Making A Case For Saquon Barkley As 2024 MVP

This was originally being worked on as a piece about Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley’s Offensive Player of the Year odds, but that quickly changed as the season progressed. Barkley was in a tight race with Baltimore Ravens running back Derrick Henry for the award, but it’s not even close anymore. Barkley has been running away in the OPOY race after his historic 255-yard performance against the Los Angeles Rams in Week 12, and continued success in the weeks following. He’s the significant favorite over Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase, who’s well behind with the next-best odds.

Barkley has now entered the 2024 MVP conversation and was named a finalist along with Buffalo Bills quarterback Josh Allen, Detroit Lions quarterback Jared Goff, Bengals quarterback Joe Burrow and Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson. Allen and Jackson have the best odds to win the award.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman going out and signing Barkley in free agency was one of the best moves of the NFL offseason. The New York Giants drafted Barkley with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2018 draft, with sky-high expectations for the running back. Barkley was an elite player coming out of Penn State and didn’t disappoint in his first NFL season, posting 2,028 scrimmage yards with 15 total touchdowns. He was named the Offensive Rookie of the Year and earned his first Pro Bowl selection.

Barkley was never able to replicate those numbers the next three years because of injuries and playing on a bad Giants team. He put his name back on the map in 2022, rushing for a career-high 1,312 yards to go along with 10 touchdowns. He was named to the second Pro Bowl of his career and helped lead the Giants to their first playoff appearance since 2016.

Barkley decided to leave the Giants and sign with the Eagles, their division rival, ahead of the 2024 season. It was a move that shocked the NFL world, but people were excited to see what the talented back could do behind an elite Eagles offensive line.

Saquon Barkley’s Historic 2024 Season Could End With An MVP Award

The 27-year-old hasn’t disappointed. Barkley is a human highlight reel and is a large reason why the Eagles finished 14-3 and as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. He was the NFL’s leading rusher and was 101 yards shy of breaking Hall of Fame running back Eric Dickerson’s single-season rushing record of 2,105 yards, set in 1984. Barkley led the league in attempts, rushing yards per game, touches, scrimmage yards, and runs of 40 or more yards.

Barkley finished the 2024 season with 2,005 rushing yards on 345 attempts and 13 rushing touchdowns. He averaged 5.8 yards per carry and 125.3 rushing yards per game, both career highs. He caught 33 passes for 278 yards and had two receiving touchdowns. He lost only one fumble. Barkley rushed for over 100 yards in 11 games this season, including his 255-yard performance in a 37-20 win over the Rams on Sunday Night Football. He had six multi-touchdown games, including a three-touchdown performance in Week 1 against the Green Bay Packers.

Allen had an incredible season for the Bills. He led his team to a 13-4 record and the No. 2 seed in the AFC. He had 41 total touchdowns, including a receiving touchdown. He threw only six interceptions and lost two fumbles. Jackson made the case for his third MVP Award. The Ravens’ dual-threat quarterback led his team to a 12-5 record and the No. 3 seed in the AFC. He had 45 total touchdowns and threw only four interceptions, but he lost five fumbles.

If the Bengals made the playoffs, Burrow would likely be the league’s MVP. He put up video game numbers in 2024, but it didn’t translate into the team’s overall success. Goff led the Lions to a 15-2 record and the No. 1 seed in the NFC, but he didn’t protect the football as well as the other quarterbacks and was a non-factor with his legs.

All five candidates had incredible seasons and deserve to be named MVP. It’s turned into a quarterback award over the years with the last non-quarterback to win it being former Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson in 2012.

Barkley has been extremely valuable to his team with his explosiveness, big-play ability and all-around talent. He not only became the ninth player in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season, but he also became the Eagles’ franchise leader for most rushing yards in a season back in Week 14, passing LeSean McCoy. Barkley turned the Eagles into Super Bowl contenders and by far had the best season of his career in 2024.