Replacing LeSean McCoy May Be “NFL Draft” Simple!
The shocking trade of LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills has many fans scrambling to come up with a suitable replacement for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 2015 NFL Draft is stacked with some highly talented options for Chip Kelly at running back. Many of them can be found in the second round, just as Shady McCoy was.
With Frank Gore now backing out of his deal with Philly, the Eagles need a viable replacement for Darren Sproles. Chris Polk should not be getting starter reps no matter what Chip thinks about plugging players in. As long as they find an efficient running back — whether through free agency or the draft — Chip will make it work.
Cream of the Crop
Nov 15, 2014; Athens, GA, USA; Georgia Bulldogs running back Todd Gurley (3) returns a kickoff against the Auburn Tigers during the first quarter at Sanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Todd Gurley
Todd Gurley has top-ten potential, especially in a class dominated by under-appreciated linemen. An ACL injury in November ended Gurley’s college career, and all but ruined his guaranteed top-ten draft stock. Gurley possesses blazing speed, along with the power to drag defenders for extra yards. His vision is excellent, maybe better than several veteran NFL running backs.
He shows off his speed as a kick returner, but due to his injury history, that portion of his career may be put to rest.
Gordon is projected to fall into the mid-twenties range of the first round, leaving the Eagles in prime position if they fulfill all their defensive needs in free agency.
Melvin Gordon
Showing a 4.53 forty at the NFL combine, Melvin Gordon could pass Todd Gurley as the first running back off the board on April 30th. He shows very few weaknesses in his game, with the exception to pass blocking. While he isn’t as “explosive” as some other guys, his elusiveness makes up for it. He is a run in-between the tackles kinda guy, which may or may not fit some schemes.
Gordon, like Gurley, is expected to go late in the first round, which is purely based on team needs. Teams like Indy or Baltimore are squads that could be looking for a featured back in the first round.
Second Round Steals
Duke Johnson
Personally my favorite running back in the draft, Johnson ran a 4.54 forty yard dash at the Combine, and draws comparisons to C.J. Spiller, who had connections to the Eagles last offseason. Johnson is explosive and deceptive running the ball, showing bursts of speed rarely seen at either level of the game.
Despite his small size (5’9″), Johnson will consistently fight for yards. The Miami speedster does not show signs of burning out, which makes him very effective late in the game.
He’s projected to be a second round guy, which could be perfect for the Eagles. If they trade their first round pick for Mariota, Johnson would be a great fit to grow with the former Oregon Duck.
Ameer Abdullah
The Nebraska running back has the potential to make a big name for himself in the league. He had an above-average showing at the Combine, not hurting his stock at all. He is a consistent workhorse, averaging over 20 attempts and 124 yards in 13 games for the Cornhuskers in 2014.
Abdullah draws comparisons to Arizona’s Andre Ellington and Cincinnati’s Giovani Bernard, both of whom are very reliable NFL players. Look for Abdullah to potentially be the first running back taken in the second round.
Jay Ajayi
Boise State’s Jay Ajayi shows off a strong burst of speed once he gets past the first level of defenders. He has good size and runs with a downhill mentality. His numbers are severely inflated after running the ball nearly 800 times in the past two seasons, however. He is also prone to fumbles, which should drop him down big boards.
Best of the Rest
T.J. Yeldon
Coming out of Alabama, the expectations for Yeldon are completely over-hyped. He is an upright runner, which creates a bigger target for defenders, thus creating the possibility of more injuries. He won’t leave defenders in the dust, but can make the small runs that make the differences in the game. Overall, he lacks the speed, ball security, and blocking ability to be more than a rotation guy in the NFL.
Tevin Coleman
The Big Ten is again represented here with Indiana’s Tevin Coleman. There’s a lot of back and forth on how good this guy actually is. He finished his last college season with 2,036 yards and with 15 rushing touchdowns — his biggest issue is holding onto the football.
Coleman did not run at the Combine or do any other physical drills after having surgery on his toe. Many analysts are comparing him to Darren McFadden, mainly because of his lanky running style. I personally don’t have more than a 3rd round grade here.
End Results
While no one will immediately replace Shady McCoy, there are plenty of options out there. With all of the cap space the team cleared this past week, don’t be surprised if Philly tries to dip into free agency for a plug and play guy to go with Sproles. Ultimately, they are in a prime spot to pick up a running back in the second round.
Whoever the team picks up, Eagles fans can rely on one phrase — In Chip We Trust.