Arguments for and against Eagles aggressively pursuing Kareem Hunt
Unfortunately, the Eagles lose more than they gain by adding Kareem Hunt to their roster.
Perhaps the largest factors working in opposition of Kareem Hunt’s addition to the Eagles roster are the same ones that usually wind up reminding every other great tailback of their mortality. One, he wants a long-term deal, one the Cleveland Browns seem to be unwilling to offer, and second, he’s a star at the NFL’s most punishing position.
NFL running backs have shorter shelf lives. See Todd Gurley, Saquon Barkley, and Ezekiel Elliott if you need examples of that theory. Last year, we even saw the best running back on Planet Earth, Derrick Henry, show some chinks in the armor. No disrespect is intended to Jonathan Taylor. He may wear the crown at some point.
As months and years pass, the premium placed on NFL running backs lessens. You hate to use words like ‘expendable’, but that’s how they’re treated.
Professional football franchises are less willing to invest high draft picks in tailbacks or hand them high-dollar long-term deals. Unfortunately, both factors come into play when we reference Hunt.
If the Browns part with him, they’re going to want considerable compensation to convince them to move off of the Pro Football Writers of America’s rookie of the year for the 2017 season. The price will be more than what the Eagles will want to pay. They’d also have to sign him to a multi-year extension. That wouldn’t be a wise move for a team that already has so many decisions to make about so many guys who are currently on the roster, many of them are important players who play important positions.
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The long and the short of everything is this. While adding Kareem Hunt most certainly upgrades the Eagles’ offense, they’d be wise to peruse the waiver wire following the preseason or pluck someone from another team’s practice squad. The running back position might be the easiest to upgrade on every offensive roster, and if the Birds are willing to be patient, they’ll find a good one that costs them less money.