian McCaffrey has done to the 49ers. Saquon Barkley can have the same effect with the Eagles next season, and it’s going to be fun to watch. He has home-run potential as the first Eagles free agent signed.
Main Photo Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
