The Philadelphia Eagles are one of the six "primary potential suitors" for free-agent running back Saquon Barkley, according to Pat Leonard of the New York Daily News.
News broke earlier today that the Giants will not franchise tag Barkley for a second straight season, creating what ESPN's Adam Schefter calls the greatest free-agent running back class ever.
Hugh Douglas and Joe Giglio reacted to Leonard's report on Tuesday's 94WIP Midday Show.
"When you talk about Coach Goober [new Eagles' OC Kellen Moore] and the offense that he ran, he had Ezekiel Elliott in one point in his backfield, so I can see that," Douglas said. "Add a little balance to this offense."
Barkley, who just turned 27, had a base salary of just over $8 million last season. In 2023, the Eagles paid their four running backs in D'Andre Swift, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, and Rashaad Penny less than $6 million combined.
"So the fit I can see," Giglio said. "I don't think he's quite as great as people thought when he came out of Penn State. He's good, but they just don't spend on running backs. Unless he's going to sign for smaller than I think, I'd be surprised if they spent on running back."
Barkley, a two-time Pro Bowl running back, has three 1,000-plus rushing yard seasons and has caught 40-plus balls in every season he has been healthy.
In 14 games last season, Barkley recorded 962 yards and six touchdowns on the ground and caught 41 balls, for 280 yards and four touchdowns through the air on an injury-riddled 6-11 Giants team.
Swift, 25, is also set to become a free-agent when the league year begins on March 13th.
Howie Roseman and the Eagles have around $44 million in cap space heading into free-agency, according to 94WIP's Eliot Shorr-Parks.