Eagles should shop bargain bin for running backs: Isaiah Crowell, Theo Riddick among 6 options

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Eagles should shop bargain bin for running backs: Isaiah Crowell, Theo Riddick among 6 options

 

The Eagles are light on proven running back depth because the team isn’t willing to pay top dollar in free agency for upgrades.

Eagles coach Doug Pederson recently admitted that the team did its due diligence on the running back free-agent market following April’s NFL Draft. He also said that the team’s top running back option "slipped through our fingers” in free agency.

The team was linked to veteran running backs Carlos Hyde, LeSean McCoy and Devonta Freeman in May. Only Hyde signed a contract with another team. Hyde inked a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Seattle Seahawks last month.

Hyde was presumably the player that slipped through the Eagles’ talons. The veteran running back would have been the second option in both Seattle and Philadelphia, so the contract offer likely made the difference. While $2.75 million isn’t cheap, it’s not particularly expensive either, especially for a veteran running back coming off his first 1,000-yard season.

With those context clues in place, it’s clear the Eagles want to shop for running back depth on a budget. Luckily for the franchise, the team can wait out the market with Miles Sanders, Boston Scott and Corey Clement on the depth chart.

Here are six cost-effective options for the Eagles at running back:

FREE AGENCY

1. Isaiah Crowell

Age: 27, HT/WT: 5-11, 225 lbs.

Crowell is a forgotten name on the free-agent market. After a forgettable 2018 campaign with the Jets, Crowell signed with the Oakland Raiders and tore his Achilles tendon just a month after joining the squad. He missed all of last year while recovering from the injury, but is now roughly 13 months removed from surgery.

Prior to his injury, Crowell was seen as a solid rotational back, who could pick up chunks of yardage with his hard-nosed style. After a year on the shelf, Crowell is likely waiting to undergo workouts and physicals with teams before he signs a free-agent deal. His style would serve as a strong complement toward Sanders, Scott and Clement.

While he isn’t known for his receiving ability, Crowell has caught 117 career passes in the NFL. He also has a background with the Shanahan offense from his time in Cleveland. Eagles senior offensive assistant Rich Scangarello is expected to bring Shanahan play-calling principles to the Philadelphia offense, so Crowell could be an asset in that regard as well. Crowell would get the opportunity for a bounce-back season behind Sanders, while the Eagles would get an experienced veteran, who -- if healthy -- could fill the Jordan Howard void in the backfield.

2. Theo Riddick

Age: 29, HT/WT: 5-9, 201 lbs.

Riddick is coming off a season that was wiped out by a shoulder injury. He was injured during the preseason of his first and only year with the Denver Broncos, where he played under Scangarello. Riddick was able to learn Scangarello’s style during the offseason, and the coach was also able to see the running back on the practice field.

Adding to Riddick’s background with the Eagles’ coaching staff is the fact that defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz was the running back’s first head coach in the NFL. Jeremiah Washburn, the team’s director of player personnel, was the Lions’ offensive line coach when Riddick arrived in Detroit. So, Riddick is very well-known within the NovaCare Complex.

While he hasn’t played in a regular-season game since 2018, Riddick has shown that he can be a dual-threat playmaker when healthy. Due to his injury-plagued 2019 season, Riddick would be a cheap flier for the Eagles, who should have a good understanding of his talent. He could come in and compete with Scott for the No. 2 job behind Sanders. If he can’t stay healthy or he loses out to Scott, the Eagles can move forward without him.

3. Wendell Smallwood

PAge: 26, HT/WT: 5-11, 201 lbs.

Before you decide to leave a nasty reply to this article on Twitter or Facebook, understand that Smallwood would fit into the competition behind Sanders, Scott and Clement. Smallwood would need to compete to win a job with undrafted rookies Adrian Killins and Mike Warren and inexperienced carryover Elijah Holyfield. Smallwood knows the offense, is a team-first player and he would cost the veteran minimum.

If the Eagles aren’t looking for a true No. 2 back behind Sanders, and just want to create competition, Smallwood makes sense. The team brought back the likes of Shelton Gibson and Stefen Wisniewski with similar outlooks last year, so the idea of a Smallwood reunion isn’t particularly far-fetched. Essentially, he’d be there to teach, compete and push the young talent at the bottom of the depth chart.

4. Jonathan Williams

pAge: 26, HT/WT: 6-0, 217 lbs.

Like Smallwood, Williams would be competition for the undrafted bunch behind Sanders, Scott and Clement. Williams played for the Colts last season and averaged a respectable 4.8 yards per carry.

While he bounced around the league during his first four seasons, Williams has more experience than his potential competition in Philadephia. Plus, he’s worked with former Eagles offensive coordinator Frank Reich in Indianapolis, so there could be some links within the playbook for Williams to learn at a faster pace.

TRADE

5. Royce Freeman (Denver Broncos)

Age: 24, HT/WT: 6-0, 229 lbs.

With Melvin Gordon and Phillip Lindsay leading the charge in Denver, Freeman might be on the trade block. Freeman played under Scangarello last season, so both men have a good feel for each other. Freeman was also at Oregon with assistant running backs coach T.J. Paganetti.

Freeman expanded his game as a receiver out of the backfield last season. He is still on his rookie contract and could fit in well as competition for Scott and Clement behind Sanders. A player-for-player swap or a conditional seventh-round pick could do the trick to land Freeman, who is squarely on the roster bubble in Denver.

6. Jordan Wilkins (Indianapolis Colts)

Age: 25, HT/WT: 6-1, 216 lbs.

Wilkins was buried on the Colts’ depth chart following Indianapolis’ selection of Jonathan Taylor in the second round of the draft. Wilkins is behind Taylor, co-starter Marlon Mack and Nyheim Hines in the running back pecking order.

With the Colts possibly keeping just three running backs, Wilkins is clearly on the roster bubble. Perhaps, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman could work out a player-for-player swap with Colts general manager Chris Ballard. The Colts could use some cornerback depth.

https://www.nj.com/eagles/2020/06/eagles-should-shop-bargain-bin-for-running-backs-isaiah-crowell-theo-riddick-among-6-options.html

Royce Freeman is an intriguing option I think. 

[time2rock]

How about let’s wait until TC to see what we have first - if none of the complementary pieces to Sanders and Scott step up then add a RB.  Once teams begin purging rosters there will be plenty available.

[UK_EaglesFan89]

54 minutes ago, time2rock said:

How about let’s wait until TC to see what we have first - if none of the complementary pieces to Sanders and Scott step up then add a RB.  Once teams begin purging rosters there will be plenty available.

Clement is a big no no. 

[time2rock]

2 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Clement is a big no no. 

Seems like a pretty low risk signing to me.  Either he stays healthy and contributes as a rotational/depth piece or he doesn't, gets cut, and we add someone else.  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

5 hours ago, time2rock said:

Seems like a pretty low risk signing to me.  Either he stays healthy and contributes as a rotational/depth piece or he doesn't, gets cut, and we add someone else.  

He hasn't stayed healthy the last 2 years. As a back up your best ability is availability. He doesn't have that. 

[time2rock]

7 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

He hasn't stayed healthy the last 2 years. As a back up your best ability is availability. He doesn't have that. 

I don't think of him as a lock for the backup spot.  I think they have some other young players they like and only brought him back to compete for a spot.  Kinda makes sense since he knows the offense.  Like I and others have stated, if he doesn't stay healthy, there will be plenty of RBs that shake loose that we could potentially add.  This just isn't a big deal to me.  

[brkmsn]

7 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

He hasn't stayed healthy the last 2 years. As a back up your best ability is availability. He doesn't have that. 

It could be a pattern or it could have just been bad luck. Buckhalter blew out his knee 3 times, but he was still a darn good backup when he wasn't rehabbing.

From the list, I wouldn't mind Freeman. He's a little different than what we already have. 

[Utebird]

Ive never seem so much fuss over who the 4th or 5th RB is going to be.