Why the Eagles signing Saquon Barkley is out of character for Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles don’t typically spend big money on running backs. Then again, players like Saquon Barkley aren’t available every day.

That’s the gist of why Philadelphia went out of character and agreed to terms with Barkley on a three-year, $37.75 million contract that could be worth up to $46.75 million and includes $26 million fully guaranteed at signing, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

General manager Howie Roseman doesn’t have a history of investing heavily in the position — the last time he gave this kind of contract to a running back was in 2012 when he signed LeSean McCoy to a five-year, $45 million deal. The Eagles let Miles Sanders walk in free agency last offseason after he racked up over 1,200 yards en route to his first Pro Bowl appearance. Sanders inked a four-year, $25.4 million contract with the Carolina Panthers and the Eagles traded a fourth-round pick to the Detroit Lions for D’Andre Swift, who, like Sanders before him, was in the final year of his rookie contract with a base salary of under $2 million.

But the calculus is different with Barkley.

The Eagles view him as a multithreat weapon that excels as a runner, receiver and pass-blocker. The numbers back that up: Since entering the NFL in 2018, Barkley has averaged 98.8 scrimmage yards per game, fifth most in the NFL, according to ESPN Stats & Information. He has rushed for over 5,200 yards and has more than 2,100 receiving yards with a total of 47 touchdowns over six seasons. He has also ranked sixth as a pass-blocker among running backs the past two seasons.

Barkley, in other words, has a complete game and is projected to be a three-down back under coach Nick Sirianni and new offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

It’s not hard to picture Barkley thriving in this offense, which has top-level skill position players in quarterback Jalen Hurts and receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, and features one of the top offensive lines in football — though the unit did lose star center Jason Kelce to retirement this offseason.

Barkley goes from a Giants offensive line that ranked 31st in run block win rate last season to an Eagles offensive front that ranked first in the category in 2023. There is an expectation Barkley, 27, will feel rejuvenated in the new environment after being unable to remain a “Giant for life.”

The move does carry some risk. Barkley has dealt with various lower-body injuries in recent years and has a decent amount of mileage on him with over 3,700 career snaps and over 1,200 carries.

And it’s to be seen how Moore and Sirianni will keep all of the playmakers happy, with just one ball to be shared by Brown, Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert and Barkley.

The upside, though, is significant. Barkley can add a physical style of running that was largely missing last season and help unlock an offense that got stale down the stretch. And with a reputation of having strong character, the expectation is he’ll be a locker room fit.

Bottom line, Barkley checked enough boxes for the Eagles to go out of their comfort zone and pay a running back big dollars.