The Eagles won’t be trading running back Saquon Barkley. For most players on teams that are falling apart, the inability to chase a championship with a high-end contender would be viewed as bad news. Barkley’s comments after Philly’s latest loss make it clear that he welcomes the opportunity to stick around.
It’s impressive that Barkley is committed to a seemingly lost cause. Of course, the decision not to trade Barkley doesn’t mean the team is committed to Barkley for as long as he wants to play in Philadelphia.
Trading him would spark a $26 million dead-money charge in 2027. It’s possible that the Eagles listened, talked, and decided that the offers from any interested teams weren’t good enough to justify losing the player and taking the cap hit.
Regardless, the Eagles currently are fading fast. After starting 2-0, they’ve lost six in a row — with four of the losses playing out in standalone windows. The 2025 Super Bowl season has disappeared into the deepest recesses of the rear-view mirror. The roster has a growing list of flaws, and the future of quarterback Jalen Hurts hovers over everything.
For now, Barkley’s future is settled. He’ll stick around. And he wants to.
“I have nothing but respect for this organization, top to bottom. I really do think they do things the right way,” Barkley said Sunday night, via Tim McManus of ESPN. “It’s an honor and a privilege every single time I get to go out there and play for this organization and put on the midnight green.”
It’s a great attitude from the player. The inescapable reality, from the team’s perspective, is that Barkley will be wearing midnight green only until the clock strikes midnight on the team’s decision to advance its “best interests” by moving on.