Eagles' Saquon Barkley addresses never reaching 'potential' with Giants

Star running back Saquon Barkley left the New York Giants this past March and then signed a three-year, $37.75M contract that could be worth up to $46.75M with $26M fully guaranteed to join the Philadelphia Eagles early in free agency.

On Sunday, Barkley spoke with reporters about the perception that he never reached his full potential with the Giants as the second overall pick of the 2018 NFL Draft.

"I’m not going to stop," Barkley said, as shared by Cayden Steele of NJ Advance Media for NJ.com. "I’m going to keep trying. Sometimes the reality of it (is that) a lot of people don’t get to reach their full potential. But at the end of the day, if I know I can put my all into it and I don’t reach it when it’s all said and done, I’ll be happy with the work I put in."

Barkley more often than not was the most talented overall offensive player on New York teams from 2018 through last season, and his contributions as a ball-carrier and as a weapon in the passing game helped the 2022 Giants earn a playoff berth and notch a road postseason victory. However, he picked up only a pair of Pro Bowl nods across his first six seasons, and he dealt with numerous physical setbacks throughout his New York tenure.

Specifically, Barkley missed the bulk of the 2020 season after he suffered a torn ACL in Week 2 of that campaign. More recently, he was sidelined for three games last season because of an ankle injury.

Despite concerns related to the fact that Barkley may already be past his prime as an NFL running back who is 27-years-old and who has a concerning injury history, individuals within the Eagles clearly believe he can turn the clock back while hitting holes created by what should be the best offensive line he's ever had as a pro. On Monday, Tim McManus of ESPN noted that Barkley "has been active in both the run and pass game" this summer as part of the scheme installed by new Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore.

"Not trying to sound cocky or anything like that," Barkley said about his expectations for his first season with Philadelphia. "Tape speaks for itself. I am just trying to elevate on that, trying to expand my game. I feel like I’ve done a lot of great things in this league even with battling through injuries. I felt like I made a name for myself. I feel like within this offense and the guys I have around me, I am going to continue to be able to do that."

Whispers continue to suggest that Eagles head coach Nick Sirianni is on the hot seat coming off the club's collapse late last season. Barkley reaching his advertised potential this fall could help Philadelphia achieve the kind of success that would ensure Sirianni is still in his role at this time next year.