Should Saquon Barkley's Philadelphia Eagles Sign RB Boston Scott?

Philadelphia Eagles RB Boston Scott is always receptive to whatever his role has been in six years with the team, and he would provide competition and depth behind Saquon Barkley and Kenny Gainwell
Sep 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35)
Sep 10, 2023; Foxborough, Massachusetts, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) / Eric Canha-USA TODAY Sports
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The return of Avonte Maddox on a one-year deal made plenty of sense.

The Philadelphia Eagles are still in the dark about whether or not Isaiah Rodgers will be reinstated but the NFL after serving a year suspension for violating the league’s gambling policy.

Plus, he’s pretty good when he’s healthy.

Here’s another return that makes a lot of sense – Boston Scott. The running back is the king of the one-year contract, having signed one-year deals the past three seasons with the Eagles. And it makes sense for the Eagles to give him another one.

There’s no mystery to Philly's running back room this season. It will be Saquon Barkley’s show with whatever crumbs are left going to Kenny Gainwell.

Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) warms
Nov 20, 2023; Kansas City, Missouri, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Boston Scott (35) warms / Denny Medley-USA TODAY Sports

After that, though, is where the curiosity begins.

Typically, the Eagles carry four and sometimes five running backs, though last year, Rashaad Penny was nothing more than a spare part, playing a paltry 31 offensive snaps.

Right now, they have just two waiting in the wings: Tyrion Davis-Price and Lew Nichols. Both player have similar builds, with Davis-Price checking in a t6-1, 232; Nichols at 5-11, 220.

Davis-Price was signed back on Feb. 20. A third-round draft pick of the San Francisco 49ers, Davis-Price. He played just seven games in two with the Niners but ran for 15 touchdowns in three seasons at LSU with his lone 1,000-yard season (1,003) coming in his final year there.

He could wedge his way into a role should one develop.

Nichols was drafted by the Green Bay Packers in the seventh round last year but was released before the season began. He joined the Eagles’ practice squad in Week 7, but could be un prime position to make the roster.

At Central Michigan, he piled up more than 1,800 rushing yards and 2,200 scrimmage yards in his final season.

Adding Scott, though, would certainly provide competition and more depth. He will turn 29 during the draft, but he’s a low mileage back after being used primarily as a reserve during most of his six-year career.

Scott is also someone who never complains about his role but always seems ready to accept whatever it is and do it to the best of his ability. And he is well-liked in the locker room, which helps develop chemistry.

There’s a chance the Eagles could wait to see how the draft unfolds and whether or not they select a RB before making any decision on Scott. Of course, the same could be said for other teams.

Either way, Scott should get a job, and it may make sense for Philly to bring him back for Year 7.


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Ed Kracz
ED KRACZ

Ed Kracz has been covering the Eagles full-time for over a decade and has written about Philadelphia sports since 1996. He wrote about the Phillies in the 2008 and 2009 World Series, the Flyers in their 2010 Stanely Cup playoff run to the finals, and was in Minnesota when the Eagles secured their first-ever Super Bowl win in 2017. Ed has received multiple writing awards as a sports journalist, including several top-five finishes in the Associated Press Sports Editors awards.