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Philadelphia Eagles: 5 Brilliant trades during Doug Pederson’s tenure

By Geoffrey Knox

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Timmy Jernigan #93 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates his second quarter sack against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA - JANUARY 13: Timmy Jernigan #93 of the Philadelphia Eagles celebrates his second quarter sack against the New Orleans Saints in the NFC Divisional Playoff Game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 13, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /
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PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 06: Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on September 6, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA – SEPTEMBER 06: Jay Ajayi #26 of the Philadelphia Eagles reacts during the second half against the Atlanta Falcons at Lincoln Financial Field on September 6, 2018, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

3. Jay Ajayi joins the best team in the NFL.

Seeing as how the trade deadline has been a huge topic of discussion, it would be hard to bring up the successful trades during the Doug Pederson era without bringing up a move that brought Jay Ajayi to a backfield that already included the likes of Corey Clement and LeGarrette Blount.

Much of the concern about Blount revolved around the fact that he carried the ball 334 times in 2016 for the New England Patriots, including the playoffs.

That type of wear and tear can be a death sentence for a running back. Philly knew that, and after an unexpected injury to Darren Sproles and despite the fact that an undrafted rookie, Corey Clement was progressing well, Philly decided they wanted more. At the trade deadline that year, they got more.

On October 31st of 2017, the Eagles traded a 2018 fourth-round draft choice to the Miami Dolphins for running back Jay Ajayi. That worked out well. In his first-ever appearance with ‘The Birds’, Ajayi went 71 yards for a touchdown versus the Denver Broncos. Throughout the remainder of the Eagles’ 2017 title run, he’d make timely plays at the right time that helped put his team in a position to win.

The numbers won’t ever show what he truly did in Philly and ultimately, his body would fail him but Ajayi’s contribution to Philly was exactly what Philly needed at the exact time that they needed it. Jay Ajayi has a place in the hearts of Eagles fans forever.

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