Saquon Barkley agreeing to terms with the Philadelphia Eagles is not the most noteworthy move of the offseason, but it is probably the most poetically satisfying for the player.
He was drafted in 2018 to maximize the tail end of Eli Manning’s career but, instead, got … the tail end of Eli Manning’s career. Barkley was then held up as a buoy for Daniel Jones but, instead, got Joe Judge and Jason Garrett as play-callers, making that largely impossible. After finding some modicum of success under the first real play-caller he’d worked with in Brian Daboll, Barkley wanted to be a franchise player with a contract commensurate with that kind of role. Instead, he got a modified franchise tag, and a soft encouragement to start looking at life outside of East Rutherford, N.J.
In going to the Eagles, Barkley did what we all imagine we’d do when a company, a loved one or something else in our life seems like they are underappreciating us: We go work for, date or sign with their most bitter rival. (I remember not getting into Millersville University and wanting to … write so badly for …Slippery Rock?) In theory, Barkley will have a better chance of success with the Eagles. Even without Jason Kelce, Philadelphia still boasts a strong offensive line and a stout, mobile quarterback who can open up vast running lanes. Barkely is the right player for an Eagles team attempting to rescue the remnants of a 2022 Super Bowl bid.
