The Washington Commanders were second-best to the Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship game. A bold move by the newly crowned Super Bowl champions provides general manager Adam Peters with added urgency heading into a pivotal recruitment period.
Saquon Barkley’s exceptional first year with the Eagles was rewarded with a new deal. The former first-round pick and reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year is now the highest-paid running back in league history according to Adam Schefter of ESPN after the news was first reported on the Pat McAfee Show.
Eagles are rewarding Saquon Barkley with a two-year, $41.2 million contract extension that makes him the highest-paid running back in NFL history, per sources. The deal makes Barkley the NFL’s first $20 million+ per-year running back. Barkley also has the ability to earn an additional $15 million in incentives and escalators. The deal includes $36 million fully guaranteed at signing. The Eagles are taking the rare step of extending Barkley one year into his three-year deal – and in the same league year in which they signed him to the initial contract.”Adam Schefter
Barkley jumped to the New York Giants’ division rival after they were reluctant to pay him the going rate. Hindsight is a wonderful thing to have, but this will go down as an all-time franchise catastrophe after his exceptional contribution to the Eagles’ season that ended by hoisting the Vince Lombardi trophy.
Commanders must urgently improve their defense to counteract Saquon Barkley
The Penn State product tormented the Commanders over their three meetings. Dan Quinn and Joe Whitt Jr.’s defense held him in check for spells, but it’s hard to deny the damage he did on the ground with 414 rushing yards and seven touchdowns.
If the Commanders want to keep pace with the Eagles next season and beyond, they have to fix their defense. They were bullied in the trenches and woeful against the run. Generating pressure was difficult and those on the edge couldn’t set it effectively in pursuit of limiting outside gains.
Barkley had no trouble exploiting this. Considering he’ll now be a thorn in Washington’s side for years to come, finding ways to counteract his supreme threat is crucial.
They have some decent defensive pieces in place. Peters has a healthy amount of salary-cap space despite taking on wide receiver Deebo Samuel Sr.’s contract following his trade from the San Francisco 49ers. This could increase further when Jonathan Allen is traded or released. Six draft picks aren’t a lot, but expect the front-office leader to accumulate more selections in some capacity.
Peters will be aggressive in finding the upgrades needed. He won’t be reckless, keeping to his long-term strategy while also acknowledging the Commanders’ window is open with quarterback sensation Jayden Daniels on a rookie deal. Barkley’s extension doesn’t change much, it just fortifies the need to find better solutions.
Washington’s rivalry with the Eagles was reignited during the 2024 campaign. If the Commanders want to get the better of their formidable division foe, defensive reinforcements are critical.
The front office knew that already. Barkley’s extension only emphasizes this pressing priority.
