Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley put forth one of the greatest seasons ever for a player at his position.
Barkley set an NFL record for total rushing yards in a season, including playoffs, and was a key catalyst to the Eagles winning Super Bowl LIX. While he was not as dominant in that game as many expected, his impact on the roster was significant.
As he prepares for his second season with the team, the new question surrounding Barkley is if he can follow up his historical 2024 campaign with another elite one in 2025.
Debate continues on that exact question, but one former star in the league believes that Barkley isn't just a candidate to be an All-Pro this season but to win the MVP award.
Former Pro Bowl running back Maurice Jones-Drew called Barkley a "dark-horse" Most Valuable Player Award candidate.
"He became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season before helping lead the Eagles to the franchise's second Super Bowl title," Jones-Drew said. "Signing a two-year extension this offseason, the dark-horse MVP candidate is again set up to thrive with the Eagles essentially returning the entire offense for 2025, including most of the big boys up front."
In a league focused solely on the quarterback position, it is hard to see a non-signal-caller win the MVP award again.
With how Barkley performed in 2024, any sign of improvement in his game could be the excuse for some voters to throw some his way.
At the very least, Barkley's efforts will continue to be appreciated in Philadelphia.
