Is Barkley washed up?
By: Jake Rajala
We all know Saquon Barkley won Offensive Player of the Year last season. He ran angrily for 2,005 yards and 13 touchdowns. Barkley was the ninth RB to run over 2,000+ yards.
Well, things have taken a turn for the worst. He has only unleashed two 100 yard rushing games this season. Perhaps it’s the Madden curse, as he was the cover of Madden in 2026.
This raises the question: Should the Eagles trade the 28 year old Barkley? Honestly I would like to see it. I believe he has lost a step. The Eagles still have Jalen Hurts and an elite WR tandem with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Plus, Hurts can be a threat in the running game, too.
Furthermore, they could use a draft pick in return for Barkley on a young, new RB. They could also target a young RB in free agency in 2026, such as Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker. I can’t imagine that the Buffalo Bills will allow James Cook, who is a free agent, leave the squad.
Barkley wouldn’t be the first RB to be traded to a different team. We witnessed Christian McCaffrey get traded from the Carolina Panthers to the San Francisco 49ers. The trade worked out for both sides.
In all honesty, it’s a concern that Barkley is struggling behind a potent OL (led by Lane Johnson). This reminds me of Alvin Kamara, who has a beast of an OL (with Kelvin Banks Jr. and Taliese Fuaga), fail to return to his Pro Bowl days.
I’m not sure if any team wants to ship off an early pick for Barkley. I could see a squad trading a couple of mid round picks for his services.
I would like to see Barkley used more in the passing game, such has screens and RB option routes. He can still make defenders miss in space, even if he can’t hit the hole as fast as he once could from the backfield.
Leave a Reply