Eagles Signing RB Rashaad Penny 'Most Overlooked' Offseason Addition?

There were very few teams last season that loved to run the ball more than the Philadelphia Eagles. They averaged a whopping 152 yards per game on the ground, which was good for fourth in the league. 

However, this offseason they lost their leading rusher in Miles Sanders, who left in free agency to sign a deal with the Carolina Panthers. With him goes 1,269 rushing yards and 11 touchdowns that the Eagles must replace. 

While that will likely be easier said than done, they may have signed a viable replacement in Rashaad Penny - who Bleacher Report named one of the most overlooked additions of the offseason over the signing of former Atlanta Falcons receiver Olamide Zaccheaus or the trade acquisition of Detroit Lions running back D'Andre Swift. 

"Fresh off a Super Bowl appearance, the Philadelphia Eagles made one of the more shrewd pickups of the offseason and instantly improved their chances of getting back to the Big Game by signing Rashaad Penny," B/R writes. 

"The gifted running back was acquired on the open market for a bargain-bin price, costing the club a mere $1.35 million for the upcoming campaign."

For Penny, the question of whether or not he can stay healthy will of course be prevalent in Philadelphia. He started in just five games last season for the Seattle Seahawks before suffering a season-ending injury. Overall in his first five seasons, he has appeared in just 42 games, making only 11 starts. 

That being said, when he is healthy, Penny has shown the potential to be a game-changer at the running back position. In just 10 appearances in 2021, six of which were starts, he posted a career-high 749 rushing yards and six touchdowns. 

Making things even easier for Penny is the fact that the Eagles don't need him to come in and be the bellcow on the ground. 

Jalen Hurts is one of the best dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL, racking up 13 rushing touchdowns last season. They also traded for Swift this offseason, with Kenneth Gainwell, Boston Scott and Trey Sermon in the running back room as well.

The signing of Penny provides depth to a position group that is key to the Eagles' offensive identity, providing crucial depth in the process. If Penny can give them reliable production alongside Swift and Hurts, there is no reason to believe they won't have a top-tier rushing attack once again.

You can find Connor Zimmerlee on Twitter @Connorjz98

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