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Panthers trade Oregon alumnus Kenjon Barner to Eagles

By Henry McKenna

Aug 8, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Kenjon Barner (25) runs the ball while Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) pursues during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports
Aug 8, 2014; Charlotte, NC, USA; Carolina Panthers running back Kenjon Barner (25) runs the ball while Buffalo Bills defensive end Mario Williams (94) pursues during the first quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports /
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Chip Kelly can’t get enough former Oregon players. He and the Eagles have acquired running back Kenjon Barner from the Panthers for a 7th-round conditional 2015 draft pick. He is the ninth Oregon Duck on the Eagles Roster.

Barner had essentially no impact on the Panthers offense last season, carrying the ball six times for seven yards to the tune of 1.2 yards per carry. Kelly believes he can reignite Barner’s success from Oregon, where he was devilishly quick and brutally efficient. In his senior season, Barner averaged 6.4 yards per carry and 12.8 yards per reception. He finished the season with 1,767 rushing yards, 21 rushing touchdowns, 256 receiving yards and two receiving touchdowns.

“Kenjon will hopefully bring some depth to both our running back and return positions,” Eagles coach Chip Kelly said in a team-issued statement Tuesday night. “He’s obviously a guy I know really well from Oregon, where he had a very productive career. He has a lot of speed, explosiveness and had a knack for making some really big plays. But our plan with him right now is get him in Philadelphia as soon as we can and plug him in at running back and returner and let him compete.”

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At 5 foot 9 and 190 pounds, he will likely never produce stats like that in the NFL. He reportedly ran a 40-yard dash in 4.35 seconds, which makes him an asset in special teams and as a change of pace back.

The Panthers drafted him in the sixth round and asked only for a conditional 7th-round pick. In short, the Panthers thought they’d sell before they could no longer turn a profit on a rotten investment. On the other hand, Kelly saw an opportunity to buy low on a player who could potentially make an impact down the line. Time will tell which team made the right move.

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