Grading each Eagles move in NFL free agency: Saquon Barkley, C.J. Gardner-Johnson get high marks for Philly

The Philadelphia Eagles were certainly active in NFL free agency, thanks to a rising salary cap and the need to improve a team that lost six of their final seven games after a 10-1 start. There were plenty of holes on the Eagles roster that needed to be addressed in the first wave of free agency.

Philadelphia didn’t address all of its holes, but the Eagles were able to add the best running back in free agency (Saquon Barkley) and were able to bring back C.J. Gardner-Johnson — who they badly missed last season at safety. The Eagles didn’t significantly improve at linebacker, and the fate of Haason Reddick is still to be determined. 

There’s other aspects of the roster that the Eagles will have to improve as free agency is in its second wave. As for the first wave, let’s grade the nine acquisitions the Eagles made. 

Contract: Three years, $37.75 million

The Eagles needed a three-down back in the worst way, and they got the best one on the market in Barkley. Philadelphia wasn’t getting the production in the run game with D’Andre Swift and Kenneth Gainwell last year, which makes the Barkley signing even more important for their offense. 

Barkley is going from the third-worst run-blocking offensive line in the New York Giants to the third best in the Eagles. Barkley was still able to have three 1,000-yard seasons and have 7,311 yards from scrimmage (4.9 yards per touch) despite playing behind what was arguably the worst offensive line in football over the last six years. 

Barkley is playing behind the best offensive line and best skill position group he’s ever played with in the NFL. Not to mention the best quarterback in Jalen Hurts.

Barkley isn’t the same player he was when he was drafted, but he’s still dynamic and has the potential for an explosive play every time he gets the ball. If Barkley can stay on the field, he — and the Eagles offense — are primed for a big season.

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Author : Jeff Kerr

Publish date : 2024-03-21 12:06:42

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