Who will be the Eagles running back?
The Eagles running back position is one of the team’s biggest mysteries heading into the offseason. Will they re-sign Miles Sanders? Give the keys to Kenneth Gainwell? Or go looking for a replacement in the NFL Draft?
Miles Sanders’ Situation
Miles Sanders is coming off of the best year of his professional career. Sanders was healthy for the whole season while he rushed for over 1,200 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Sanders has always been a weapon with his explosiveness and big play ability. But, will the Eagles pay a running back with other holes to fill? If the Eagles were to re-sign Sanders it would lessen the chance in re-signing C.J. Gardner-Johnson or Javon Hargrave.
Sanders has recently spoke up on his situation by saying he hopes to stay in Philadelphia.
But, the last time we saw Sanders play he completely disappeared in the sport’s biggest game. Throughout the playoffs Sanders was outplayed by his back up Kenneth Gainwell. And as Gainwell made play after play Sanders saw less time.
CBS Sports projects Sanders to be paid $7.2 million per year on his next contract. That number might make the Eagles go in another direction.
Kenneth Gainwell’s New Role?
Kenneth Gainwell was the Eagles biggest surprise of the postseason. It seemed that on every big third down Kenny made a play.
Kenny’s stats during the postseason alone compare to his regular season reps. During the playoff run, Gainwell ran for over 180 yards and a touchdown. He was also a weapon through the air. Can his playoff performances boost him into a starting role?
It’s quite possible that Kenny is the day one starter next season. The Eagles didn’t draft him to ride the bench his whole career and many teams are deciding not to give running backs two contracts.
What helps Gainwell the most in this case is his versatility. Gainwell can be a weapon on the ground and in the passing game whereas Sanders was mostly a one dimensional back. Kenny’s postseason performance might have swayed Howie Roseman’s mind on Miles Sanders contract.
Rookie Options
The Eagles are sitting on multiple first round picks in this year’s NFL Draft (10,30). Yahoo Sports is projecting that the Eagles select Bijan Robinson with the 30th pick.
Many scouts have Robinson as their RB1 for this year’s draft but many analysts are uncertain on the value of first round running backs. But the Eagles are a team where they don’t have an extensive amount of holes to fill so this pick may be possible.
If the Eagles were to draft Robinson, he would most likely be the day one starter or splitting snaps with Gainwell.
Another way the birds can go is drafting a running back in the later rounds. Some prospects such as Tank Bigsby might garner some attention. If the Eagles were to take a mid round running back, Kenny Gainwell would see a majority of the snaps.
Go Birds!
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Categorized:Eagles