Which running back prospect is the best fit for the Eagles?

The Eagles have had a very successful offseason to this point, filling a huge array of needs through free agency. There are some new faces on defense and some familiar ones returning on both sides of the ball through some wizardry from Howie Roseman, but there is one glaring hole remaining; running back. It seems almost certain that the Eagles will be plucking from this year's draft class to fill that void, but who should the Birds be targeting?

Instead of just picking a running back in the early-mid rounds, I decided to take ten running backs commonly linked to the Eagles and watch three games of each. Throughout that time, I'd make notes on each back and then grade them using a team specific criteria, since the Birds will want a running back with strong traits in specific areas. The full 18 minute breakdown is below but if you'd rather read scout reports etc, simply scroll down to the bottom of the page where you can click through each player ranked 10-1.

The grading criteria was as follows

Speed /10: Not just how fast the player can run a 40-yard dash, but do they have more than one gear? Can the continue to accelerate after an initial burst? Do they lose momentum when changing direction?

Versatility /10: Usage and efficiency as a receiving option.

Getting to the corner /10: This is big for the Eagles considering they like their backs to run East/West. Can the back beat a linebacker to the corner and can they turn the corner and continue to pick up speed?

Power/downhill ability /10: Does the runner lower his shoulder pads before contact? Can he hit the hole assertively? Can he push the pile in short-yardage situations? Do his legs keep churning after contact?

Body control /10: Does the runner keep a low center of gravity? Can he get skinny when he hits the line of scrimmage? When making hard cuts, is he able to explode out of them and shift his weight well or does he often let his legs get away from him?

Patience/vision /10: Will the running back be patient in waiting for lanes to open, or simply run in into his blockers? Can he turn a dead play into positive yardage? Is he too patient?

Effort /10: Will the running back push through contact as opposed to taking the easy way out on the sideline? Does he run with the same level of determination in the fourth quarter as he does in the first?

Pass protection /10: Willingness and technique.

Red flags /-10: Injury concerns/character setbacks.

Let's get into the rankings...

#10 Bryce Love, Stanford

Speed: 9Versatility: 5Getting to the corner: 8Body control: 7Effort: 5Power: 8Patience: 9Pass pro: 6.5Red flags: -9

TOTAL: 48.5

Bryce Love is one of the most confusing backs in this draft class. When healthy, he's a home-run hit waiting to happen and is one of the most physically explosive runners in this class. The issue is simply getting on the field to begin with. An ACL tear and a flurry of knee injuries have hampered what was truly a career destined for greatness. There's no reason Love can't excel at the next level, but the idea of him becoming a workhorse is somewhat of an afterthought now.

He has exceptional lateral agility and explodes out of his cuts. Love possesses a strong stiff-arm and is a hard back to bring down in the open field. He wasn't really used much as a receiver and his pass protection could use some work, but this is a north/south runner with incredible vision who just won't lose a foot race to the endzone.

However, the effort is somewhat variable and once contact is eventually made, his momentum tends to deaden. Whether these attributes are connected to Love trying to preserve his body due to extended injury concerns, I don't know...but it's hard not to notice.

Love's rapidly explosive skillset sends him onto the list, but it's barely enough to keep him on with so many question marks over what role he could realistically have at the next level. This would be a low-risk, high-reward move for the Eagles, but they can't hang their hat on Love...for now.

#9 Ryquell Armstead

Speed: 6Versatility: 5Getting to the corner: 4.5Body control: 6.5Effort: 8Power: 7Patience: 7.5Pass pro: 5Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 49.5

Temple product Ryquell Armstead appears to have built quite the rapport with Duce Staley and it's not hard to see why. He's elusive enough to slip through the cracks, but has an angry running style, backed up with a tough mentality. Armstead has long strides on his side, but he doesn't have the long speed that will see him consistently beat defensive backs to the end zone. Armstead is built like a bowling ball and posted a strong 40-yard dash considering his size. He runs patiently, sells his angles with his eyes and is able to cut on a dime with ease.

However, his running isn't as precise as some of the others on this list and he struggles to change direction at higher speeds without dropping down a few gears. Turning the corner can be a little tricky, with Armstead not quite having the agility to turn sharply upfield. Blocking is a development area and he isn't the most polished receiver.

Armstead would be another bargain bin buy for the Eagles, as a north/south runner without the durability concerns of Bryce Love, but lacks some of the home run potential that the Stanford product has in his arsenal.

#8 Miles Sanders

Speed: 8Versatility: 6Getting to the corner: 7Body control: 7Effort: 7Power: 5Patience: 7Pass pro: 6Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 53

Another local kid, Miles Sanders finally had his day in the Sun with Penn State after Saquon Barkley departed for the NFL and he certainly made the most of it.

If the Eagles want a back that truly resembles what LeSean McCoy used to bring to the table, my unpopular opinion here is Sanders has the ability to cut, in buckets. He has a real spring in his step and bounces out of his cuts so smoothly, it's impossible to stop him once he jukes and blows past a defender. He drops his hips well and is a real finesse runner.

That could be an issue however and I don't think Sanders has the vision needed to be truly effective in this scheme right away. He runs into his blockers and ends up stuck behind the pile a little too often. His legs don't churn upon contact and long speed is a slight concern. Between the tackles, he's excellent, but getting him outside could be an issue...and that's something the Eagles lean on massively.

#7 Devin Singletary

Speed: 6Versatility: 5Getting to the corner: 6Body control: 8.5Effort: 8Power: 7Patience: 9Pass pro: 5Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 54.5

Devin Singletary was one of my Draft crushes a couple of months ago, purely because he has a Motor that just never stops. He's a one-cut back who leans forward into his breaks to generate momentum and is a true Bull in a China shop. Extremely strong, Singletary wants to get dirty, he wants to lower his pads and embraces contact. It takes a lot to bring him down and when you partner that with his decisiveness, Singletary is a great value downhill back.

However, as a pass protector he's undeveloped and he lacks the burst to be used in the passing game frequently. He only seems to have one gradual gear and isn't the most explosive in this class and a poor combine really didn't help his stock.

Singletary would be a nice pickup for the Eagles if they were to double dip and find a more elusive partner...in fact, that would be absolutely chaotic for defenses...but I don't think this would be the 'do-it-all' back that they seemingly covet.

#6 David Montgomery

Speed: 6Versatility: 5Getting to the corner: 6.5Body control: 8Effort: 8Power: 7Patience: 9Pass pro: 6Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 55.5

I had a feeling that Montgomery and Singletary would be close, and there's just one point in it when it comes to these team specific rankings. They're two similar types of back. Both run extremely hard, but Montgomery reminds me a little more of a less explosive David Johnson. He can push the pile in short-yardage situations and has size on his side. A goal-line wrecking ball, Montgomery is a true power back with controlled footwork and surprisingly good vision. He's workable as a pass-catcher, but would feature more of a release valve as opposed to a designated receiving option.

He's not as explosive as other backs in this class and his change of direction takes a while. He lacks the agility Singletary has, but counters that with a bigger frame. His lack of speed could hurt him going east/west...but he has the nastiness to pound through a hole where it could eradicate that argument.

#5 Trayveon Williams

Speed: 8.5Versatility: 7Getting to the corner: 8Body control: 6Effort: 8Power: 8Patience: 9.5Pass pro: 5Red flags: -3

TOTAL: 57

Williams is my biggest draft crush at the running back position this year...there's nothing in his game that I dislike. He just wants to move the chains, whatever it takes. He bounces off contact like it's nothing, goes 0-100 exceptionally quick and he almost has this second wind where if a defender is closing him down, he can just switch on the after burners. Effective as both a runner and a receiver in such a tricky conference, Williams has all the tools that the Eagles are looking for.

He's not a hard-cut guy and a poor showing at the NFL combine will raise question marks. However, I feel his poise, decision making and sheer heart, override that and the Eagles could rest easy knowing Williams is there to do it all in 2019 and won't cost them a pretty penny.

#4 Devine Ozigbo

Speed: 7Versatility: 4Getting to the corner: 8Body control: 7Effort: 8.5Power: 8.5Patience: 8Pass pro: 6.5Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 57.5

The Combine questions surrounding Williams caused him to drop in these rankings, but the Eagles could find even better value later in the draft with everyone's favorite sleeper out of Nebraska.

Ozigbo will wear down defenders as the game progresses and there's little wear on the tyre, given that he's only carried the ball 20+ times in a game on 7 occasions during his career. He's laterally rapid, maintains a low center of gravity and is able to really explode in short-yardage situations. He possesses the right mentality to be efficient in pass protection and his acceleration is among the best in this list.

Long speed hurts Ozigbo and while turning the corner isn't a worry as such, being able to find the next gear when he's done so could turn a would be 20-yard gain into a much shorter one.

Ozigbo would replace the role Wendell Smallwood currently has in this case and would cost the Eagles very little. He has all the right tools in the box, it's just a case of developing a hard-nosed runner into a more well-rounded prospect.

#3 Damien Harris

Speed: 7.5Versatility: 6.5Getting to the corner: 6Body control: 8Effort: 8Power: 8Patience: 7.5Pass pro: 8.5Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 60

The first of two Bama backs on this list (spoiler), Harris has scintillating long speed, it just takes a while for the engine to rev up. A bowling ball back who really defines the Bama mentality, Harris rips through tackles and although he's not a pile pusher, he can blast through the arms of defensive tackles. He could absolutely be a strong runner in the in NFL due to his burst through the hole and potential in short-yardage situations. Harris displays plenty of patience behind the line but make no mistake, is an angry runner in every sense of the word.

The only problem is, that once contact is made, it's relatively easy to slow him down. He's not going to be a big east/west guy and has limited cutback ability, with body control not being his strongest asset. Instead, Harris is much more of a blow up everything in his path kind of guy, which acts as a blessing and a curse.

Make no mistake, Harris could replace what Ajayi brought to the table and without a single 20+ carry game with the Crimson tide, has low wear on the tyres.

#2 Darrell Henderson

Speed: 8.5Versatility: 8.5Getting to the corner: 9Body control: 7Effort: 8Power: 6Patience: 7Pass pro: 6Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 60

You couldn't dream up a more dynamic fir for the Eagles. Henderson is an open field nightmare due to his quick cuts and even quicker acceleration. A dominant member of the Tigers offense in the screen game, Henderson did it all with home run potential. I mean, you don't average 8.9 yards per carry, with defenses knowing you're going to run at them...without getting noticed. Henderson revs up fast, blasts past the corner and can find cutback lanes for fun. It's hard not to be blown away by how rapid Henderson truly is and although he's not the most electric receiver, he will literally rip through any lane his blockers set.

The only issues I could see would be he's a little stiff in the hips at times and there are going to be questions with his size, especially considering the power and size of linebackers at the next level.

But if you want a dream running back pick for the Eagles, it's this man.

#1 Josh Jacobs

Speed: 8Versatility: 7.5Getting to the corner: 6Body control: 8.5Effort: 8.5Power: 9Patience: 8.5Pass pro: 8.5Red flags: 0

TOTAL: 64.5

The only back to surpass what Henderson brings to the table, just so happens to be the only back who has a first round grade to many. The most complete back in the draft, Jacobs is a joy to watch. He's ridiculously explosive and has more gears than a Formula One car. Jacobs doesn't hesitate in lowering his pads to prepare for contact and he uses this to manipulate defenders into taking an angle before lowering his hip level and blasting out of a quick cut.

He reminds me so, so much of Devonta Freeman (for what it's worth), with all of his power coming from what those thunderous legs do, not his frame or size.

There are going to be concerns about his long speed and kicking back into gear post contact, but it's hardly anything worth writing home about. Jacobs is undoubtedly the most polished back in the class and if the Eagles want certainty, it's pick #25 they should be aiming for.