The Eagles are desperate for a running back because the multi-talented Brian Westbrook is getting long in the tooth by NFL standards. He will turn 30 in September, was banged up for much of the season a year ago.
and has a reconstructed knee that is going to get more and more painful to play on.
The perfect scenario for the Birds would be for them to draft a back of similar abilities to Westbrook. Have him back up and share time with the veteran playmaker before eventually taking over for him when he hangs it up.
The fact that they’ve missed on this pick a number of times already makes it all the more important to get this one right. They selected Ryan Moats, Tony Hunt and Lorenzo Booker as players who could fill this role and they have been wrong on three straight attempts.
The other position which the Birds believe they need to address immediately is the tight end spot and I concur. I differ a bit about what type of tight end they need but we’ll get to that in a minute after we look at the running backs the Birds have to choose from.
The three highest rated running backs in this year’s draft are Ohio State’s Chris Wells, Geogia’s Knowshon Moreno and UConn’s Donald Brown.
Well’s is the biggest of the group, but he played out of the I-formation throughout his college career and wasn’t asked to catch the ball out of the backfield. Wisely the Birds have crossed him off the list because throwing the ball to the running backs is a key component in Reid’s west coast offense.
Moreno and Brown fit the bill much better. They’re all around backs who are able to run effectively inside and outside. They’ve shown the ability to catch the ball out of the backfield, especially Moreno, as well as pick up blitzing linebackers.
They’re tough and smart football players, who would fit in very well behind Westbrook and soak up everything he might teach them. They’re both versatile enough to be put on the field at the same time as Westbrook.
Moreno and Brown share much in common but the Georgia back is without a doubt the premium pick of the two. I think he’s the safest choice because he’s the tougher and more gifted athlete.
Moreno has made the catches out of the backfield in the game, Brown has only done it at the workouts.
I don’t know how many big runs he’s going to break but he’s not going to be missing his blocking assignment versus the blitz or making key mistakes under pressure.
Now that the Eagles have identified their guy, getting him will be more difficult. The Birds are drafting in the 21st position and Moreno will likely be drafted by the Chargers at number 16 unless the Eagles move up to get him earlier.
The tricky thing about moving up is that another team might be after the same guy and decide to move up higher. Once the draft starts, keep an eye on the Birds and Moreno.
When the selection process gets to the tenth pick and Moreno is still undrafted, expect the Birds to trade up and select him.
If they don’t Moreno, don’t be surprised if Reid trades out of the first round for the third year in a row. They won’t move too far back though, because they’ll want to be in place to take Brown early in the second round.
