Philadelphia Eagles: 3 Thoughts on the Jordan Howard Trade
1. The Eagles got excellent value
For the most part, the Eagles’ fan base seems thrilled with the idea of having Jordan Howard in the backfield. But with every move comes a divide. Despite what he’s produced over the last three seasons, there are some Jordan Howard doubters out there, and the doubt is warranted. Through his first three seasons, Jordan Howard has regressed. There’s no other way to put it.
Howard’s rookie campaign was impressive in 2016 as he rushed for over 1,300 yards. Then, his Sophomore season took a bit of a hit with the arrival of Tarik Cohen, but he still managed to churn out 1,122 yards. His third season was what concerns everybody the most. He finished with 935 yards, while only averaging a disappointing 3.7 yards-per-carry. And whenever a team is trying to push a guy out before the trade deadline, there’s always a bit of concern there.
Reality is, the Bears liked Cohen more because of his versatility. So with that, Howard’s production took a hit. Now, is Howard going to come in and magically make the Eagles backfield unstoppable? We wouldn’t bank on it. However, getting him for a future sixth-round pick is an incredible value. And by the way, take a look at this solid feat.
New #Eagles RB Jordan Howard had the most rushing yards (3,370) in NFL the last three seasons behind Ezekiel Elliott (4,048) and Todd Gurley (3,441). Should note his rushing average decreased each year: 5.2 to 4.1 to 3.7.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) March 29, 2019
Not only is Howard proven, but he’s also cheap for the 2019 season. Plus, he’s just 24-years-old. So if the Eagles actually like Howard, he’s still incredibly young, and they could work on an extension way before he’s set to hit the market next offseason. Whether you like the player or not, this was a no-brainer gamble, that could have a substantial payoff.