As tempting as it would be to bring LeSean McCoy back for a second stint, the Philadelphia Eagles have better options at running back.
Over the last couple of weeks, one of the most popular topics of discussion surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles has been whether the team should bring LeSean McCoy back for a second stint with the team.
Just about every Eagles fan was beyond thrilled to see McCoy recently win the Super Bowl as a member of the Kansas City Chiefs since he was always considered a favorite in the City of Brotherly Love during his six years spent with the team.
But when it comes to Philadelphia doing what is best for the team moving forward, a strong case can be made the Eagles would be better off in 2020 without McCoy part of the picture.
Maybe if this situation were taking place a few years ago when McCoy was still considered a Pro Bowler, but unfortunately the last two seasons have seen the veteran’s numbers decline a bit.
Not to mention, when looking at some of the other running backs beyond Miles Sanders currently on the roster on top of the fact that McCoy will turn 32 in July, it’s easy to make the case that Philadelphia would be better off without bringing him back for another stint with the team.
With that being said, there has been some recent talk about the Eagles expressing interest in bringing another veteran running back on board for the 2020 season to help push some of the younger guys.
If this in fact the case, the good news for Philadelphia is there are still a few veteran running backs available in free agency not named McCoy that could help the offense, with these five names immediately coming to mind.
5. Isaiah Crowell
Unfortunately, one of the main reasons Isaiah Crowell is most likely still available probably has something to do with the fact that he missed all of last year with the Las Vegas Raiders after suffering a torn ACL towards the end of April.
One can only imagine how different the market would have been for Crowell if the running back never suffered the unfortunate injury, but sooner or later, there’s a good chance one team will be willing to give him a shot.
As bad as it sounds, certain teams may not be in need of help at running back during this very moment, but sadly Crowell could find work if some team has to deal with some sort of injury.
Looking at the current situation with the Eagles, the argument can be made that Philadelphia doesn’t absolutely need to add a running back like Crowell, but also could benefit from ending up with a potential steal since he would most likely come at an extremely cheap price.
Crowell has yet to officially break the 1,000-yard rushing mark in five seasons of action in the NFL, but the 27 rushing touchdowns from 77 games does stand out enough to make this a move worth considering for the Eagles.
4. Theo Riddick
Speaking of running backs still available due to dealing with an injury all of 2019, Theo Riddick seems like another player who will eventually sign with a team as a result of being in need of help at the position due to an injury.
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After spending six seasons with the Detroit Lions, Riddick was released in 2019 before eventually signing with the Denver Broncos, but unfortunately would fail to take a single snap with the team on offense after suffering a shoulder injury before the start of last season.
Even though Riddick has proven to be more valuable in the passing game throughout his career, this doesn’t necessarily mean Philadelphia should rule out the possibility of bringing him on board.
With the Eagles hoping to extend their playoff streak in 2020 to four seasons in a row, as long as Riddick would be able to find a way to contribute while taking unnecessary pressure off Carson Wentz under center, this is all that really matters the most.
Signing a veteran who will handle more carries may seem like the better option for the Eagles on offense, but also Riddick could give Philadelphia a similar advantage like Detroit had all those years.
3. Devonta Freeman
Devonta Freeman is the perfect example of how quickly a player’s career in the NFL can change since it was only a few years ago in which he was considered a top running back in the league, only to now be without a team.
The future appeared to be bright for Freeman after combining for 3,175 yards from scrimmage to go along with 27 total touchdowns from 2015-16, but unfortunately the running back has taken a bit of a step back in recent years, especially in 2018 when he dealt with multiple injuries.
Even last season when Freeman appeared in 14 games for the Atlanta Falcons, it was clear he was far from the effective player the offense was previously used to seeing, and part of the reason behind his release in March.
As bad as it sounds, most teams appear to be hesitant towards signing Freeman due to the fact that he still seems bothered by the injuries from 2018, but if the Eagles decided to give him a chance to prove himself, just imagine the kind of potential this could have on offense.
Sanders is obviously the top running back for Philadelphia to work with moving forward, but if Freeman were to somehow return to his old form from a few years ago, the Eagles’ offense would become that much more dangerous.
2. Lamar Miller
Returning to the unfortunate trend of running backs coming off serious injuries, Lamar Miller suffering a torn ACL in August during the preseason was a crushing blow on offense for the Houston Texans.
And even though the Texans made the decision to not bring Miller back for what technically would have been a fifth season with the team, this is another situation in which he will most likely find a new home at some point.
Miller may not seem like the best option at the moment for most teams due to the seriousness of last season’s injury, but his level of impact before 2019 during time spent with the Texans and Miami Dolphins shows what he can bring to the table.
Assuming Miller is back at full strength by the start of training camp, this could turn out to be another low risk for a team like the Eagles if the interest were there with the potential for high results since his contract would most likely work in their favor.
Even if Miller were to start off camp deep on the depth chart, his experience alone could provide a surprise advantage later in the summer once the competition at running back begins to heat up in Philadelphia.
1. Carlos Hyde
Believe it or not, Carlos Hyde has already been linked to the Eagles as a potential veteran to bring on board since the former Ohio State star is still available and the defending NFC East champions are apparently exploring the possibility of adding another running back.
While the Texans were forced to adjust to playing on offense without Miller last season due to the injury, at least Hyde was able to take advantage of the opportunity by putting together a career year with the team.
By rushing for 1,070 yards and six touchdowns in 2019, Hyde made it clear he can still bring plenty to the table in the NFL, whether it happens to be with the Eagles or another team in need of a boost at running back.
Without question, Hyde would most likely move into the No. 2 spot behind Sanders and ahead of Boston Scott if this move were to happen, which would upset some fans, but also be best for Philadelphia on offense.
Either way, even if some of these signings seem like long shots at the moment, at least all five individuals would still seem like better options to work with over McCoy entering the 2020 season.