Thursday morning started with word that the Redskins were making a push to acquire running back Darren Sproles in a trade with the Saints.
Sproles has reportedly wound up in the NFC East, but he won’t be playing in Washington. Jason LaCanfora of CBS Sports reports that the Eagles have jumped their divisional rivals and completed a trade for the veteran back. PFT has confirmed that the deal is done and Sproles is headed to the City of Brotherly Love.
Sproles’ ability as a pass catcher out of the backfield should make him a natural fit in the Philadelphia offense, especially with coach Chip Kelly’s long history of turning smaller backs into receiving weapons while he was the coach at the University of Oregon. Some of those Ducks were ill-suited to the NFL, but Sproles’ ability to impact games is well documented and his arrival adds to an already impressive array of offensive options in Philly.
The return game could also get a boost from Sproles’ presence. There’s no word on compensation yet, but the Eagles currently have seven picks in the 2014 draft including an extra fifth-round selection as a result of trading defensive tackle Isaac Sopoaga to the Patriots.
Sproles wasn’t keen on the idea of a trade because he wanted to pick his own landing spot, but it’s hard to think of many that fit his skills better than Philadelphia.