LeGarrette Blount signing with the Philadelphia Eagles
By Zac Snyder
Running Back LeGarrette Blount will not be joining the Detroit Lions as some fans hoped after agreeing to deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Detroit Lions didn’t pursue a running back early in free agency, didn’t take one in the 2017 NFL Draft, then decided against signing Matt Asiata after he took part in the team’s rookie minicamp as a tryout.
Bob Quinn has publicly expressed confidence in his current group of running backs and his actions have matched his words.
Still, that hasn’t stopped many fans from advocating for a big back in free agency, most notably former New England Patriot LeGarrette Blount. If that was ever on the table, it is off now as Blount has agreed to one-year deal with the Philadelphia Eagles.
Eagles are signing former Patriots' RB LeGarrette Blount to a one-year deal, per team official. Cardinals also had some mild interest.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 17, 2017
Sources: #Eagles are signing ex-#Patriots RB LeGarrette Blount to a 1-year deal worth up to $2.8M. Top FA available & another big weapon.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 17, 2017
The desire for Blount in Detroit was understandable, but the attraction was mostly superficial based on counting stats Blount achieved last season because he racked up so many carries. His 1,161 yards and 18 touchdowns look nice, but Blount averaged just 3.9 yards per carry on 299 attempts. Only Ezekiel Elliott had more carries last season, but did so at a 5.1 yards per carry clip.
Blount may have finished eighth in total rushing yards last season, but that looks a lot less impressive considering he finished second in carries.
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Blount signing with the Eagles will disappoint some Lions fans but really isn’t much of a loss. The team’s running back fortunes for 2017 were always going to hang on the health of Ameer Abdullah – with or without Blount.