The Eagles will look different at running back in 2023, with Rashaad Penny replacing former Penn State star Miles Sanders.
Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott, and Trey Sermon give Philadelphia the potential for a solid committee of rushers. However, Eagles GM Howie Roseman could look to land the perfect fit during this month’s draft.
The Eagles have eyes for Bijan Robinson and Jahymr Gibbs, and we have one running back for each round if GM Howie Roseman decides to make a move.
Bijan Robinson, Texas
There’s no explanation needed for why Philadelphia should use the extra first-round pick on the 6-foot, 220-pound blend of size, speed, quickness, and receiving ability that teams covet in elite running backs.
Robinson would give the Eagles an actual three-down back, and on a rookie deal, that would open up the offense even more for Philadelphia’s trio of pass catchers.
The NFC champs are in their championship window, and the NFL’s top rushing team could flourish with a player that amassed more than 3,300 yards from scrimmage over the past two seasons while averaging 6.7 yards per touch.
Pass blocking may be the weakest area of his game, but he still showed an improvement over his college career, ad he didn’t allow a sack last season on 60 pass-blocking snaps per PFF.
Zach Charbonnet, UCLA
Big, fast, and physical both between the tackles and in the open field, Charbonnet is a handful to bring down despite not being overly elusive.
Charbonnet scored 11 touchdowns at Michigan in 2019 before transferring to UCLA, where he ran for 1,137 yards and 13 scores (5.6 average), and in 2020 he ran for 1,359 with 14 (7.0).
Devon Achane, Texas A&M
Achane has a rare combination of speed and balance, and in 2022 he broke 53 tackles on 196 attempts for an 89.8 rushing grade last fall.
Dewayne McBride, UAB
McBride was the most dominant running back in college football over the past three seasons, rushing for 3,507 yards on 484 carries (7.2 yards per carry) and breaking 175 tackles on 484 attempts.
Kendre Miller, TCU
A talented running back who could be an early-down workhorse, Miller had 1,399 rushing yards and 17 touchdowns for TCU in 2022. The junior missed the team’s national championship loss to Georgia because of a sprained knee suffered in TCU’s victory over Michigan.
ESPN rated the 6-foot, 220-pound Miller as the No. 155 overall prospect for the draft.
Deuce Vaughn, Kansas State
One of the more intriguing players with the ability to impact both the rushing and passing games as a dual threat is Kansas State’s Deuce Vaughn.
Vaughn does present concerns with his size at only 5-foot-6 and 175 pounds, but he makes up for it with great speed and body control. He has good vision and could complement both Kenneth Gainwell and Boston Scott.
Sean Tucker, Syracuse
Tucker (5-9, 207 pounds) earned second-team All-ACC recognition last fall after rushing 206 times for 1,060 yards and 11 touchdowns as a junior. Before that, he had a breakout season in 2021 with a school record of 1,496 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns, earning him first-team All-ACC honors.
In three seasons (33 games) with the Orange, Tucker totaled 3,804 yards from scrimmage and scored 31 touchdowns.
Kenny McIntosh, RB, Georgia
The former Georgia running back has a nice size at 210 pounds and just under 6 feet.
A dual-threat running back, McKintosh rushed for 829 yards and gained 504 receiving yards last season for the national champion Bulldogs.
Camerun Peoples, Appalachian State
Appalachian State’s Camerun Peoples never stops churning his legs through contact. He’s just a damn horse dragging Georgia State defenders into the end zone #FunBelt pic.twitter.com/nyHHFkyVOb
— Bobby Football (@Rob__Paul) October 20, 2022
A big, physical runner, Peoples fits the mold of a power back that could continue the Eagles’ recent ground-and-pound tradition.
This 6'2 225lbs Downhill Grinder will be in Mobile next week – can't wait to see the size up between Peoples, Chris Rodriguez and Roschon Johnson!#2023NFLDraftProspect #CamerunPeoples pic.twitter.com/VeXJFImUbp
— ᴄᴏᴅʏ ᴄᴀʀᴘᴇɴᴛɪᴇʀ (@CarpentierNFL) January 22, 2023
