Jordan Howard is getting a change of scene, but will it really be that different?
The Bears traded the workhorse running back to the Eagles Thursday night for a 2020 sixth-round pick that could become a fifth-rounder, which may provide a jolt to Philadelphia’s 28th-ranked rushing offense in 2018.
But the 24-year-old Howard had reportedly become expendable in Chicago because there were concerns he was no longer a fit in head coach Matt Nagy’s offense. It remains to be seen how he will be utilized in Doug Pederson’s offense, which is similar to Nagy’s as both come from the same coaching tree with Andy Reid at the top.
Howard rushed for 3,370 yards and 24 touchdowns on 778 carries across three seasons with the Bears, though his usage and yards per carry declined last year as multi-threat back Tarik Cohen took on a larger role, especially in the passing game. Still, the trade compensation seemed light, even with Howard entering the final year of his contract.
The Eagles, meanwhile, have had a revolving door at running back recently, with five different leading rushers over the last five seasons. The running backs the Eagles had under contract before the trade were last year’s leading rusher Josh Adams (120 carries for 511 yards), Wendell Smallwood, Corey Clement, Donnel Pumphrey and Boston Scott.

