March 01, 2017
We'll keep this short and sweet. Jamaal Charles is exactly what the Eagles could use at running back. He's a slashing, speedy back with a staggering 5.5 yards per carry average over his career, who is also a premier threat as a pass catcher out of the backfield.
Or at least he was.
Charles' career took a severe downward turn in October of 2015 when he had surgery to repair a torn right ACL five games into that season. (He had previously torn his left ACL in 2011). In 2016, after just three games and 12 carries, two additional surgeries were necessary after Charles experienced pain in both knees, ending his season.
Charles is now 30 years old and out of a job after the Kansas City Chiefs cut him on Monday in a move to create more salary cap space. After Charles' release, many made the obvious connection that:
Charles is not the answer.
Injuries aside, the widely-accepted notion that running backs experience sharp declines into their 30's is far from a myth. In fact, only one active player in the NFL has produced a 1000-yard season with a 31st birthday before the end of the season. That was the ageless Frank Gore, who has done it twice and hasn't missed a game since 2010, and only 12 games over his 12-year career. Charles will turn 31 during the season, and has missed double that number of games (24) in the last two seasons.
Did we mention the fact that Charles has had three surgeries in the last 18 months? Yes? OK, just reiterating that.
You don't need an actuarial degree to determine that Charles is probably not someone you want to use significant cash resources on when you're one of the bottom five teams in the NFL in available cap space, and you're about to enter a draft that is regarded by every expert and their mothers as being extraordinarily strong at running back.
Of course, there's also the argument that Charles could maybe be an additional piece in the running back rotation, who can contribute situationally as a receiving weapon and occasional change of pace guy, ideally who would be used sporadically. Then again, the Eagles already have that guy. His name is Darren Sproles.
Follow Jimmy on Twitter: @JimmyKempski
Like Jimmy on Facebook.
