Eagles Reportedly Explore LeSean McCoy Trade

by
Former Writers
October 10, 2018

Keith Allison via Flickr

Philadelphia Eagles Reportedly Reach Out To Buffalo Bills Regarding LeSean McCoy

It was reported on Tuesday that the Philadelphia Eagles reached out to the Buffalo Bills to gauge interest in a trade for running back LeSean McCoy. This comes on the heels of the team placing running back Jay Ajayi on IR.

Many thought the Eagles were a favorite to repeat as Super Bowl champions but have stumbled out of the gate. The team is currently 2-3 and is looking to get back on track. Acquiring a player like McCoy would give their offense a much-needed boost. Some could argue that despite McCoy’s age that he would be a better all-around option than a healthy Ajayi.

McCoy like the Eagles has struggled this season as he has only rushed for 170 yards in four games at an average of 3.8 yards-per-carry. His struggles are not all on him as he has not been given as many attempts, he is averaging 11.2 carries and four catches per game.

McCoy has shown that he can be a game-changing player as he rushed for 1,138 yards last year and caught 59 passes.

While he is no longer the same player he once was, he could be a holdover for a suddenly desperate Eagles backfield. He could also benefit from a change of scenery to jumpstart his season.

Why Would The Bills Make This Trade?

The Bills are a surprising 2-3 this season and have knocked off the Minnesota Vikings and the Tennessee Titans. While this record looks great right now, they are not as good as their record says. They should continue this tank job by getting rid of any assets with value.

This should start with LeSean McCoy who is one of their best players. It would be more beneficial for the Bills to acquire a mid-round pick for McCoy. Rookie quarterback Josh Allen could benefit from more pass attempts as the team tries to develop him, this will not come with McCoy as a part of their game plan.

McCoy will be a free agent in 2020 and does not fit the timeline of the young Bills team. The Eagles showed a willingness to trade picks for running backs as they traded a fourth-round pick for Jay Ajayi last year. If the Bills can get similar compensation for McCoy they should pull the trigger.

Why Would The Eagles Make This Trade?

The Eagles who came into the season with one of the deepest backfields suddenly look very thin. As of now Jay Ajayi is on IR and Darren Sproles nursing a hamstring injury and looks doubtful for this Sunday.

The Eagles’ running back job will now fall to a combination of Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood. Neither of these players are suitable for a workhorse or lead back role. The Eagles could also turn to rookie and Notre Dame standout, Josh Adams.

Even with the idea of giving the rookie the job, he is unproven and would not inspire much confidence. With all these concerns are taken into account the Eagles should, within reason give the Bills whatever they want. The Eagles have stockpiled so many impact players and can only stay together so long.

They should want to maximize their title chances while they still can. As stated previously McCoy is a better all-around player than any running backs the Eagles have and would be a great player to spearhead their rushing attack.

Fantasy Implications

McCoy has not had a great season in Buffalo so far and will continue to post RB3 to flex numbers while he is there. On the Eagles side, Corey Clement and Wendell Smallwood are flex options until one proves that they have taken over as a viable option.

If LeSean McCoy is in fact traded to the Eagles his value should skyrocket. He would be considered a high-end RB2 as the Eagles lead back.

He would also be the ultimate sell-high candidate as he would become a coveted asset. The Bills will turn to Chris Ivory if they choose to move on from McCoy. Ivory would step into the same flex territory as McCoy had in the Bills’ lead back role.