Eagles’ Nick Sirianni Sounds Off On Saquon Barkley’s Role

Philadelphia Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is not at all worried about how new running back Saquon Barkley will fit into his team’s offense.

The Eagles signed Barkley to a three-year deal in free agency earlier this month, and while some lauded Philadelphia for landing arguably the best halfback on the market, others questioned just how the club would work Barkley into its system.

But Sirianni has no such concerns.

“Good players fit well into schemes,” Sirianni said, via Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. “He’s obviously a really good player. We’re really excited to have him. Guys like that, however you use them, they’re going to do a good job.”

Barkley certainly brings versatility to the table, as he is both a terrific rusher and a very good receiver out of the backfield when he is healthy. So, Philly should be able to utilize him in a variety of ways.

Sirianni also compared Barkley’s situation to that of wide receiver A.J. Brown, whom the Eagles acquired in a trade with the Tennessee Titans a couple of years ago.

“A couple of years ago when we added A.J., we did a lot of work on, ‘What does AJ do well, how can we use him?’ It’s been a similar process here with Saquon,” Sirianni said.

Barkley spent the first six years of his career with the New York Giants after being taken with the second overall pick back in 2018.

He made a pair of Pro Bowl appearances with the Giants, most recently doing so in 2022 after rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards.

However, the 27-year-old had a rough 2023 campaign, registering 962 yards and six touchdowns on the ground while averaging a pedestrian 3.9 yards per carry.

Saquon Barkley also has a rather significant injury history, so that is also something that Nick Sirianni and the Eagles will have to monitor next season.