Saquon Barkley's magical 2024 season helped return some positive glamor to the running back position. In the right system, the top-shelf backs do matter.
Barkley's run to the Super Bowl in Philadelphia has also inspired incoming rookie Ashton Jeanty.
In an open letter penned to general managers for The Players' Tribune, Jeanty said he could make the same difference for an NFL club that Barkley made for Philly.
"Most people, they watched the Eagles win the Super Bowl a couple of months ago, they watched Saquon run through everyone in the playoffs, and they thought to themselves, This is amazing," Jeanty wrote. "I watched it and I thought something different. I thought, That can be me."
The Boise State product is a near-unanimous top-five talent entering next week's draft. He's a tackle-breaker with uncanny balance and pinball ability who can rip off impressive runs.
Whereas two years ago, some were surprised the Atlanta Falcons selected Bijan Robinson at No. 8 overall and the Detroit Lions took Jahmyr Gibbs at No. 12, it would be stunning if Jeanty were not chosen in the top 10 on April 24.
Jeanty cited his background, including moving around in a military family, as a reason he's resilient and can bring that unwavering mentality to the NFL level.
The incoming rookie closed his letter with a bold statement:
"If you pick me, it's simple: I'm coming to your franchise to do what Saquon and the Eagles just did. I'm coming to win, big, soon. It's TACKLE football … you know what I'm saying?
"I'd draft the guy they can't tackle."
Teams should like that kind of bravado -- the confidence to say aloud the belief in his talents. Things don't always go perfectly in the pros. Being able to fall back on that sort of mentality will help when tough times arise.
