Former New York Giants running back Tiki Barber has high expectations for Saquon Barkley after his Big Apple departure via free agency for the division rival Philadelphia Eagles.
Barber made waves when he offered strong criticism of Barkley at the time the former No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft put pen-to-paper on his three-year deal worth $37.5 million with the Eagles, claiming the former face of the Giants franchise was “dead to us.”
However, with Week 1 of the 2024 NFL season looming, Barber clarified his criticism of Barkley and where it stemmed from back in March.
“He’s going to be great,” Barber told Rob Tornoe of The Philadelphia Inquirer. “That’s why we hate it. If he were washed, we wouldn’t care. He’s still in his prime, and he’s going to rush for 1,500 yards, and probably 400 of those will come against us.”
Saquon Barkley’s Outlook in Eagles Backfield
In Philadelphia, Barkley will have the benefit of running behind what has perennially been one of the NFL’s most consistently dominant offensive lines, which to Barber’s point, could put a 1,500-yard season within reach. Barkley twice surpassed 1,300 rushing yards through his first six seasons.
For Barkley, though, the biggest key might be staying healthy.
If he can avoid a major setback, there is optimism inside the NFL that Barkley could make a push for the Offensive Player of The Year Award, or perhaps even enter the MVP conversation if the Eagles’ offense lives up to the lofty expectations in front of it.
“I could see Saquon having a huge year in Philly,” an AFC offensive coach recently told me, speaking on the condition of anonymity to speak freely about a player on another team. “And if he does, he could get serious MVP consideration.”
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