Reasonable arguments urging the Eagles to draft Jahmyr Gibbs
The NFL Draft is just a few short weeks away. With two picks in the first round and six total selections, the Philadelphia Eagles are in the perfect position to land some of the selection meeting’s top talent. After losing multiple starters this offseason due to free agency, drafting the right guys is of the utmost of importance for vice president/general manager Howie Roseman and his staff.
One of the potions the Eagles are expected to target is running back. Miles Sanders is gone. He was signed by the Carolina Panthers. He is also coming off his best season as a professional. Howie Roseman rarely gives second contracts to tailbacks though. He has only done so twice (Brian Westbrook and LeSean McCoy), so knowing that, and with limited cap space, it wasn’t surprising when Philadelphia decided to go in a different direction.
During the early stages of free agency, the Birds signed Rashaad Penny to a one-year deal while retaining Boston Scott. Kenneth Gainwell and Trey Sermon are also on the roster, but the Eagles could use a significant upgrade over all of these guys.
The 2023 NFL Draft features Texas’ Bijan Robinson and Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs. Both would be a good fit in Philadelphia’s offense if the leadership structure is interested. You know how these teams devalue running backs, but if Bijan isn’t in play or the Eagles satisfy another need with the tenth-overall selection, they might want to entertain the idea of adding Jahmyr Gibbs if he is available when they’re on the clock at the 30th-overall selection.
He had a very productive year in 2022 for the Alabama Crimson Tide after spending two years with Georgia Tech. Reasonable arguments to support the idea of his addition are endless.
The Eagles could use a dual-threat tailback.
The Philadelphia Eagles got a lot of production from their running backs in 2022, and that helped them finish fifth in total rushing yards. Miles Sanders did most of the work with 1,269 yards on the ground. That includes 11 rushing touchdowns. It was a career year for him, but he was very limited as a receiving threat out of the backfield.
Sanders finished the season with just 20 receptions for 78 yards. Those were the lowest totals in both categories during his NFL career.
Some might argue that he wasn’t targeted much. The ball was only thrown his way 26 times all season. Others might point to the fact that Kenneth Gainwell was targeted more often (29 times) and came up with more receptions (23). Having A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert in the lineup has a lot to do with that. You don’t need to throw the ball to your tailbacks when you have that trio on your roster, but having a dual-threat tailback would be a nice luxury.
If the Eagles were to draft Jahmyr Gibbs, he’d be an immediate factor in both the rushing and passing attack. Last season, he led Alabama with 151 rushing attempts for 926 yards (6.1 yards per carry). He also led the team in receptions. He racked up 44 of those. Gibbs averaged 10.1 yards per catch and collected 444 yards on the season. The Crimson Tide also used him in the return game where he added 258 yards on 13 kickoff returns.
Gibbs’ efforts earned him second-team All-SEC honors just one year after earning All-ACC honors as a member of the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets. He clearly rose to the occasion after transferring to college football’s best conference, the SEC.
There are questions about his size. He’s five-foot-nine and weighs 200 pounds, but that didn’t hamper Darren Sproles. It hasn’t hampered Boston Scott. Trust this next statement. Gibb’s skill set will translate nicely on an NFL roster.
Alabama has a nice history of handing the NFL successful running backs, and Jahmyr Gibbs won’t be an exception.
If anyone were to name some of the top running backs in the NFL right now, many of them have something in common. The NFL’s top two leading rushers in 2022, Josh Jacobs and Derrick Henry, both went to Alabama.
There are numerous other former Alabama backs who are doing very well as starters in the league. Include Damien Harris and Najee Harris on that list. There’s also Mark Ingram. He’s looking for a team to play for, but he has made a nice living for himself having played 13 seasons at football’s highest level.
Alabama knows what they are looking for when they recruit running backs. They have a history of developing star running backs who go on to have successful NFL careers. Long-time NFL fans will recognize names like Shaun Alexander and Eddie Lacy. Both played in Tuscaloosa.
While their careers will have little effect on whether or not Jahmyr Gibbs will be a success, playing for an elite program can’t be undervalued. Gibbs has the right foundation, and he is pro-ready. He’s going to be a valuable addition to the team that adds him, and no one should be shocked if the fireworks come quickly.
Here are a few other arguments to consider.
The 2022-2023 Philadelphia Eagles were about as complete a team as fans could hope for once training camp is over. As always, change comes. Multiple starters were lost in free agency including linebacker T.J. Edwards, safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, and defensive lineman Javon Hargrave.
Sure, adding a running back isn’t going to make many believe that they have found the proper trade-off. This isn’t a highly prioritized position in the NFL anymore. The Eagles could end up using their first-round picks to fill some needs on defense. Some of those holes are arguably larger than the void left by Miles Sanders. Some may even state that the Eagles can pass on both Bijan Robinson and Jahmyr Gibbs and land a solid star on Day 2, but sometimes, a great offense also serves as another defensive weapon.
The Eagles’ offense is likely to be this team’s best asset as we march through the 2023-2024 NFL season. Giving quarterback Jalen Hurts more weapons will only make him better. He’s an MVP-caliber talent. He also was arguably the best quarterback on Super Bowl Sunday despite being the runner-up.
The Philadelphia Eagles must do everything they can to continue his progression and, yes, ensure that he takes less punishment. Selecting Jahmyr Gibbs in the first round st 30 will do that. That gives them someone to absorb some of the punishment Hurts took too often. It also ensures the Birds will be a tough out for every team they face this season. They’ll need that as this year’s schedule is tougher than the one they tackled last season.
