Philadelphia Eagles: Does suggested trade for Kareem Hunt make sense?

The Philadelphia Eagles‘ running backs group is good… ish.

On paper, the unit really isn’t that different from the one that led the NFL in rushing last season, with only Jordan Howard subbed out and Oklahoma UDFA Kennedy Brooks signed to take his place. Miles Sanders is still here, as is Kenneth Gainwell, and after the tiniest bit of free agent intrigue, Boston Scott returned to the team on a one-year, $1.75 million deal.

And yet, one has to wonder if the team could have done more. What if the Eagles somehow landed one of the top running backs in the 2022 NFL Draft class? What if they signed an intriguing rusher like Melvin Gordon or traded for a big-time running back like Miles Sanders’ former teammate Saquon Barkley?

Well, Alex Ballentine of Bleacher Report swooped in and theoretically answered that question, suggesting the Philadelphia Eagles should go big game hunting a la 2017 and trade for Kareem Hunt, who is set to enter the final year of a two-year, $12 million contract signed back in September of 2020. Will it happen? Probably not, at least not before the start of the regular season, but hey, if the Cleveland Browns start to stink down the stretch who knows, maybe general manager Andrew Berry would be willing to shop Hunt Jay Ajayi-style come October.

Kareem Hunt would be an intriguing fit in the Philadelphia Eagles’ offense.

Kareem Hunt is a unique running back.

Measuring in at 5-11, 216 pounds, Hunt is a certified home run hitter who has averaged 4.5 yards per carry as a pro, but he’s also more than willing to take on defenders at the point of contact, as he picked up 55.4 percent of his yards after contact. Need three yards between the tackles? Hunt can do that, sure, but if the holes are opened up by a competent, zone-blocking offensive line – something the Philadelphia Eagles unquestionably have – he can easily break out into the second or even third level of the defense, where some unfortunate safety is tasked with taking him down lest he land on SportsCenter the next day.

Factor in an impressive ability to pick up yards in space as a pass-catcher, as he’s caught 80 percent of the passes thrown his way as a pro for 1,596 yards and 16 touchdowns, and there are very few teams in the NFL who wouldn’t come calling about Hunt’s services should he become available at some point in 2022, or even in the spring of 2023, should he be allowed to test the open market.

If the Eagles find themselves on a 2017-esque run come Halloween time, would the Hunt make sense as a mid-season trade target? You bet, especially if the team’s rushing offense is more Jalen Hurts-centric than Nick Sirianni would like to see.

Paired up with Miles Sanders as a, well, not quite as a thunder and lightning pairing, but certainly as a lightning and lightning attack, Sanders and Hunt could give the Eagles a viable rusher on the field at all times, while providing Sirianni an opportunity to shake things up as need be. Play them one after another, play them together; if the prospects of adding another Pro Bowl-level performer is in play, the Eagles would undoubtedly be among the teams interested in the opportunity.

Again, probably not going to happen, but hey, if the Eagles go on a run, don’t be too surprised to see someone secured around the trade deadline.

Howie Roseman is not a general manager unwilling to make moves to improve his team. He traded for Jay Ajayi in 2017, Golden Tate in 2018, Genard Avery in 2019, and even in 2021, after trading away Zach Ertz earlier in the season, Roseman still shipped a sixth-round pick to the Denver Broncos for Kary Vincent Jr., who may or may not make the active roster this fall. If that player is Kareem Hunt or another running back, great. If not, the Philadelphia Eagles will certainly play the phones and find the best fit they can; I mean hey, they can certainly afford it.