PHILADELPHIA – It won’t be easy to replace LeSean McCoy with the Philadelphia Eagles, but we’re guessing someone will be lined up at running when the 2015 season begins.
The Eagles don’t have a lot of options on their roster. Darren Sproles made quite an impact in 2014, but the former Saints star's workload actually diminished as the season went on. Sproles can be effective in the screen game, as an occasional runner and on special teams, but he’s not going to take over McCoy’s 20-plus carries per game.
Chris Polk, 25, was the backup to McCoy in 2014. Polk finished the season with 46 carries for 172 yards and four touchdowns. He became the Eagles’ primary runner in the red zone, which explains the relatively high number of touchdowns compared to his carries and his yardage.
But Polk also missed a couple of games and was limited in others because of a hamstring injury. That’s part of the job description when you’re a featured running back in the NFL. You have to be able to absorb punishment and still be ready to play every week. McCoy could do that. Polk hasn’t shown that yet.
The Eagles are almost certain to add a running back in either free agency or the draft. The guess here is that the draft is the most likely route, because overpaying another older back doesn’t seem like the logical move after trading McCoy.
Here are three possibilities in the draft, and three in free agency, that the Eagles may pursue.
Draft:
Todd Gurley, Georgia. Gurley might have been the No. 1 back in the draft if he hadn’t torn his ACL. That injury might make him available to the Eagles. Gurley is the kind of downhill runner the Eagles might be looking for to fill McCoy's shoes.
T.J. Yeldon, Alabama. At 6-foot-1-1/4, Yeldon is a big back who hits the hole quickly and goes. Yeldon didn’t catch the ball a lot at Alabama, but he has shown the proper skills.
Ameer Abdullah, Nebraska. Abdullah is not the biggest back at 5-9, 205 pounds. But he will look taller standing next to Sproles and has excellent speed.
Free agency:
Mark Ingram, Saints. Sproles’ former teammate is 25 years old and is coming off his first Pro Bowl appearance. Ingram carried the ball 226 times for 964 yards and nine touchdowns in 2014.
C.J. Spiller, Buffalo. Spiller, 27, is a productive back once he gets into space. He couldn’t do that very well in Buffalo. He would benefit from playing in Kelly’s offense and behind the Eagles’ line.
Justin Forsett, Baltimore. Probably a long shot because he will be looking for a serious contract. Forsett is 29, but doesn’t have that many miles on him. In his first season as the lead back, Forsett ran the ball 235 times for 1,266 yards, a 5.4-yard average.