Many analysts criticized the New York Giants for selecting Saquon Barkley with the second pick in the 2018 NFL Draft. However, he quickly proved them wrong by winning Offensive Rookie of the Year, amassing 2,028 yards from scrimmage and 15 touchdowns.
Despite this early success, Barkley only had two more seasons with over 1,000 rushing yards and three seasons surpassing 1,000 yards from scrimmage, all while battling injuries, including an ACL tear in 2020. When he eventually became an unrestricted free agent, the Giants didn’t offer him a competitive deal, leading Barkley to sign a three-year, $37.5 million contract with their rival, the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Giants faced criticism once again, this time for not paying their best skill-position player. The fact that he joined a rival contender intensified the backlash.
Conversely, the Eagles were praised for signing a 27-year-old running back close to top market value, especially since Barkley is a two-time Pro Bowler who might not have been utilized effectively by the Giants. In Philadelphia, Barkley will have the opportunity to run behind one of the NFL’s traditionally best offensive lines. While Jason Kelce’s retirement might change things, the Eagles still have a strong foundation.
ESPN’s NFL insider Jeremy Fowler reported that some experts anticipate a career year for the seventh-year pro. “They have the ultimate weapon in Saquon Barkley. I’ve spoken to several scouts who believe Barkley can have a Christian McCaffrey-type impact, being a premier talent in a better supporting cast.”
Barkley’s career-high in rushing yards was in 2022, with 1,312 on 295 carries. Many believe he can be even better in Philadelphia, benefiting from an offense with multiple playmakers like Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, and DeVonta Smith.
While Barkley has already proven his talent, now we’ll see if he can reach new heights. If he takes a McCaffrey-like leap, the Eagles will have one of the best all-around running backs in the NFL, similar to what the 49ers have with McCaffrey.
McCaffrey’s previous career-high in rushing yards was 1,387 in 2019. Many thought he had peaked, but the 49ers saw otherwise. Last season, he set a new personal best with 1,459 rushing yards and added 564 receiving yards, totaling an NFL-best 2,023 yards from scrimmage.
If the Eagles can utilize Barkley as effectively as Kyle Shanahan has with McCaffrey, we might witness a record year from Barkley, leaving the Giants to regret their decision.