By Adonis Gaspard / Full360 Reporter

With the free agent opportunities that opened up these past few weeks, the Eagles took the time to sign one of the best running backs, Saquon Barkley, to a three-year, $37.75 million deal, with add-ons that could potentially increase the deal to $46.75 million. Saquon, originally from The Bronx, New York, and a former Penn State College Football player, now has the opportunity not only to be part of a Super Bowl contender but also to give back to the community that has helped him grow as a running back. Saquon has averaged around 1,000 rushing yards per season since being drafted in 2018.

The two-time Pro Bowl running back rushed for 962 yards and six touchdowns for the Giants last season. Unfortunately, Barkley suffers from major injuries, but I think the change of offensive line from the Giants, ranked 30th by Pro Football Focus after last season, to the number 1 ranking offensive line will benefit him. However, with the retirement of Jason Kelce, who has been their starting center for years, this will be a major loss for the Eagles, and their rankings will likely drop a few ranks.

A major concern with Barkley is his injury issues due to consistent injuries recently, especially with his knee ligaments, which could hinder his performance in future years. However, with the new rule changes, he could be kept healthy. Draft Sharks predict a 62% chance of Barkley sustaining an injury in the 2024 season and have also projected that he could miss up to 3 games this season.

Adding Saquon to a roster that already boasts a number of options for moving the ball, with their wide receiver package including DeVante Parker, DeVante Smith, and A.J. Brown, all of whom are very effective playmakers, means Saquon might not see the ball as much as he did in New York. This could be an issue regarding how effective he could be in the postseason when the Eagles make their potential playoff run to beat top teams like the 49ers, Chiefs, Ravens, and Texans.