Allen Barbre Provides Versatility on Eagles Offensive Line

Versatility.

The more you can do, the more valuable you become.

Last year's starting left guard, Allen Barbre's versatility may have actually cost him his starting job.

With the ability to play multiple spots across the offensive line, Barbre provides veteran depth to an offensive line that took its share of hits last season.

“Allen is a guy that, as you guys know, [is] one of the those versatile offensive linemen that can play guard and tackle," Eagles head coach Doug Pederson explained last week.

"When we get Allen back, too, we want to work him not only at guard, but also at tackle.”

Barbre, listed at 6-foot-4 and 310 pounds, has experience at both guard and tackle positions in the NFL. Since enterting the league with the Green Bay Packers back in 2017, he has played in 76 games — including 36 starts — with 11 at right tackle and 25 at left guard.

During the 2013 season, Barbre further showed his versatility, sliding out to left tackle in a game in Green Bay.

Yeah, right now, [we are] going to work [G] Isaac Seumalo in there," Pederson said about who was getting first-team left guard reps at offseason OTA's. "Let him get an opportunity to work in the rotation with that first unit.

While it’s possible Barbre may eventually find himself back in the starting line-up, for now, it seems the Eagles view him more as a versatile swing lineman.

Last season, the Eagles were playing musical chairs all across the offensive line. Between Lane Johnson's suspension, Halapoulivaati Vaitai injury, Brandon Brooks dealing with an anxiety issue, and Barbre suffering a setback himself, with the hamstring issue, the Eagles had constant shuffling, especially late in the year

Which makes having a player of Barbre's caliber with some experience can serve as great depth for a team that added plenty of offensive line competition over the last two off-seasons.

In addition to Barbre's versatility, they have depth, the team resigned Stefen Wisniewski and signed former first-round pick Chance Warmack to provide plenty of both.  Wisniewski can play both guard positions and center, while Warmack can fill in at either guard spot.

Add in Seumalo, who entered the league as a center and started three games at guard and one at right tackle last season, and the Eagles have a ton of flexibility with their offensive line.