Photo: Barry Sanders Sends Eagles' Saquon Barkley Signed Jersey amid Historic Season

The on-field exploits of Philadelphia Eagles running back Saquon Barkley haven't gone unnoticed by one of the greatest ever at the position.

Barkley shared that he received a signed jersey from Detroit Lions legend Barry Sanders. Sanders also credited Barkley for proving "how valuable you really are."

Barkley has enjoyed a career renaissance, one that may help shift the general discourse over how running backs are valued more widely across the league. He's leading the NFL in rushing yards (1,688), and maintaining his current pace would put him at 2,050 for the season.

Were that to happen, the two-time Pro Bowler would enter elite company as just one of eight players to eclipse 2,000 rushing yards.

A MVP case could be made for him. Were he to win it, he'd be the first non-quarterback recipient since Adrian Peterson in 2012.

In general, Barkley became a symbol for a larger trend in the NFL.

Teams simply don't see running backs as the cornerstone of an offense anymore, and things seemed to be hitting a critical mass in 2023. That's the same offseason when the New York Giants played hardball with Barkley despite him amassing 1,650 yards from scrimmage and scoring 10 touchdowns a year earlier.

While the Eagles gave the 27-year-old the long-term contract he coveted, many have pointed out how his average salary ($12.6 million) is less than Peterson was making more than a decade ago. Contrast that with how quarterback salaries have inflated to the point where Dak Prescott is getting $60 million annually.

Running backs may not be able to single-handedly make bad teams good. Barkley showed that in his final season with the Giants as they slumped to a 6-11 record. However, he's showing that a dynamic ball-carrier can elevate a contender. The Eagles wouldn't be 12-2 right now without him.

General managers might keep that in mind moving forward when they examine the running back market in free agency.