NFL coach shares concern about Eagles’ Saquon Barkley

Eagles running back Saquon Barkley is supposed to elevate Philadelphia’s offense in 2024.

After spending the first six years of his career with the New York Giants, Barkley signed a three-year, $37.75 million contract with the Eagles in March.

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This will be the first time Barkley has played behind an elite offensive line and has been surrounded by elite weapons.

Opposing defenses won’t able to focus on Barkley as much because they will worry about wide receivers DeVonta Smith and A.J. Brown. He should have more room to run and have more opportunities to catch the ball.

Given the situation, Barkley could prove that he is still one of the best running backs in the league.

ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts this offseason to rank the best running backs in the league. Even though he didn’t rush for a 1,000 yards in 2023, Barkley was still ranked No. 4 on the list. He’s been ranked as high as No. 2 in past years, but some are concerned about Barkley’s effectiveness.

“Probably not as fast as he used to be,” an NFL offensive coach told ESPN. “He has the ability to make people miss in space, which is sometimes bad since you think you can bounce it and outrun people. But when he does get downhill, running in between tackles, he’s so strong naturally that he’s hard to tackle. He runs through arm tackles. Just has to decide to do it.”

In 2022, Barkley finished with a career-high in rushing yards (1,312). He could break that record this season as long as he stays healthy. It wouldn’t be surprising if he outproduced Cleveland Browns running back Nick Chubb and New York Jets running back Breece Hall, who are both ranked higher on ESPN’s list.

Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust. Please consider supporting us with a subscription. Cayden Steele may be reached at CSteele@njadvancemedia.com