Philadelphia Eagles fans weren't the only ones excited with Saquon Barkley's spectacular performance during Sunday's 28-22 divisional-round win over the Los Angeles Rams.
Atlanta Falcons tailback Bijan Robinson reacted to Barkley's 232-yard, two-touchdown game on social media, thanking the Eagles star for helping increase the value of the running back position in the NFL.
Barkley finished Sunday with 26 carries for 205 yards and two touchdowns. He also caught four passes for 27 yards to help Philadelphia reach the NFC title game versus the Washington Commanders. The 27-year-old joined Philly during the 2024 offseason, signing a three-year, $37-million contract after the New York Giants decided not to re-sign him.
Barkley ended the 2024 regular season as an MVP candidate after becoming the ninth player in NFL history to run for over 2,000 yards in a campaign.
The value of NFL running backs has been a hot topic in recent years, and several RBs voiced their frustrations after not landing lucrative long-term contracts two years ago. However, multiple tailbacks were rewarded with bigger deals in 2024 after their previous teams let them hit free agency.
In addition to Barkley, Derrick Henry put on a show in his first season with the Baltimore Ravens after inking a two-year, $16-million contract. In 2024, Josh Jacobs landed a four-year pact with the Green Bay Packers worth $48 million. D'Andre Swift signed with the Chicago Bears for four years, $24 million, while Tony Pollard got a three-year, $21.7-million deal from the Tennessee Titans.
Robinson is two years into his rookie contract, which includes a fifth-year option for the team. The 22-year-old set career highs with 1,446 yards and 14 touchdowns on the ground this past season. He was drafted eighth overall in 2023, becoming the highest-drafted RB since Barkley was taken at No. 2 in 2018.
