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.
The Eagles view him as a multi threat 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.
