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The Eagles made some big news on Tuesday by trading LeSean McCoy to the Buffalo Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso. Lost in all of the talk about the deal was the need for a potential replacement for Shady. While Darren Sproles and Chris Polk offer talent, they are likely better off as role players. That's why the team will likely look for a replacement in free agency or the draft.
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While there are some big names entering free agency, BGN's money is on the draft. This is a historically deep draft class for running backs and the Eagles may be able to find a replacement for McCoy in April. Below are eight possible replacements for Shady in this year's selection process.
Todd Gurley, Georgia (6-1, 222): The beast of the class is coming off an ACL tear, but he's as complete of a back as you'll find coming out of college. A massive dude with terrific athleticism, Gurley would do well as both a receiver and runner for Chip Kelly. (Projection: Late 1st Round)
Melvin Gordon, Wisconsin (6-1, 215): Gordon is a threat as both a runner and receiver with 4.52 speed. He is a slippery runner with impressive balance and he has the ability to make a big play in all elements of the game. He seems to be the most Shady-esque of the field. (Projection: Early 2nd Round)
Duke Johnson, Miami (5-9, 207): A Dan Klausner favorite, Johnson has a knee injury in his past, but bounced back to be even better after he recovered. Johnson is short but is a speedster with great hands. He needs to be a better blocker for the Eagles, but still, he is coachable. (Projection: 2nd Round)
Tevin Coleman, Indiana (5-11, 206): My favorite back in the class is an absolute burner. While he didn't participate at the Combine, his speed on tape is undeniable. A big-play threat in the mold of McCoy with better long-end speed, Coleman may slip through the cracks into the third round because of his recent injury woes. However, I think he's a solid Day 2 talent regardless. (Projection: 2nd Round)
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David Johnson, Northern Iowa (6-1, 224): Another personal favorite of mine and the BGN Radio crew, Johnson is the best receiving back in the class and is really capable of being a mismatch. He is a tall but slender back with excellent mobility and vision. He may be one of the best value picks in the process. (Projection: 3rd Round)
T.J. Yeldon, Alabama (6-1, 226): The latest in Alabama's running back factory isn't quite as good of a prospect as his predecessors but is still dynamic. Able to explode for large chunks of yardage, Yeldon is deadly in open space. He's more of a bruiser than a finesse guy. The Eagles met with Yeldon at the 2015 NFL Combine. (Projection: 3rd Round)
David Cobb, Minnesota (5-11, 229): Cobb would be awesome value for the Eagles in the third round. He is a fluid athlete with the ability to shimmy and shake a defense. He has terrific vision and displays the ability to break tackles. Cobb is a guy to watch. (Projection: 3rd Round)
John Crockett, North Dakota State (6-0, 217): The hidden gem of this class is Crockett. A smooth athlete that is able to carry the load, he won four-straight FCS championships with the Bison. A smart guy with solid speed and size, Crockett could be a late-round grab if the Eagles trade a lot of early picks to get Marcus Mariota. (Projection: 5th-6th Round)