It’s legal tampering week in the NFL, and we begin with Mike Lombardi:

The Eagles and Saquon Barkley stuff has been floating around for about a week now. He was franchise tagged last year and did not come to a long-term contract extension with the Giants. Tom Pelissero reported a little after Lombardi that the Ravens, Titans, and Eagles are all showing interest.

It’s hard to say what’s real and what’s agent-drive smoke screen nonsense, but the Eagles are never in on free agent running backs and it’s hard to imagine why Saquon would be any different. They traded for D’Andre Swift on the final year of his rookie deal in 2023 and ate just a $1.7 million cap hit for a guy who went on to have a career year. Why would we expect the philosophy to change? Why now? What makes Saquon different than every other free agent running back that’s hit the market?

You do wonder about the intangible things. Barkley grew up in the Lehigh Valley and went to Penn State. Maybe the thought of staying in the division and/or playing against the Giants is enticing. Certainly if he leaves New York he’s going to be playing for a much better team alongside a quarterback who isn’t a total stiff. Imagine what he can do behind a real offensive line.

FYI the legal tampering window is a two-day period that begins today at noon. Teams are allowed to speak directly with agents and hash out deals ahead of the free agency window opening on Wednesday at 4 p.m.