ESPN insider has major doubts about Eagles RB Saquon Barkley

Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman is notorious for spending money on a running back. 

But he changed that narrative this offseason when he signed former New York Giants running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with $26 million guaranteed in NFL free agency. 

With a contract that lucrative, Barkley is expected to be the star of the Eagles' offensive. However, ESPN national reporter and insider Dan Graziano doesn't see that happening. 

Graziano cites Barkley's recent injury plague, Eagles' wide receiver duo, and Jason Kelce's retirement as reasons why the two-time Pro Bowl running back might not be all that the Eagles want him to be. 

"Only twice in his six-year career has Barkley made it through a full season without missing at least one game due to injury. And even if 2024 is the third such season for him, I believe the Eagles' success is going to have a lot more to do with whether the passing game rebounds behind quarterback Jalen Hurts and his receivers," Graziano writes. "The Eagles also have some questions to answer along the offensive line, including how to replace longtime center Jason Kelce, who retired this offseason.

"Assuming Barkley can be the key player who elevates a team from good to great ignores the fact that he has not been that over six years in the NFL. Again, the Eagles may well be favored to win the division, but I find it hard to believe Kellen Moore's offense is going to make a running back its focal point."

Disregarding Graziano's Doubts

Disregarding Graziano's doubts, Barkley has notched over 1,000 total rushing yards in four of his six NFL seasons.

He would have eclipsed 1,000 rushing yards for the Giants last fall had he not missed three games due to a high ankle sprain or had a better offensive line. Still, Barkley finished 2023 running for 962 yards and six touchdowns and added another 280 yards and four touchdowns in the air with the bad hand he was dealt. 

Looking back at Barkley's career so far, his best season came in 2018 when he logged 1,307 yards on the ground and 11 touchdowns. He also isn't too far removed from his next best year which happened in 2022 when he achieved 1,312 rushing yards and 10 touchdowns. 

Okay, so, Barkley won't be fortunate to have Kelce anchoring the Eagles' offensive line. But he still gets to work alongside some of the league's other best blockers in Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, and Landon Dickerson and that's enough to set him up for success. 

And it works out in Barkley's favor that wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith got paid this offseason and will be expected to produce, so it takes some pressure off of him.

It's ultimately hard to imagine Barkley is a bust this season --and I understand Graziano isn't directly saying that -- there's just more reason to believe Barkley elevates the Eagles offense and doesn't go unnoticed in 2024.