There aren’t too many Eagles’ players who can walk around saying that they are the best in the league without a debate that follows. Jalen Hurts and his rank among quarterbacks in the NFL are a constant daily debate among fans and media members alike. However, there is now one Eagles player who can claim he’s the best in the league without the backing of his peers.
After a historical season, Saquon Barkley has another piece of hardware that will be added to his shelf just before the start of the new season. Barkley has officially been crowned as number one in the NFL’s top 100. That means that he’s been voted as the number one player out of approximately 1,700 players. That's no easy task.
To be honest, nothing Barkley did in 2024 was easy. From being forced to walk away from a team that he held near and dear to his heart, a team that brought him into the league, to signing with their most bitter rivals in the Philadelphia Eagles. The move wasn’t as simple as just signing a contract and calling it a day.
Barkley’s move to Philadelphia sparked feuds with Giants’ fans and even media members, including former Giants’ great, Tiki Barber. It was an uphill battle that Barkley was facing when he put on the midnight green but because of his willingness to move forward with the change, the doors of opportunity swung all the way open for Saquon Barkley.
He shattered franchise records and NFL records in his first year with the Eagles. He became just the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a single season, and he also broke the Eagles' record for most rushing yards in a single season. He also broke the franchise record of most 100-yard rushing games in a single season with 12. Barkley also broke the former Eagles’ single-game rushing record when he rushed for 255 yards against the Rams.
Saquon Barkley is also one of three players to lead the NFL in rushing yards and win the Super Bowl in the same season. On top of that, he broke Terrell Davis’ record for most rushing yards in a season that includes the playoffs. There was nothing that Barkley couldn’t do last season.
It felt like a coming-out party for a player who got a second chance at life. Things weren’t always this easy for him during his time with the Giants. Barkley found himself on the losing end of games more times than not and also battled constant injuries. It’s as if the Eagles were a match made in heaven for him.
While Sauron can continue to bask in the glory of the 2024 season, the new season actually starts on Thursday as the reigning champs take on the Dallas Cowboys. Can Saquon have a repeat season like 2024? Or will he come back down to earth with the rest of us?
Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
