The Philadelphia Eagles let Kenneth Gainwell walk in free agency and replaced him with former Green Bay Packers running back A.J. Dillon.
Dillon will back up All-Pro Saquon Barkley and provide the Eagles with a good one-two punch out of the backfield. Dillon will compete with second-year man Will Shipley from Clemson for the No. 2 job, but he should not be deterred from winning that role.
It should be noted that Dillon missed all of last season with a neck injury. All reports indicate he is healthy and ready to go for camp.
Where Does a Barkley/Dillon Backfield Rank Around the League?
Everyone knows the kind of year Barkley had in 2024. His 2,504 yards through the regular and postseason set an NFL record which does not appear to be broken any time soon, according to Anthony Miller of Inside the Iggles.
Bleacher Report writer Moe Moton ranked the Top 10 running back pairs in the league, and Barkley and Dillon checked in at number four.
“Saquon Barkley won the rushing title and nearly broke Hall of Famer Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record (2,105) last season,” Moton said. “Despite Barkley’s heavy workload on the ground, he still caught 33 passes for 278 yards and two touchdowns, and 12 of his receptions moved the chains for first downs.”
Moton then went on to praise Dillon, who is a big, punishing back who can move the pile and get the short-yardage first downs when healthy.
“This offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles signed a proven complementary running back in A.J. Dillon,” Moton said. “His 6’0″, 247-pound frame allows him to move human piles in short-yardage situations or mow over defenders after the catch.”
How Will the Eagles Use Dillon?
Dillon has been primarily a backup in Titletown and played for the Green Bay Packers from 2020 to 2023. He made plays in the short passing game, hauling in 86 passes for 763 yards and two touchdowns.
Moton also thinks he will beat out Shipley for the backup job.
“Though he sat out the 2024 campaign with a neck injury, his skill set should allow him to get the nod over Will Shipley for the No. 2 spot on the depth chart,” Moton said.”Assuming Dillon is back to 100 percent, he will be one of the league’s most productive No. 2 running backs. His pass-catching ability will allow him to see the field on third downs.”
Miller is also very high on the new Philadelphia Eagles duo.
“Barkley’s play is already well-known, but for Eagles fans unfamiliar with Dillon’s game, he presents a challenge to bring down,” Miller said. “The downhill back had success from 2021 through 2023, with three consecutive seasons with at least 600 yards, and scored 14 touchdowns in that span. The Packers selected him in the second round of the 2020 NFL Draft, as he rushed for 242 yards and two touchdowns for Green Bay.”
Miller believes Dillon will be the short-yardage back and will not take many repetitions from Barkley.
“Dillon fits perfectly as a short-yardage running back who can get the tough two to three yards,” Miller said. “All indications at OTAs were that Barkley, Shipley, and he would be heavily involved in the passing game, so it could be another tool in the toolbox that Dillon can use.”
