The Philadelphia Eagles traded for Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi, and it continued an important trend: building for the future while filling holes now.
Boom! The Philadelphia Eagles and Howie Roseman made a significant move on Tuesday before the trade deadline acquiring Miami Dolphins running back Jay Ajayi. Philly did not necessarily need a running back, but they only gave up a fourth-round pick and got a 24-year old Pro Bowl running back, so why wouldn’t you make the deal?
Roseman has been aggressive all offseason, and he kept his foot on the gas before the trade deadline. The Eagles are the best team in the NFL with their 7-1 record, so getting a player of Ajayi’s caliber mid-season is enormous.
If the season ended today, Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz would win NFL MVP. He has been unreal in his second season and leads the NFL with his 19 touchdown passes. One of the biggest knock on the Eagles, and in my opinion, it wasn’t a problem, was that it was obvious what the Eagles were going to do depending on their running back.
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LeGarrette Blount is a solid back, but when he is in the game you know, he is probably not going to run a pass route. Blount has run hard all season, and the addition of Ajayi shouldn’t impact his short yardage ability. However, Ajayi will cut into running back Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood’s time.
Ajayi is a three-down workhorse back, which is something the Eagles have not had since LeSean McCoy. Blount will come in on short yardage, but if it is 3rd and 5 or 3rd and 15, the Eagles can keep Ajayi in to keep the defense guessing. Pederson will be able to run the ball or pass it to the newly acquired running back. Also, Ajayi will become the Eagles best pass-blocking running back on the team, which is needed.
The most significant aspect of the Ajayi trade is the fact that he is only 24. That continues an important trend for the Eagles and Roseman. They are building now, but also for the future. Ajayi will help a ton this season, but going forward, Roseman filled another need for the future.
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There is no doubt this was an excellent move for the Eagles. Wentz and the Eagles offense has already been solid all season, but this will allow them to be even better. It also is solid that the Eagles have one more game until their Bye Week, so Ajayi will be able to sit the next two weeks and learn the offense. If you were thinking the Eagles could be a Super Bowl team, this move helps that in a big way.