Eagles rumors: Better options for Philly than trying to acquire Derrick Henry

The Eagles can draft a running back during the 2023 NFL Draft (but only if they do so after Round 1).

If you still need convincing that the running back position isn’t valued as highly as it once was, look no further than the man we’ve been discussing.

Had the Tennessee Titans drafted Derrick Henry on the first night of the 2016 NFL Draft, no one would have blinked, yet they drafted three other players before they added him (OT Jack Conklin, LB Kevin Dodd, and DT Austin Johnson) before making the decision to select Henry 45th overall during the draft’s second day in Round 2.

Derrick was the 45th player taken during the selection meeting that year. Only one other running back prospect was taken before he was, Ezekiel Elliott (fourth overall in Round 1). No other tailbacks were taken until the Miami Dolphins rolled the dice on Kenyan Drake in Round 3.

That’s a long-winded way of stating the following. NFL franchises simply don’t value tailbacks as they once did. While we realize that there have been connections made that link Philly to two highly-touted tailbacks, former Texas Longhorns star Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs of the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Birds would be wise to explore other options first.

The value of taking tailbacks that high is low, but the Eagles could benefit by investing some draft capital in a difference-maker.