The Philadelphia space exploded on Monday as soon as they heard the information former Penn State star Saquon Barkley agreed to a reported three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles. Howie Roseman stepped method out of his consolation zone to accumulate the previous New York Giants’ operating again, who may rise up to $46.75 million, which incorporates $26 million totally assured when he signed.
Now the hovering query looms: Was it price it?
Was it price it contemplating the Eagles are porous of their again seven, with a number of wants, which incorporates security? Would Giants’ security Xavier McKinney have crammed that extra vital want, within the neediest space of the sphere for the Eagles? As a substitute, McKinney signed with the burgeoning Inexperienced Bay Packers, whereas the Eagles made the splashy transfer in signing a tailback who is a superb locker room presence, a stand-up man, who may simply be questioned that at 27 and 6 NFL seasons of wear and tear and tear on his physique if his finest years are behind him?
In 2020 and 2021, he performed a mixed 15 video games, battling nagging ankle and knee accidents. His explosive first step appeared to sag. He has rushed for over 1,000 yards as soon as within the final 4 years, gaining 1,312 yards, although, satirically, missed the season finale in January 2023 towards the Eagles with a excessive ankle sprain.
The Eagles had been prepared to let former St. Joseph’s Prep and Georgia star D’Andre Swift go to the Chicago Bears, after he outgained Barkley final 12 months, 1,049 to 962. During the last three years, Swift has rushed for two,208 on 479 carries, averaging 4.60 yards a carry, whereas in that very same time, Barkley rushed for two,867 on 704 makes an attempt, averaging 4.07 yards a carry. Barkley is a greater move protector, although Swift’s dashing success fee (rush beneficial properties of not less than 40% of yards required on first down, 60% yards required on second down, and 100% on third and fourth downs denominator by is makes an attempt) far exceeded Barkley, 54.1% success fee to Barkley’s 40.1 % fee.
Barkley is a greater operating again than Swift. He’s greater. He’s additionally two years older. The Eagles is not going to maintain again Barkley, as they held again Swift.
The Giants had one of many worst offensive strains within the NFL final season, however the Eagles might be coming into this season with 40% of their offensive entrance taking part in new roles, with Cam Jurgens making an attempt to switch future corridor of fame heart Jason Kelce, with the potential for 2023 third-round draft decide Tyler Steen, out of Alabama, being inserted at proper guard to switch Jurgens.
This was broached earlier than. When New Heights podcast hosted a goodbye to Jason Kelce, JJ Watt advised Kelce, “I don’t miss lining up on the opposite aspect and having you level out precisely what blitz we had been operating and precisely the place the stress is coming from.”
Will Jurgens decide up these tendencies like Kelce did?
Early on, in all probability not.
The Eagles misplaced six of their final seven video games—with Kelce.
It’s going to take time for this new offensive entrance to coalesce—tremendous coach Jeff Stoutland or no Jeff Stoutland.
The Eagles may have utilized that cash in way more vital areas than operating again, and nonetheless retained Swift at an inexpensive value (three-year for $24 million/$15.4 million assured). He was not used nowhere close to as a lot as he ought to have been in 2023, catching 39 passes for 214 yards and a rating in incomes his first profession Professional Bowl in 2023, whereas Barkley caught 41 passes for 280 yards and 4 touchdowns.
What’s going to make Barkley a profit is how new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore makes use of him. Moore likes utilizing play motion, and was extremely profitable with that whereas the Dallas’ OC. Underneath Brian Johnson, the Eagles had been twenty seventh within the NFL operating play motion and final within the NFL when it got here to Jalen Hurts being beneath heart.
Perhaps there’s a purpose for that. Perhaps Hurts just isn’t finest suited to operating play motion?
We’ll see this season.
The underside line is that this: Eagles’ administration appears to have by some means forgot this staff misplaced six of its final seven video games and improved this week in an space of energy, whereas paying marginal consideration to a obvious space of weak point (linebacker, security, cornerback, defensive deal with depth). The 2023 Eagles had been constructed to outscore groups, prefer it appears Roseman is making an attempt to construct the 2024 Eagles.
We all know how that turned out the final time.
Ballot
Is the Saquon Barkley signing a mistake for the Eagles?
Joseph Santoliquito is a corridor of fame, award-winning sportswriter primarily based within the Philadelphia space who has written function tales for SI.com, ESPN.com, NFL.com, MLB.com, Deadspin and The Philadelphia Inquirer/Every day Information. In 2006, he was nominated for an Emmy Award for a particular undertaking piece for ESPN.com known as “Love at First Beep.” He’s most famous for his award-winning ESPN.com function on highschool wrestler A.J. Detwiler in February 2006, which appeared on SportsCenter. In 2015, he was elected president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.
