Should the Philadelphia Eagles pursue a top tier running back in the NFL Draft?
Lacking their own first round pick for this spring’s NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles are currently at the mercy of the Minnesota Vikings and the remaining part of their campaign. In short, the more losses the Vikings have in the closing part of this season, the higher the Eagles will be picking during the 2017 NFL Draft.
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One of the biggest questions surrounding this upcoming crop of NFL players is about the depth of it’s running back class. After all, with so many top tier talents available, is it worth spending a first round pick on a tail back or should the team wait and select one later in the draft. Honestly, their is no really solid answer given the many problems facing the Eagles at the present.
For one thing, the Eagles have some major issues in the secondary, receiving, offensive line, and running back areas. With the league becoming a much more pass heavy league, running back’s are becoming a dime-a-dozen. Very few backs exist in the league today that can carry team’s on their backs. However, there are a couple young studs likely to go in this year’s first round that could be among that select list.
LSU running back Leonard Fournette and Florida State back Dalvin Cook are those two men. Both are just dripping with potential and don’t mind running it straight up the gut to earn those hardfought yards. Both can also break the run outside and use their acceleration and speed to blow by defenders on their ways to the endzone. Both are also heads above the other backs in this deep draft class.
Given both’s high ceiling, it is without question that both are considered high draft picks. While Fournette appears to have the advantage and be out of the Eagles potential grasp, Cook could still be on the board when Philly goes to make their first round selection. If he is, I would say go for it.
While the team does have major issues at a lot of positions, next season will still be a rebuilding year for head coach Doug Pederson. Getting a top talent like Cook to pair with Carson Wentz could set up his backfield for years to come. Focusing on finding non-skill players for the rest of the draft would set the Eagles up to make key selections in 2018.
This is undoubtedly the news we don’t want to hear. However, I feel it is the news we have to hear. This is a rebuilding project. It’s going to take at least one more season. If a supreme talent like Dalvin Cook is still around, we need to select him. Period.
READ MORE: Philly turning it’s attention to the future
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