Philadelphia Eagles: Jay Ajayi trade will help both now and long-term
The Eagles seemingly hit a home run by acquiring Jay Ajayi. The powerhouse running back comes to Philadelphia with high hopes, not only for this season but also for the future.
The Philadelphia Eagles are going all in this season, and it is a refreshing change for the franchise. In so many years, the team has looked competitive, yet failed to put it all together by the end of the season. This is no ordinary season for the Eagles, and the trade for Jay Ajayi proved it.
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By only trading a fourth-round pick in return for Ajayi, the Eagles were able to hold on to all of their top picks, plus with the team already owning three picks in the fourth round for 2018, it’s almost as if they gave up nothing to the Dolphins. Ajayi has struggled mightily this season as a member of Miami, but most of the blame can be given to the poor offensive line since he hasn’t shown the knack for making the explosive plays like he did last year. A change of scenery and a move to a unique offense instead of the vanilla one the Dolphins run should prove huge for Ajayi. Even with the loss of Jason Peters, the Eagles offensive line still holds their own, giving holes big enough for LeGarrette Blount. Now, just imagine what a shiftier back like Ajayi could do behind that line.
Coach Doug Pederson has made huge strides as a play caller in his second season, using a wide variety of plays to get his players open, unlike in Miami where Ajayi was tasked with shouldering the offensive load by trying to run up the middle. In Philadelphia, Ajayi won’t have to be the entire offense, as playing with an MVP caliber quarterback in Carson Wentz will let him adjust to his surroundings while still making a few big plays each game. Blount hasn’t been bad this year, but Ajayi gives the backfield something it has sorely missed, which is explosiveness.
The playmaking ability of Ajayi will help a ton this year, but also in the future as he is still playing on his rookie contract for another year. After the 2018 season, he will become a free agent, but if fans have learned one thing this year, it’s that young talent is enough to attract star player to the city. Alshon Jeffery has said several times that he wanted to play in Philadelphia because of the potential of Wentz, so it’s entirely possible the same could be said for Ajayi.
Next: Jay Ajayi to Philadelphia Eagles for fourth-round pick is a steal
Give Philadelphia credit for going all in with Ajayi, realizing this is their time in such a weak NFC. The trade for Ajayi could prove crucial for the rest of this season, and by only trading a fourth-round pick, the team isn’t mortgaging their future in an attempt to make a Super Bowl run. The addition of the stud running back gives the team a sense of stability to a position that has been up and down all year, and that stability could last for much longer than just this season.