The Eagles have made a flurry of moves this offseason. So many that it would be hard for any one person to remember each move. But even so, certain additions come with the weight of expectation tied to them. With that being said, here’s a look at which moves come with the highest risks and the biggest rewards.
Saquon Barkley – High risk, High reward
It’s hard to not be biased about this move. First off, this is a great move for both Barkley and the Eagles. Philly needs a game-changing running back and that’s exactly who Saquon is. But there is a bit of worry that comes with this move.
Since the move to 17 games, Saquon has missed 8 games due to injuries. All of this after he tore his ACL during the 2020 season in which he only played two games. There’s also the slight concern that he’s only crossed the thousand mark once in the last four seasons, although he came close to it in 2023.
He is alo only averaging 4 yards per carry during the span of four seasons, which isn’t terrible but it’s not what you expect out of a “great” running back. In Saquon’s defense, he was averaging 4 yards per carry behind one of the worst offensive lines during that span which means he could have a huge season with the Eagles. While the money invested in Barkley may give some folks goosebumps, the fact of the matter is that he is worth every penny. If he found daylight behind the Giants’ offensive line then it is likely that he will be able to breathe behind Philadelphia’s.
Devin White – Low Risk, High Reward
I don’t know about you but the Devin White signing reminds me a lot of the Alshon Jeffery signing or even the Nigel Bradham one. White is only 26 years old and is the former number-five overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.
Since the Buccaneers’ Super Bowl win, many have felt like White has been on a downward trend. That is a fair assumption as his play has declined a bit but it’s hard to say that a former Pro Bowl player with his athletic ability is washed. I believe that there was inner turmoil between the Bucs and White. He’s had one foot of the door for some time and he is now in greener pastures.
I feel like the Eagles will hit on this signing for not only this year but the following two as well. White is extremely athletic and quite durable at his position which is why I see this signing panning out. He has also only missed four games over the last four seasons and will provide some much-needed stability at linebacker while the likes of Jeremiah Trotter Jr. develop.
Bryce Huff – High Risk, High Reward(?)
The jury is out on Bryce Huff. The Eagles invested big money into the somewhat unproven edge rusher. Ten sacks in 2023 is nothing to frown at but the fact that he has only started seven games over the last four seasons is a bit worrisome. While the Jets have had a stout defensive line, Huff not turning into “the guy” over there is a bit of a head-scratcher especially when the Eagles had their guy in Haason Reddick.
The team has taken a big gamble on Huff growing into that player, but most of his production has come from a rotational role. While he does have the upside to take that next step, it will be interesting to see how it pans out.
While the money that Reddick wanted was not feasible for the Eagles to pay, I’m curious to see if the Birds fall flat on this signing or if they end up looking like geniuses. Huff is not a scrub at all and has a great burst off of the line of scrimmage but the money given is what can lead to unreasonable expectations in his first year as an Eagle.
Mekhi Becton – Low risk, High reward
The perfect move to make right after the draft. The Eagles signed the Jets’ former first-round pick Mekhi Becton. While Philadelphia did come out of the draft with great prospects for their offensive line, they didn’t leave with the heir to Lane Johnson’s throne. This is what the Becton signing can be. If he shows signs of great improvement under Stoutland and can spell Lane Johnson should Lane fall to injury, then this will be a home run move for Howie Roseman and the Eagles.
Photo by Cliff Welch/Icon Sportswire
