Coupled With the Best Receiver Room in the NFL — Saquon Barkley Looks for a Season to Savor In the Eagles Backfield in 2024.
Perhaps age works against no position in the NFL like quite like running back. Approach age 30, and you might as well be sent out to pasture. The consistent week in and week out pounding of a grueling NFL season coupled with the constant need to be in top physical shape takes its toll. Eclipsing 1,000 yards over multiple years in the NFL is not only a test of endurance but also one of consistent production. Endurance through injuries, endurance through fatigue, endurance through adversity.
Almost every training camp has a young rookie running back pushing the veterans. Utilizing every tool in the toolbox to make an NFL roster — speed, agility, and determination combined with a contribution on special teams. This year, the Eagles have one of the best rookie running backs from the 2024 NFL Draft in Clemson star Will Shipley. The Eagles high-priced free agent every down running back won’t let that divert Barkley’s focus.
Saquon Barkley, the Whitehall Township native who at Penn State seemed to make achievements in 2’s (twice the Big Ten Running Back of the Year, twice the Big Ten Offensive Player of the Year, twice first-team All Big 10, and twice Big Ten Most Valuable Player) has arrived back in Pennsylvania soil in South Philly to fill a void for the Eagles that has been a need for years.
The number 2 selection in the 2018 NFL Draft, Barkley was never able to bring the Giants to where he wanted them to be due to poor play by the offense and multiple knee and ankle injuries of his own. Now he’s back home in Pennsylvania to fill a lacking need for the Eagles over the past decade.
When the Eagles won the Super Bowl six years ago in 2018, they utilized a running back by committee approach spearheaded by veteran LaGarette Blount, Jay Ajayi, and Corey Clement as a third down back out of the backfield which was key weapon in Super Bowl LII.
When the Birds returned to compete for a Championship in 2023, Miles Sanders posted his first 1,000 yard season with the Eagles and was supported by the running of Jalen Hurts (760 yards) and Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott by committee.
In between and since then, the Eagles running back room has been a rotating door. One season with St. Joe’s Prep star D’Andre Swift didn’t work out, LaGarrette Blount left Philadelphia after only season, and Miles Sanders would leave the team after his first 1,000 yard rushing campaign after minimal usage in the Super Bowl.
As a top weapon in an Eagles offense that will undoubtedly rank as one of the top in the NFL this year, complete with one it’s best quarterbacks, best receiving duo’s, and a top tight end in Dallas Goedert — Barkley will look to be the final piece needed to lead Eagles offense that has every intention of utilizing his talent to play into February.
If Saquon Barkley’s ability shows itself as one of the best in the NFL once again in 2024 — he’ll be the perfect mentor for Will Shipley. And even more importantly, the Eagles will be making another blustery winter march down Broad Street with some shiny hardware to boot.
All because of a franchise quarterback, the best wide receiver room in the NFL, and one of its top running attacks.
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