There are many problem areas the Philadelphia Eagles need to address when it comes to becoming competitive in the NFC. Their issues are so many that it can be hard to imagine how Nick Siriani can completely restore the team to the Super Bowl contenders that gave the Kansas City Chiefs a challenge in Super Bowl LVII.

One of the most problematic areas they need to address is the running back position. While D’Andre Swift was an effective rusher for the Eagles, he fell off in the latter stages of the season and was a non-factor when they lost in the Wild Card round.

Jan 15, 2024; Tampa, Florida, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back D’Andre Swift (0) runs the ball against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half of a 2024 NFC wild card game at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-USA TODAY Sports
With Swift a sure departure from the team, the question now lies on which potential free agent they should target. CBS News’ Anton Ignudo provided potential replacements, and this piece will assess whether they’ll be the right fit for the Eagles.

Running backs the Philadelphia Eagles should target in the 2024 free agency

Tony Pollard

Many Dallas Cowboys fans will be mad if Tony Pollard makes the jump to their division rivals after spending the past two seasons tearing it up as their first-choice running back.

His last two seasons in Arlington saw him put up an incredible 2012 rushing yards and 15 TDs on 4.5 yards per attempt. He’d be a terrific option for the Philadelphia Eagles who could provide at least three solid years of production from the half-back position.

Alexander Mattison

The Minnesota Vikings had to make do with Alexander Mattison after Dalvin decided to ditch the team in favor of a terrible stint with the New York Jets.

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While he wasn’t the one-for-one replacement to Cook’s production, he was an effective running back who got it done for the Vikings. He finished his first full year as a starter with 700 rushing yards on 3.9 yards per carry. If there’s one issue to have with Mattison taking over, it’s the fact that he wasn’t able to punch in any rushing touchdowns through 16 games.

JK Dobbins

Of the three players in this list, JK Dobbins is at a disadvantage when it comes to body of work. The former Ohio State standout only played for one game during the 2023 season, where he collected 22 rushing yards and a TD on eight rushing attempts.

He was also limited in his sophomore campaign with the Baltimore Ravens, where he carried the ball 92 times for a respectable 520 yards. If the Philadelphia Eagles are interested in acquiring his services in free agency, they’re most likely betting on him repeating the numbers he put up in his rookie season, where he made 134 run attempts for 805 yards and nine touchdowns.

Which running back will the Philadelphia Eagles select in free agency?

There are other outstanding rushers the Philadelphia Eagles can acquire this offseason, but some of them might be too expensive or won’t fit with how Nick Siriani runs his offense. Moreover, they can also try to win D’Andre Swift back if they don’t find a suitable replacement.

However, Swift’s performance would have the Eagles pick up another running back through the draft than run it back with him.