The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the top young running backs in the NFL on their roster but many experts and analysts around the league believe a skilled veteran is needed.
The Birds have had some talks with Devonta Freeman and LeSean McCoy but the team has also insinuated that they’re prepared to give bigger roles to Boston Scott and Corey Clements.
NFL.com’s Gil Brandt broke down some of the biggest and most concerning roster holes in the league and backup running back for the Eagles landed on the list.
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Philadelphia EaglesBACKUP RUNNING BACK
I’m bullish on Miles Sanders’ chances to become the first bell-cow back of the Doug Pederson era, but if something were to happen to him, the Eagles could be in trouble. The cupboard currently looks awfully bare when it comes to potential replacements, with Boston Scott, Corey Clement and Elijah Holyfield positioned as the top three backups. Carlos Hyde could have been an option, but he signed with Seattle. Devonta Freeman remains a possibility, but the former Atlanta starter might have salary demands that are too rich for the Eagles’ blood. LeSean McCoy says he would love to return to his former team, but the fact that he was a healthy scratch for Kansas City in last year’s playoffs raises questions about how much he has left in the tank. It might make sense to kick the tires on Lamar Miller, who is progressing in his rehab from reconstructive knee surgery.
The Eagles appear confident in carving out a role for Scott after his late-season performance in 2019, while a healthy Cory Clement can offer some relief for Sanders as well.
The wild card in the process will be the development of undrafted free agent running backs Adrian Killins and Michael Warren. Warren offers the Eagles their best chance at complementing Miles Sanders with a bigger workhorse type back on a value contract.
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