“I’m just excited to go out there every time, make the most out of every opportunity,” Dillon said. “If you’re a football fan, you know about the Eagles’ offensive line, and so I’m definitely excited to meet them first, and then get out there and compete with those guys, run behind them, earn their trust.”

Dillon was cleared to play after missing all of last season with a neck injury, and from afar, he has seen the style of football that Barkley and the Eagles play being a fit for him — and those quads.

Saquon Barkley was the straw that stirred the drink for the Philadelphia Eagles en route to their Super Bowl LIX title last season. Now, after inking a lucrative extension with the organization earlier this offseason, he's hoping to be a catalyst for his fellow running backs to follow suit.

AJ Dillon has joined the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2025 NFL season, and he has made something clear to Saquon Barkley regarding the competition for the RB1 role. AJ Dillon has officially joined the Philadelphia Eagles for the 2025 NFL season,

If he can return to his previous level, Dillon should offer the Eagles a bruising runner to spell Barkley with a track record of being productive in short-yardage situations. He has averaged 2.96 yards after contact during his career, according to Pro Football Focus. By comparison, Barkley has averaged 3.07 during his career and 3.22 last season.

When running back AJ Dillon was considering his options in free agency, the opportunity to run behind the Eagles' offensive line was a major draw that led him to sign with Philadelphia.