NFL rumors: Jamaal Charles a fit for Eagles, Packers have interest

The Eagles have question marks at running back — with the oft-injured veteran Ryan Mathews atop the depth chart and the soon to be retired Darren Sprolesat No. 2.

Philly has the ability to wait and cut Mathews later this offseason. And with Doug Pederson’s close ties to now free agent running back Jamaal Charles, perhaps at the right price the former dynamic offensive weapon would find himself in South Philadelphia.

Back on March 1, the Eagles head coach said,”I’ve got history with him in Kansas City for three years and he’s a tremendous running back and we will evaluate him nowto see how he can fit into our offense.”

Philly stands at just over $5 million above the 2017 NFL salary cap limit. Cutting Mathews could open up $4 million in cap space. The Birds could also add a running back in the draft, or stick with unproven Wendell Smallwoodfor the upcoming season, but the Eagles have shown an affinity this offseason toward adding veteran weapons for Carson Wentz to play with, like AlshonJeffery and Torrey Smith.

Adding Jamaal Charles on an incentive-laden, one-year deal could make sense.

ESPN.com is also reporting that the Packers are a leading candidate for Charles’ services. After riding wide receiver Ty Montgomery as a running back down the stretch last season, the team inked Christine Michael earlier this month. The team will need some more firepower at running back and Adrian Peterson’s price tag is apparently so high it is scaring teams away.

Charles has played in just eight games total over the last two seasons after three 1,000-yard rushing campaigns in a row from 2012-2014.