ESPN rubs salt in the wound for Eagles' rival after major offseason move

The Philadelphia Eagles lit the NFC East on fire earlier this offseason with the signing of star running back Saquon Barkley. 

How did the rest of the NFL feel about the Eagles' move to grab the playmaker from their rival foe? NFL insider Jeremy Fowler got the scoop regarding how some of the brightest minds around the league felt about it. 

Via ESPN, Fowler broke down a survey given to league executives, coaches, and scouts. That survey ranks top 10 players at different positions. Check out his description for how they come to their rankings below.

With 2024 NFL training camps on the horizon, it is again time for the league's true insiders to make their voices heard. ESPN surveyed league executives, coaches and scouts to help us rank the top 10 players at 11 different positions, from quarterback to cornerback and all positions in between. This is the fifth edition of these rankings, and as usual, several players have moved up or fallen off last year's lists.

Saquon Barkley ranked 4th in NFL among running backs

One AFC scout thinks that Barkley's fit with Philly is perfect, even with the offensive scheme changes coming in green.

After years of toiling in the Giants' grind-it-out offense, Barkley upgraded to Philly. The possibilities have some around the league excited.

"He's going to be a beast," a veteran AFC scout who ranked him second said. "The weapons around him on the outside, dual-threat QB, shotgun runs, his versatility -- it's a perfect fit."

A career reset like McCaffrey's in San Francisco would be ideal for Barkley, whose production dipped to 962 yards on 247 carries (3.9 yards per carry) last season. Barkley battled ankle issues that sources said were worse than most knew. Many weeks it was a struggle for him to see the field. -- ESPN+

We will see if he's correct. Regardless, the downgrade from Barkley to Devin Singletary is a tough pill to swallow for Giants fans. We will see how much they miss the star RB by midseason in 2024.

As for Philly, they simply need Barkley to stay available. 

With the depth behind him with the Eagles, he should not have to bolster an extreme workload. Philadelphia would be smart to temper how many snaps per game he receives, simply to keep Barkley fresh. 

That being said, he is still one of the most talented running backs in football. The dual rushing threat of Barkley and QB Jalen Hurts should be a headache for opposing defenses.