With the NFL Draft still a month a way, teams aren’t waiting to add talent to their squads. Late Thursday night the Philadelphia Eagles announced they had acquired running back Jordan Howard from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a sixth-round pick in the 2020 draft.
If Howard reaches a certain performance level, it can become a fifth rounder.
Howard is a young back so this move is surprising for a couple of reasons. First, he was the bellcow for the Bears, a 2018 conference champion and playoff team. He gained 935 yards on the ground and scored nine touchdowns, adding 20 catches for 145 yards in the passing game. It was the first of Howard’s three seasons he didn’t hit 1,000 yards, but his second season scoring nine touchdowns. He was a starting NFL back. Now the Bears don’t have one.
Roster Move: #Eagles have acquired RB Jordan Howard from the Chicago Bears in exchange for a 2020 draft pick.#FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/xFJd0WPEOy
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) March 29, 2019
Meanwhile the Eagles have apparently decided to cut bait with Jay Ajayi, who they acquired a season and a half ago in a trade with the Miami Dolphins. Ajayi tore his ACL in Week 5 and finished the season on injured reserve. He is set to become a free agent this season, but it’s still a surprise Philadelphia doesn’t seem keen on bringing him back.
Darren Sproles, who was used primarily as a third-down back, is also set to become a free agent.
This will be Howard’s final season of his rookie deal. He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2016 NFL draft out of Indiana.
New Eagles RB Jordan Howard has been one of the leaders in yards after contact over the past three seasons. https://t.co/d8Jb35LPJr
— PFF (@PFF) March 29, 2019
Howard is coming off his least productive season as a pro. In Bears head coach Matt Nagy’s offense he averaged just 3.7 yards per carry. He joins an Eagles team that finished ranked No. 28 in rushing in the NFL last season and No. 31 in yards per attempt with 3.9. Rookie Josh Adams led the Eagles with 120 carries for 511 yards and three touchdowns.
