Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Howie Roseman is well known for his strategic and innovative approach to building winning teams. This off-season, he raised eyebrows across the league by making a significant investment in running back Saquon Barkley. Despite skepticism surrounding big spending on the position, Roseman believes Barkley’s talent justifies the risk, opting to “zig when everyone’s zagging.”
Betting on Saquon Barkley’s Game-Changing Talent
Roseman acknowledged the potential downsides of investing heavily in a running back during a recent interview with Adam Schein of Mad Dog Sports Radio. Still, he emphasized the value of finding “difference-making players and people” like Barkley, a former divisional rival and 2018 AP Offensive Rookie of the Year.
From our perspective, you get to a situation where you kind of try to find out, is something being undervalued. Is there a way to zig when everyone’s zagging?
GM Howie Roseman believes Eagles have "good situation" to maximize Saquon Barkley's Hall of Fame-caliber talenthttps://t.co/YCvS2ksaOt pic.twitter.com/8brA1MGIkv
— Around The NFL (@AroundTheNFL) May 6, 2024
Understanding the Risk
Fully aware of the criticisms around the running back market, Roseman stated that despite the uncertainty, the Eagles were confident Barkley’s talent outweighed any doubts about his potential value. There’s risk in every decision you make, but we don’t think there’s any risk in the talent. We don’t think there’s any risk to the person.
Saquon Barkley’s Performance and Potential
Despite his struggles with injuries, Barkley has consistently proven himself on the field. Last season, he accumulated 1,242 scrimmage yards and 10 touchdowns in just 14 games, despite being hampered by a Grade 2 ankle sprain. Entering his age-27 season, the Eagles are betting on his skill to deliver.
High Hopes for Philadelphia Eagles’ Offense
Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley present a dynamic duo that could help the Eagles rebound from their disappointing finish last season. If Barkley lives up to his potential, he can solidify Philadelphia’s offense and reshape the narrative surrounding his contract.
In the high-stakes NFL landscape, sometimes you have to risk it for the biscuit. Roseman believes the reward will outweigh the risk with Barkley, and this gamble could set the Eagles on the path to another deep playoff run.
