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All the NFL insiders said the Philadelphia Eagles were going to be active and aggressive prior to the league’s trade deadline. They were right! The Eagles made a big move on Tuesday to acquire running back Jay Ajayi from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a 2018 fourth-round draft pick.
Here’s how everyone is reacting to the big news.
Ajayi behind that Eagles OL btw is going to look SOOOOO much better than he did in Miami this season.
— Sam Monson (@PFF_Sam) October 31, 2017
So in a 12-hour stretch, Eagles add Jay Ajayi and Cowboys lose Ezekiel Elliott.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) October 31, 2017
FWIW, Jay Ajayi ranks 19th out of 44 RBs in pass protection this season by @PFF.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) October 31, 2017
(Blount 33rd, Smallwood 44th) #Eagles
Jay Ajayi only averaging 3.4 yards per carry this season but Dolphins OL ranks 28th in run blocking. Plus Miami obviously has bad QBs.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) October 31, 2017
Philly building for postseason. Great defense and stable of power backs. Weather proof.
— Daniel Jeremiah (@MoveTheSticks) October 31, 2017
THIS ACCOUNT WILL REMAIN FIRMLY ENTRENCHED IN ALL CAPS FOR THE FORESEEABLE FUTURE
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 31, 2017
IMAGINE SITTING THE PRICEY CB YOU GOT FROM PHILLY ON TUESDAY AND THEN A WEEK LATER TRADING WITH HOWIE *AGAIN*. HE LAUGHS AT YOUR FOOLISHNESS
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) October 31, 2017
The Ajayi trade is kind of unbelievable. Low cost in both trade and cap, quality of player, the aggressiveness of the move... love it.
— overthrow for Christ (@Southern_Philly) October 31, 2017
That's the risk, but when he plays one snap he's immediately the most productive RB the Eagles have spent a 4th on this year https://t.co/oKTQA6COdj
— overthrow for Christ (@Southern_Philly) October 31, 2017
Someone find me Howie Roseman so I can kiss him on the lips. https://t.co/fR2Ov9mx9d
— ware wolfe (@TheBenNatan) October 31, 2017
Howie is a wizard.
— James Seltzer (@JamesSeltzer) October 31, 2017
Bgn radio text thread is lit pic.twitter.com/9ulOAnVzI0
— Wow-oh-ween (@OhWowHmm) October 31, 2017
Wow. Have to see what happens with Blount but what a get ... and suddenly Kenyan Drake the Dolphins starter https://t.co/GVeokch4Tj
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 31, 2017
Not sure Ajayi will get the volume he had in Miami unless Blount is cut. Somewhat redundant. Still need receiving specialist in mix too
— Mike Clay (@MikeClayNFL) October 31, 2017
Jay Ajayi is signed through next year and makes close to nothing. This trade is bonkers.
— Ben Livingston (@bliv94) October 31, 2017
The Eagles already have the 4th best rushing attack in the league.
— Ben Livingston (@bliv94) October 31, 2017
Now they have Jay Ajayi AND LeGarrette Blount?
This is just unfair.
Jay Ajayi had no blocking in Miami, and he still did things like this pic.twitter.com/hmj0xnbBi8
— Ben Livingston (@bliv94) October 31, 2017
Ajayi for a 4th is a really nice short-term/long-term move.
— Noah Becker (@Noah_Becker) October 31, 2017
— Derek Bodner (@DerekBodnerNBA) October 31, 2017
Still just 24 and had a heck of a season last year. Liking Ajayi and Blount combo a lot. https://t.co/zmMwnklefW
— Sidney Jones IV (@SidneyJonesIV) October 31, 2017
Eagles (seeking LT) and Dolphins could both make more moves and other RBs (Hyde/Gore) could be moved still as well
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 31, 2017
Fourth-round pick is tough to swallow, though. Could get a player like Donnel Pumphrey in that round.
— Bo Wulf (@Bo_Wulf) October 31, 2017
Ajayi to PHI -> schedule analysis: Tough week 9 game obviously. After that? #1 easiest run Ds in the NFL by far, via https://t.co/Lw14YZ9vBM pic.twitter.com/WHKzaiZWdI
— Warren Sharp (@SharpFootball) October 31, 2017
This also means they don't need to address RB in the draft, a major plus considering Eagles don't have a 2nd+3rd-rd pick
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) October 31, 2017
Something to keep in mind about Ajayi trade: Dolphins don’t believe he has much left in his knees. Longer-term play. Something to watch for.
— Jeff Darlington (@JeffDarlington) October 31, 2017
Source tells me Ajayi extremely combative with Dolphins coaching staff in recent weeks. Verbal confrontations.
— Craig Mish (@CraigMish) October 31, 2017
Ajayi gives #Eagles very reliable 1st and 2nd down RB. Team now has legitimate running game. He can handle volume of carries.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) October 31, 2017
Blount's inconsistency was part of why #Eagles made this deal. Ajayi's addition alleviates that issue. He'll be the main RB going fwd.
— Adam Caplan (@caplannfl) October 31, 2017
The Dolphins are Howie's personal trade partner punching bag
— Dan (@dklausner) October 31, 2017
Jay Ajayi (@JayTrain23) is really good. He runs so hard. #Dolphins film is full of good runs with bad blocking pic.twitter.com/N2cqmavUMi
— Josh Cohen (@jco3215) January 4, 2017
eagles got a potentially elite RB for a 4th round pick that's still on his rookie deal and people are out here praising adam gase
— charles mcdonald (@FourVerts) October 31, 2017
Eagles are not moving Blount from what I gather. He'll have a role there even after this trade
— Jason La Canfora (@JasonLaCanfora) October 31, 2017
Don't think the Eagles are done making trades today, each team I talk with indicate they have something going with Birds....
— Michael Lombardi (@mlombardiNFL) October 31, 2017
Here’s something ESPN’s Bill Barnwell had to say about the trade.
The Dolphins were struggling on offense last year until Adam Gase made the call to abandon his running back rotation and hand the job over to Jay Ajayi. After a loss to the Titans, Ajayi ran for 204 yards in a win over the Steelers, and the offense was significantly better the rest of the way. Even during his breakout season, though, Ajayi was a big-play back who wasn't inclined to keep the offense on schedule. He ranked 13th in DVOA, but 32nd in Success Rate. This year, the big plays have mostly disappeared -- Ajayi has zero runs of 25 yards or more after racking up six of them last year -- and Gase grew publicly frustrated with Ajayi's propensity to seek out the big play in lieu of hitting the hole and taking what was blocked. That's the challenge at the heart of this trade. The Eagles, who are predicated upon efficiency, think they can take Ajayi and coach him into a back who stays within the offensive scheme and still makes big plays. Gase apparently didn't think he could, which says a lot about how dysfunctional the Miami offense is right now.
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) October 31, 2017