Philadelphia Eagles: Howie Roseman could honor Phillip Lindsay’s request

As fun as it would be to see the Philadelphia Eagles draft one of the premier running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft, that just hasn’t been Howie Roseman’s MO.

Sure, he’s helped to select more than a few backs within the first 100 picks, most recently Miles Sanders in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, but as a general rule, the Eagles have been more likely to trade a pick for a veteran running back than select one in the first round.

Now granted, could that change in 2022? You bet; Sanders is set to hit free agency at the end of the season, and his fit in Nick Sirianni’s offense is still very much up in the air, but for that to happen, one of the draft’s top-2 halfbacks, Breece Hall or Kenneth Walker III, would have to fall to the team at pick 51, which is far from a guarantee.

But what if the Philadelphia Eagles go through the 2022 NFL Draft and fail to use any of their ten picks on a running back? How will they fill out a stable that currently only features Miles Sanders, Boston Scott, Kenneth Gainwell, and Jason Huntley? Easy, they should place a call to Phillip Lindsay, who, by his own admission, would like to land with a team who will use him the right way.

Phillip Lindsay is a solid Plan B for the Philadelphia Eagles.

When the Denver Broncos placed a right of first refusal restricted free agent tender on Phillip Lindsay in March of 2021, it was a relatively predictable outcome. While Lindsay had an underwhelming third season in the Mile High City, the “Colorado Kid” had still eclipsed 1,000 yards in each of his first two seasons and looked like a solid member of a backfield that also featured Melvin Gordon and Mike Boone.

But then something peculiar happened; the front office received the tender. That’s right, for one reason or another, the two parties decided to part ways, and Lindsay was able to sign a one-year, $3.25 million deal with the Houston Texans.

Theoretically, that should have been a good landing spot that became really good for the collegiate UDFA as the season inched closer. Lindsay went from thinking he’d share a backfield with Deshaun Watson to having a chance to shoulder a massive offensive load paired up with a rookie quarterback, and yet, it just wasn’t meant to be; Lindsay landed low on David Culley’s depth chart and was ultimately waived after ten games at the end of November.

From there, Linday landed in Miami, where he was claimed off of waivers, but the change of scenery didn’t magically fix his production. While Lindsay’s yards per game and carry both rose, he was unable to recapture the past on-field glory that made the diminutive rusher one of the most exciting players in the NFL from 2018 to 2019, and he predictably remains a free agent to this day as a result.

So why, you may ask, would the Philadelphia Eagles want to sign a 27-year-old rusher who hasn’t played at a Pro Bowl level since 2019 and is far from a guarantee to ever look like that player again?

Two reasons: His fit in Nick Sirianni’s scheme and his contract expectations.

You see, Lindsay is one of the most unique running backs in the NFL; he had 4.39 speed, great burst, and good enough hands to be an effective weapon in the passing game. Though he stands relatively small at 5-foot-8, 190 pounds, Lindsay attacks interior rushes like a true power rusher and can make decisive plays after a single cut. If the Eagles opt against re-signing Jordan Howard or want a more offensively developed version of Jason Huntley, Lindsay could fill that role and fill it very well.

And the best part? Lindsay likely won’t cost too much to acquire either, certainly much less than the $3.25 million Houston handed him last spring. If the Eagles can get Lindsay under contract for, say, $2 million, he could look like a bargain by season’s end, as all it takes is one injury for an RB2 to become a stalwart of the starting lineup.

All-in-all, that doesn’t sound too bad to me.

If the Philadelphia Eagles want to really shake things up, drafting a running back at 51 would certainly do just that. Pairing up the best rushing offense in the NFL from 2021 with a premier young back like Kenneth Walker III or Breece Hall would be incredibly fun to watch and make things very interesting indeed when Jalen Hurts’ own rushing prowess is thrown into the mix. But if that doesn’t happen, signing a vet like Phillip Lindsay would be a solid Plan B and allow the team’s offensive side attack to remain potent while they attempt to settle on a plan of action long-term.