Saquon Barkley has re-upped the value of the running back position while emerging as a Philadelphia … [+]
It’s hard to put into words the amount of impact Saquon Barkley has had since signing with the Philadelphia Eagles less than a year ago.
The 28-year-old star has re-upped the value of running backs in an era where it was the least valued of any major position in the NFL. Prior to the 2023 season, running backs made an average of $1.8 million per year. The only positions that running backs earned more money than were long snappers, punters and fullbacks. In fact, kickers earned more than running backs.
The tide seems to be slowly changing with Barkley re-establishing the value of the running back after being the main reason behind the Eagles’ resurgence. A team that seemed to be on the decline and the precipice of disaster after losing six of their final seven games to close out the 2023 season suddenly became an unbeatable team behind a dominant rushing attack.
Barkley not only had one of the greatest seasons in NFL history by becoming just the ninth player in NFL history to break 2,000 yards in a single season, he stabilized an offense and a team that had struggled prior to his arrival. It wasn’t too long ago that head coach Nick Sirianni was on the hot seat and people were questioning whether or not he could handle being a head coach following the departure of his two coordinators, Shane Steichen and Jonathan Gannon, following their previous Super Bowl appearance.
Furthermore, he made people forget about Jalen Hurts’ struggles during the previous season in which he had the fourth-most turnovers (20) of any quarterback. Fast forward a year later and Hurts is a Super Bowl MVP after going the entire year with just five interceptions and 10 total turnovers.
Yes, that’s the impact of Barkley. Despite being in Philadelphia for less than a year, it already feels like he’s a legend in Philadelphia. He had already become a loved hero before the end of the regular season, with Eagles legend Brian Dawkins predicting he would break the single-season rushing record if he played in Week 18 — he sat out the final week — and predicting Philadelphia would make it to the Super Bowl in the process.
They not only made it, they won it.
“I was coming from being on the enemy side (the New York Giants) the year prior, so you kind of don’t know what to expect,” says Barkley during a press conference at Raising Cane’s in Trevose, PA last Thursday. “I’ve always had kind of undercover fans from going to Penn State and playing high school ball here in Pennsylvania.
“It kind of was full circle for me coming back home.” Barkley continues to say. “ For the season to go the way it went and to finish it off the way we ended being Super Bowl champs, you can’t make it up.”
Saquon Barkley has re-upped the value of the running back position while emerging as a Philadelphia … [+]
The New York Giants are certainly regretting their decision to prioritize re-signing Daniel Jones over Barkley. The Giants opted to sign Jones to a long-term deal worth $160 million over four years and instead gave Barkley the non-exclusive franchise tag. We all know the story by now, Jones ended up going 3-11 after signing that deal and was released midway through the 2024 season after being benched.
Meanwhile, Barkley is a Super Bowl champion and leading the resurgence of running backs, with Derrick Henry of Baltimore Ravens and Josh Jacobs of the Green Bay Packers showing their worth last season while leading their team to playoff appearances.
Although he’s just days removed from winning a Super Bowl, he’s already thinking about winning his second as the Eagles begin a potential path towards a dynasty.
“ I said after the game, why can’t our dynasty start now? Probably had a little bit of champagne and other stuff in my system at the time, but you really can’t focus on that,” said Barkley. “You just got to enjoy the moment, it’s hard to, to win one. You take it in, you enjoy the moment and you start all over and it kind of starts all over after Friday (during the ring ceremony).
“That’s probably the last day where you truly celebrate being a Super Bowl champion and then it’s back to work,” Barkley continues to say.
We’ll see if Barkley is able to win multiple Super Bowls and establish himself as one of the best of all time. But it’s clear that no player’s value surged more than Barkley during the 2024 season.
