With the possibility of Miles Sanders exiting Philadelphia, the Eagles may be in need of a running back. And that running back could be Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs.
The Eagles met with the draft prospect this past weekend during the NFL Combine. Gibbs could be a potential first-round, early second-round selection.
JAHMYR GIBBS’ COLLEGIATE CAREER
From Georgia, Jahmyr Gibbs transitioned from a three-star to four-star prospect in high school. He finished with 4,882 rushing yards and 70 touchdowns in three years before committing to Georgia Tech despite recruitment from three other colleges.
In Gibbs’ collegiate debut, he completed 219 all-purpose yards and two touchdowns. He was named ACC Freshman of the Week, as the game set the tone for his future. In two seasons at Georgia Tech, Gibbs finished with 1,206 rushing yards, 768 receiving yards, and 794 returning yards, as well as 14 total touchdowns.
For the 2022 season, Gibbs transferred to the University of Alabama — one of the original colleges who wanted him out of high school. That year, he completed a career-high 151 rushing attempts for 926 rushing yards and seven rushing touchdowns. Gibbs also added 444 receiving yards, three receiving touchdowns, and 258 returning yards to his resume.
DOES GIBBS FIT THE SCHEME IN PHILLY?
This past weekend, Gibbs excelled at the Combine. He completed the 40-yard dash in 4.36 seconds with a 33.5 inch vertical jump. He’s agile, quick-footed, and well-rounded. Though his 5-foot-9, 199 pound frame may be a concern for some, the same could be said for Eagles’ wide receiver DeVonta Smith. But, look how that turned out.
Under head coach Nick Sirianni, Philadelphia’s run game has been strong, and it would be a shame to lose that. With both Miles Sanders and Boston Scott set to hit free agency next week, it’s likely the Eagles may move on from them, keeping Kenneth Gainwell on the roster. Placing Gibbs behind Gainwell would allow the Eagles to grow over the next few seasons.
If not the Eagles, possible landing spots for Gibbs are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, Buffalo Bills, or New Orleans Saints. The 2023 NFL Draft begins on April 27.
