Saquon Barkley resides a dream in Eagles' star-studded offense

Saquon Barkley felt a little bit bizarre sporting inexperienced the primary time he put his new Philadelphia Eagles jersey on. However that was nothing in comparison with what he felt the primary time he jogged onto the sector and joined the Eagles’ huddle.

That was actually an expertise the 27-year-old working again has by no means had earlier than.

“The most important factor that struck me is our first 7-on-7 huddle,” Barkley stated final week. “You see A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert and Jalen Hurts. It isn’t a nasty group to be on the market with. And that is not even together with the offensive linemen.”

He would not use this time period — particularly since it is a sore spot in Eagles historical past — nevertheless it will need to have felt like a “Dream Workforce” to the veteran again. For the primary six years of his profession, spent with undermanned, marginally gifted New York Giants groups, Barkley could not have even dreamed of getting a bunch of teammates like that.

It was a reminder of why this yr may actually be particular for Barkley. And it is a reminder that whereas cash was certainly the most important factor that lured him to Philly — within the type of a three-year, $37.75 million contract with $26 million assured — the attraction of shifting 90 miles down the New Jersey Turnpike was actually about greater than that.

“There’s a variety of expertise,” Barkley stated. “There was a variety of expertise earlier than I bought right here. I really feel like I solely can add to that.”

How a lot expertise? It isn’t simply that the Eagles may need extra offensive expertise than any workforce within the NFL. It is that for the earlier six seasons Barkley was typically surrounded by one of many least gifted offensive groups within the league. Barkley in some way managed three 1,000-yard speeding seasons (and almost a fourth) although he was continually surrounded by gamers who, at greatest, can be backups on the Eagles this yr.

This is a better have a look at simply how broad the expertise hole is between what Barkley is surrounded with now in Philadelphia, and what he was surrounded with throughout his six years in New York:

Quarterback

The improve in quarterback for Barkley this season cannot probably be overstated. Jalen Hurts was an MVP candidate in 2022. And he had a statistically comparable season final yr, with the notable exception of an enormous improve in interceptions. Over the previous two seasons, he is averaged 3,779.5 passing yards on 66 p.c passing with 22.5 landing passes and 10.5 interceptions.

Daniel Jones has by no means put up passing numbers near that. His greatest season was 2022, when he threw for 3,205 yards with 15 touchdowns and 5 interceptions, and no one thought he was in Hurts’ class. Sure, he is a dual-threat quarterback, however Hurts is a greater one. Hurts has averaged 682.5 speeding yards and 14 speeding touchdowns the previous two seasons. Jones had one yr like that — once more in 2022, when he ran for 708 yards and 7 touchdowns.

And Jones was continually battling accidents, leaving Barkley to spend far an excessive amount of time enjoying with quarterbacks like Tommy DeVito, Mike Glennon and Jake Fromm. The Giants’ quarterback play in his tensure has been typically so unhealthy, in reality, {that a} good argument might be made that the very best quarterback he performed for was Eli Manning in 2018 — Barkley’s rookie season. Manning threw for 4,299 yards and 21 touchdowns that season, and it was clear to everybody that was watching him that he was on the final legs of his profession.

Hurts is nearer to the start and he is already approaching these Manning numbers, whereas working higher than Jones. He is so good in each departments that for the primary time in his profession Barkley will not have to hold the offensive load.

“The Philadelphia Eagles will run away with this division” — Skip Bayless

Receivers

When Barkley seemed up within the Eagles’ huddle and noticed Brown and Smith, he was taking a look at among the best receiving tandems within the NFL during the last two seasons. They every topped 1,000 receiving yards in each years. Brown topped 1,400 in each. They’ve mixed for an absurd 370 catches, 5,214 yards and 32 touchdowns in two seasons collectively — or a median of 93-1,304-8 per season, every.

In New York, Barkley performed with one receiver who even approached these numbers — Odell Beckham, who was 77-1,052-6 in 12 video games when Barkley was a rookie. Not coincidentally, that was Barkley’s greatest receiving yr, when he had 91 catches for 721 yards.

After that, Beckham was traded and the Giants’ receivers went off a cliff. Barkley bought the advantage of two injury-shortened seasons from Sterling Shepard (who had 123 catches and 1,226 yards in 22 video games over the 2019 and 2020 seasons). However since then the place has been a black gap. Darius Slayton has principally been the Giants’ No. 1 receiver, however his greatest yr was final yr when he had 50 catches for 770 yards — making him ok to perhaps be the Eagles’ third receiver this yr.

That is why defenses have loaded as much as cease Barkley for the reason that finish of his rookie season, realizing that nobody else on the Giants’ roster was a lot of a menace. With Brown and Smith on Barkley’s aspect, defenses cannot try this anymore. And it ought to open up receiving alternatives for him, too.

Tight finish

That is the one place the place it may even be argued that Barkley had Eagles-like expertise round him in New York. As a result of for the primary 4 years of his profession, the Giants’ tight finish was Evan Engram. After all, that was earlier than Engram had his breakout in Jacksonville, the place he had 114 catches for 963 yards final yr.

Engram’s greatest season with the Giants was 63-654-1 in 2020. Dallas Goedert has averaged 57-708-3 over the previous three seasons in Philly, although he is had bother staying wholesome and missed a complete of 10 video games. Engram might be the higher total receiver now that the Jaguars have discovered how one can use him. Goedert is the higher blocker. He is a sneaky harmful receiver, although, who may do much more harm if there have been solely sufficient balls to go round.

Did Saquon Barkley make the suitable resolution leaving the Giants?

Did Saquon Barkley make the right decision leaving the Giants?

Offensive line

This is likely to be the starkest comparability between what Barkley has now and what he is suffered behind in six seasons in New York. The Eagles’ line has persistently been one of many NFL’s greatest. The Giants’ line has persistently been one of many NFL’s worst.

It is arduous to inform the story of simply how broad the hole is with numbers, however this one does a good job of it. Barkley, on common, ran only one yard earlier than getting hit final season, in accordance with Professional Soccer Focus. D’Andre Swift, the Eagles’ major again final yr, averaged 2.1 yards earlier than contact.

With an additional yard earlier than first contact, Barkley — who ran for 962 yards in 14 video games final yr — would have run for no less than 271 extra.

Additionally, take into account this: Throughout Barkley’s six years in New York, the Giants have had 29 completely different beginning offensive linemen — the results of accidents, benching, and a relentless revolving door of journeymen and bottom-of-the-roster expertise.

Now it ought to really feel to him like he is driving behind a Rolls Royce. There in all probability is not a greater sort out tandem within the NFL than Jordan Mailata on the left and Lane Johnson on the suitable. And Landon Dickerson is a two-time Professional Bowler at left guard. The Eagles do have questions up entrance because of the retirement of Jason Kelce, a possible future Corridor of Fame middle. However they’ve been making ready for Cam Jurgens to take over at middle for 2 years, they usually have excessive hopes that Tyler Steen, final yr’s third-round decide, can fill in at proper guard.

Even with these fear spots, there is no comparability. Barkley goes to get assist and constant blocking for the primary time in his NFL profession.

Ralph Vacchiano is the NFC East reporter for FOX Sports activities, protecting the Washington Commanders, Philadelphia Eagles and New York Giants. He spent the earlier six years protecting the Giants and Jets for SNY TV in New York, and earlier than that, 16 years protecting the Giants and the NFL for the New York Each day Information. Comply with him Twitter at @RalphVacchiano.