The Philadelphia Eagles won a Super Bowl without a star running back, and after a season that saw the Birds struggle at times to find a suitable running game, the question now has to be asked, do the Eagles need a feature back to truly make the offense as polarizing as it can be?
Looking at the position now, the team needs to draft a running back and the group on the roster isn’t the answer. Jay Ajayi is coming off a torn ACL and is a pending free agent. Darren Sproles is 35-years-old and might retire. Corey Clement is coming back from a season-ending knee injury, while Josh Adams and Wendell Smallwood clearly aren’t the answer.
With that being said, here are six running back options the Eagles could consider in free agency:
Jay Ajayi
Ajayi tore his ACL on Oct. 7, is slated to become a free agent in less than a month. With Ajayi seeking some security, it remains to be seen if he’ll take a one year, prove it style deal, or hope that a team feels confident banking on the Ajayi that helped the Eagles to their first Super Bowl in franchise history.
Mark Ingram — RB — Saints
If the Eagles aren’t prepared to bring Jay Ajayi back, then Ingram is definitely a player Howie Roseman and company should be checking for. Ingram is a solid locker room guy who flourished while sharing a backfield with Alvin Kamara and would provide the Birds with some toughness and explosiveness at the running back position. Signing Ingram would still allow the Eagles to feature Corey Clement, Josh Adams and Darren Sproles in spurts if they choose.
LeGarrette Blount
Could the Eagles turn back the hands of time to get a guy that they know will punch it in at the goal line? Blount is scheduled to be a free agent this offseason after signing a one-year deal with the Lions following the Birds Super Bowl win. Blount totaled 418 yards and five touchdowns, for Detroit averaging just 2.7 yards per carry the lowest of his career.
Tevin Coleman
The Eagles utilize a running back by committee system and Coleman isn’t a premier running back on the free agent market, but he does bring a ton of value and fit for Mike Groh’s system. Whether the Eagles will actually pursue Coleman is to be determined but his market value states that Howie Roseman could have the Falcons backup for the cheap.
T.J. Yeldon
Yeldon would be a good fit with the Eagles from a versatility standpoint. He’s as much of a threat catching passing out of the backfield as he is as a ball carrier, and could play all three downs if called upon. Yeldon has 465 rushing attempts for 1,872 yards and 171 receptions for 1,302 receiving yards in his career.
Latavius Murray
Murray wants to start, but would likely be utilized in a goal line or short yardage role, unless he can prove that he’s a true bell-cow running back.
Murray started six games for the Minnesota Vikings last season.
