Philadelphia Eagles sign running back LeGarrette Blount
LeGarrette Blount lingered on the open market longer than he should have, but the Philadelphia Eagles have swooped in to sign him.
Even in a slow running back market, you would think the reigning NFL rushing touchdown leader would find a home quickly. But LeGarrette Blount has remained available, and the New England Patriots used a rare free agent tender to maintain a compensatory draft pick if he signed elsewhere last week.
A return to the Patriots for Blount has been more and more unlikely, as they stockpile running backs. The Baltimore Ravens, Detroit Lions and New York Giants have been rumored to have interest in him, but another team has now added Blount.
According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, the Philadelphia Eagles have signed Blount to a one-year deal. Schefter also mentioned the Arizona Cardinals as a team with interest, and Ian Rapoport of NFL Network added the Giants made an offer. But the opportunity looks far better for Blount in Philadelphia.
The Eagles are all but certain to cut Ryan Mathews, once he is fully recovered from neck surgery and can pass a physical. Wendell Smallwood, 2017 fourth-round pick Donnel Pumphrey and undrafted rookie Corey Clement will remain on the depth chart once Mathews is gone, so the Eagles have made a pre-emptive move to add running back.
Blount, at 30 years old (31 in December), will not repeat his career highs from last season (299 carries, 1,161 yards and obviously the 18 rushing scores). But he can capably fill a goal line and short yardage role alongside smaller backs like Smallwood and Pumphrey, and that is something the Eagles have lacked in recent years.
Next: 10 cities that need NFL expansion teams
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has made an effort to add talent around Carson Wentz his offseason, with a tilt toward short-term deals (see wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith). Blount is just the latest low-risk, potentially high reward signing to help accelerate a young quarterback’s development.