[ad_1]
Tim McManus, ESPN Workers Author
PHILADELPHIA — The league’s collective reluctance to pay working backs performed closely into the Philadelphia Eagles’ choice to signal Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million contract in free company.
That turned clear on the league conferences in Orlando, the place CEO Jeffrey Lurie and common supervisor Howie Roseman make clear the considering behind one of many largest splash strikes of the offseason.
“We’re at all times in search of inefficiencies within the market. And if we expect the league is overvaluing the place or undervaluing a place, we are going to strive our greatest … [to] benefit from these inefficiencies,” Lurie stated. “That is vital as you attempt to maximize the wage cap and the way you allocate assets inside an outlined house.”
The Eagles have pushed towards the concept that this was an out-of-character transfer, citing the profitable extension they gave LeSean McCoy in 2012 and Brian Westbrook earlier than him. However these signings occurred over a decade in the past, and each with homegrown skills.
Editor’s Picks
2 Associated
Lurie emphasised that they don’t seem to be averse to paying backs, they’re simply cautious about it, committing solely to dynamic gamers in each the run and go sport.
Barkley rushed for over 5,200 yards over six seasons with the New York Giants and added 288 catches for two,100 yards. He did so in less-than-ideal circumstances, which was additionally a consideration.
“He exhibited a really particular ability set each within the working and the passing sport that we expect definitely might be maximized by being on a workforce with higher ability positions, quarterback, offensive line,” Lurie stated.
Groups have typically been hesitant to commit large {dollars} to even a number of the extra productive backs in current seasons, preserving the wage inflation low in comparison with different positions. The highest-paid again within the league, Christian McCaffrey, makes $16 million a 12 months on common. There are a complete of simply six working backs making greater than $10 million a 12 months together with Barkley at $13 million.
In the meantime, the highest NFL receiver, Tyreek Hill, nets $30 million a 12 months. He is certainly one of 16 gamers that’s north of $20 million per season on common whereas one other 13 gamers are at $10 million or extra, together with some that are not the first receiving possibility on their squad.
“Has the pendulum swung up to now at this place — I imply, the man touches the ball 300 instances a 12 months, hopefully,” Roseman stated. “There’s not a variety of different ability place gamers which are touching the ball that many instances and having that impact.”
Judging by their feedback, the Eagles predict Barkley to be a central a part of their offense. Then once more, the identical might be stated for quarterback Jalen Hurts and his potent receiving choices in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight finish Dallas Goedert.
Coach Nick Sirianni predictably referred to as the plethora of choices “a great drawback to have,” although he acknowledged it may require a level of selflessness for the operation to work.
“What’s vital within the strategy of a season is that we construct the connection, we construct the workforce, so no matter how a lot they’re consuming, everybody is worked up for one another,” Sirianni stated.
[ad_2]
Source link
