Rumors: Eagles Trading For a Running Back?

Rumors: Eagles Trading For a Running Back?

Howie Roseman kicked off free agency with a couple of big moves, but holes still remain in the roster. The most glaring need is at running back, with no clear starter to speak of. The Eagles leading rusher from last season was undrafted free agent Josh Adams, who paced the team with a measly 511 yards. Adams fell out of the rotation late into the season, with the weekly inactive Wendell Smallwood taking over the role of lead back. The Eagles were a top-five rushing offense in their Super Bowl season, but with LeGarrette Blount moving to Detroit and Jay Ajayi dealing with even more knee issues, they failed to replicate that production.

Reports arose that the Eagles were interested in trading for one of the 49ers many, many running backs. Matt Breida, who had a breakout year with 814 yards (5.3 YPC), or Jerick McKinnon (missed last season with a torn ACL) were the two names that Philadelphia was rumored to have interest in. Both are lightning-fast RBs who would likely excel in a committee system. Breida was well on his way to 1,000 yards if injuries didn’t take a couple of games from him. McKinnon hasn’t had the opportunity to be a lead back and would be a wildcard coming off of a severe injury.

The Eagles were also rumored to have interest in Bears RB Jordan Howard. With the emergence of Tarik Cohen as Chicago’s #1 playmaker, the very productive Howard could be moved by Matt Nagy. Howard has racked up 3,370 yards in his three seasons as a professional and could instantly become the bell-cow that Philadelphia has lacked since LeSean McCoy was forced out of town. The Bears asking price seems to be a third round draft pick (which the Eagles do not have this year), but if there’s true interest, they could agree on a fourth rounder as adequate compensation. Acquiring a young talent with minimal injury history would prevent Philly from having to use an early draft pick on the position.

-By: Micah Jimoh