When the Philadelphia Eagles signed wide receiver Parris Campbell in free agency, they believed he could provide some necessary help from the slot.
By pairing him with former teammate Saquon Barkley, though, Campbell now has a player on the team he can bond with in a way as he progresses through his first year with the Eagles. Barkley was one of Philadelphia’s big fish of the offseason after signing him to a three-year, $37.75 million deal on the first day of free agency.
Now in a much-improved offense from his days in New York, Campbell expects Barkley to have a big year with the birds.
Parris Campbell Refers to Saquon Barkley as the NFL’s Best RB
Campbell may have only spent a year with the New York Giants, but he saw up close the kind of skill that Barkley brings to Philadelphia.
“I think he’s going to show people why he’s the best running back in the league,” Campbell said, via the Philadelphia Inquirer.
“I know there’s a bunch of debate between him and Christian McCaffrey. And don’t get me wrong, Christian McCaffrey’s by far one of the best running backs in the league. But being able to see Saquon up close and personal, being in the same locker room, on the same team, man, he’s a different guy when he’s on that field, honestly.”
In six seasons with the Giants since being selected No. 2 overall, Barkley has totaled over 5,000 rushing yards with 35 touchdowns. He was named Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2018, and he’s a two-time Pro Bowler.
Barkley led the league in total yards from scrimmage his rookie season but has been hampered in recent years by injuries and ineffective offensive line play.
That’s something that should change with the Eagles.
“Running behind that offensive line that we have, I think it’s going to be pretty scary for defenses,” Campbell explained. “You pair that with Jalen (Hurts) and the things he can do with his feet, just as far as extending plays, getting outside the pocket, I’m sure there will be some type of read-option game that we go on and RPO stuff that’ll happen. So just the possibilities of it are endless.”
To Campbell, and to the Eagles’ front office, a change of scenery is exactly what Barkley has needed to reach his full potential.
How Will Barkley Fit in the Eagles’ Offense?
It’s hard not to agree with Campbell’s assessment of Barkley’s potential this season behind Philadelphia’s offensive line. In 2023, the Giants’ OL ranked 31st in run block win rate, while the Eagles led the NFL in this category.
Despite losing All-Pro center Jason Kelce to retirement, the Eagles still have an All-Pro tackle in Lane Johnson, a Pro Bowler in Landon Dickerson, and left tackle Jordan Mailata, who has been rated as one of the top players at his position.
Two years in a row, the Eagles have had a running back finish in the top five in rushing yards, with Miles Sanders in 2022 and D’Andre Swift last season each recording the fifth-most rushing yards in the league.
While those are two talented running backs, neither comes close to Barkley’s caliber.
Philadelphia’s offensive line isn’t the only reason why Barkley is set for a big year, though.
With wide receivers like A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith already on the roster, to pair with an All-Pro quarterback in Jalen Hurts, Barkley joins an offense in need of a quality RB, but not needing to rely on him for a large percentage of the offense.
This is a drastic change from Barkley’s six seasons in New York, where he was the biggest focal point of an offense with poor quarterback play and an underwhelming supporting cast.
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