(Photo: NBC News)
1. Saquon Barkley– Nine have been revealed and one has yet to hear his name called. You always think it’s going to be a Quarterback when you brainstorm these, but that isn’t always the case. Yes, six Quarterbacks have claimed the number one spot and a few of them have even been number one more than once (Tom Brady & Aaron Rodgers), Aaron Donald and J.J. Watt has been the only defensive players to claim the top spot, Antonio Brown was the lone Wide Receiver back in 2018 and just last year, Christian McCaffrey joined Adrian Peterson as the second Running Back to claim the top spot. Another Running Back will join those two I just named and after the season he had, I knew he’d be here. Saquon Barkley is the final player to make his debut and joins Cam Newton as the second player to make his debut in the top spot. He’s the Best In The Business and my top player and Running Back entering the 2025 NFL season.
March 11th, 2024. That’s a day I’m sure Giants fans will look to forget as that’s the day the team decided to part ways and release their star Running Back. Usually when a player is released by a team, they normally sign with a division rival to get back at them by playing them two times a season. March 13th last season, he decides to stay in the NFC East and sign with the Philadelphia Eagles and the rest is history! I was excited about the move because he was coming into a much better situation than he had in any of his years in East Rutherford which meant a much better Quarterback, stronger offensive line and other weapons meaning he didn’t feel as if he always had to be the guy to take games over. Sometimes, it takes just one player to help put you over the top and that is EXACTLY what Saquon became in South Philadelphia. I understand injuries have played a part in his career, but when he is healthy, he’s as great as they come. He is the closest thing I’ve seen to Adrian Peterson and I see so many similarities in their styles when it comes to running. He’s an every down back that can create gaps that aren’t there and he’s a powerful, yet patient Running Back that will attack lanes but also take what the defense gives him. Saquon has the speed to break away and get past anyone in the open field or, he will wear you down with a physical brand of football. It’s the vision along with quickness he displays and I say that because he can burst through traffic without question and if he bursts through, he’s in the open field and will take the ball to the end zone. What Derrick Henry is to Baltimore’s offense is exactly what Saquon is to the Eagles offense as he must touch the football a certain amount of times to have an impact. He had so many moments last year such as torching the Giants for a then career high 187 yards rushing. His best game of the year came on a Sunday night against the Rams when he had 302 total scrimmage yards and in the playoffs against those Rams again, he rushed for 232 yards. Saquon is that all-around back with strong contact balance, strength and quickness.
Saquon’s impact on the Eagles was so reminiscent of Kevin Durant joining the Golden State Warriors and there are so many similarities between the two moves as in their first season with their new teams, they had immediate impacts, helped lead their teams to the playoffs and were key pieces on championship winning teams. The Eagles were the most complete team in the NFC last season and Saquon was that piece they were missing to get them back to playing championship caliber football. In his first season as an Eagle, Saquon became just the ninth member to join the 2,000-yard rushing club and was on pace to break Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record, but was benched at the end of the season. Saquon won Offensive Player of the Year and a Super Bowl title all in his first year and you could’ve also made a case for him to be MVP of the league last year, but shockingly, he didn’t even get a single first place vote which baffles me. I was so happy for him and I know for a fact the Giants were sick to see him have the success he had.
