Eagles news: Howie Roseman discusses Saquon Barkley signing; NFL owners make rule changes; updated depth chart

ORLANDO, Fla. — On the surface, the Eagles’ signing of running back Saquon Barkley to a three-year, $37.75 million deal with $26 million fully guaranteed is a departure from how Roseman has done business with free agents at the position in recent history.

The Eagles haven’t signed a free-agent running back to a multi-year deal since Matt Jones in 2018 (two years). DeMarco Murray, a Chip Kelly signing, preceded him with a five-year deal signed in 2015.

While the NFL approved three rule changes during the league's annual meeting Monday, a proposal to encourage more kickoff returns didn't get a vote.

The change, inspired by the XFL, would shift everyone but the kicker to the receiving team's territory. Owners say the move would encourage more kickoff returns while allowing players to avoid the type of high-speed collisions that led to injuries. Last year was the lowest rate of kickoff returns in NFL history, with just 22 percent returned.

The NFL is adding another coaches challenge and banning hip-drop tackles, the league announced Monday.

On coaches challenges, head coaches will now be given a third challenge following a successful challenge. Previously, coaches were only give a third challenge following two successful challenges.

Former Eagles wide receiver Quez Watkins is signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported Monday. 

Dubbed “Fast Batman” by cornerback Darius Slay, Watkins spent four seasons with the Eagles, who drafted the speedster out of Southern Miss in the sixth round of the 2020 draft. 

ORLANDO, Fla. — The Eagles have a Jason Kelce-sized hole to fill next season, and Kansas City Chiefs head coach Andy Reid ought to understand just how challenging it will be to replace him, both on and off the field.

Reid, who was the Eagles’ head coach from 1999-2012, drafted Kelce in the sixth round, No. 191 overall in the 2011 draft out of Cincinnati. They spent just two seasons together but remained close as Reid moved on to Kansas City and selected Kelce’s brother, Travis, in the third round, No. 63 overall in 2013.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Edge rusher Bryce Huff is ready to shoulder a heavier workload in his first season with the Eagles, according to New York Jets head coach Robert Saleh.

On Monday morning at the NFL annual meeting in Orlando, Fla., Saleh said he expects the 25-year-old Huff to see his snaps increase after serving as a situational pass rusher with the Jets. Huff, an undrafted free agent out of Memphis who signed with the Jets in 2020, never played more than 51% of the defensive snaps in a single season (2021) throughout his four years with the team.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Shane Steichen didn’t work with Jalen Hurts last season, so he didn’t get to see how the Eagles quarterback reacted to his and his team’s struggles.

But the former Eagles offensive coordinator did spend two seasons with Hurts and watched him nearly win Super Bowl LVII. And Steichen said he saw nothing that would suggest he couldn’t lead despite his stoic disposition.

The Eagles further filled out their quarterback room Saturday, agreeing to terms with Will Grier on a one-year contract.

Grier, 28, hasn’t appeared in a regular-season game since his rookie season in 2019, but spent extensive time on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad while Eagles offensive coordinator Kellen Moore held the same title on the Dallas staff.