He is the kind of player you want to have on your roster because whatever Boston Scott is asked to do, he's going to deliver. That's been the value of Scott since 2018 when he joined the Eagles and it's going to be the value for the 2023 season now that Scott has signed a one-year contract for the 2023 season.
"I think a big part of it is familiarity with the scheme, with the offense," Scott said after putting pen to paper on his new deal. "Obviously, the locker room is great, the coaching staff is great, the organization as a whole is great, you know, front office, everybody. So, having a good organization that is really dedicated to players is – from what I heard, I've been blessed with the teams that I've been a part of – but it can be hard to come because it's a cutthroat business and things are very to the point. So, being able to be a part of an offense like this with y'all know the pieces, but being able to be a part of something like that is a heck of an opportunity."
In the midst of this negotiating period with agents of potential unrestricted free agents is the facet of addressing those on the current roster. The Eagles did that with defensive end Brandon Graham, who signed his 2023 contract on Monday. They also did it with Scott, the multipurpose, extremely valuable piece for an offense that in 2022 set a franchise record for total points scored, third-down conversion efficiency, and touchdown efficiency in the red zone.
Scott played a part in all of that success, and then some.
In 170 offensive snaps in the regular season, Scott rushed for 217 yards and three touchdowns on 54 attempts and was a solid player in pass protection. Scott also added a big-play element to the kickoff return game, averaging 27.1 yards, including a career-best 66-yarder against the New York Giants in Week 14.
Scott added 32 yards and a touchdown on six carries in the NFC Divisional Round playoff game against the Giants and then chipped in with 21 yards, including a 10-yard touchdown run, on six carries in the NFC Championship Game victory over San Francisco.
Whatever you need Scott to do, he's there for you. And he's going to be productive. That's the modus operandi for Boston Scott.
"That's kind of how I've always seen my role," he said during the season. "I think my value is that I can do a lot of things to help this football team and I've earned the trust of the coaching staff to the point where they know they can count on me to be in the right place and be effective.
"I'm the kind of guy who is going to work hard and strive to be the best I can be in any role. Of course I want the football. Every player does. You have to take advantage of your opportunities and that's the approach I take every day. I'm going to come in here and push and keep pushing. I'm never going to settle."
Scott was acquired from the New Orleans Saints' practice squad in the final weeks of the 2018 regular season, and he has made an impact – in his jack-of-all-trades way – since then. Scott has 1,209 rushing yards and 16 touchdowns in the past four seasons, averaging 4.3 yards per carry and displaying an ability to reach paydirt in the red zone. Scott has also been effective as a receiver, catching 67 passes for 514 yards and a touchdown out of the backfield.
Keeping Scott means the running back room will have a familiar look for 2023, even with Miles Sanders currently an unrestricted free agent. The Eagles have third-year man Kenneth Gainwell, a key contributor to the offense particularly down the stretch in 2022; third-year back Trey Sermon, who will get a long look in the summer after he was acquired off of waivers from San Francisco prior to the start of the '22 regular season. The addition is Rashaad Penny, who agreed to terms Wednesday on a one-year deal.
"Each year is a new year," Scott said. "So, we've gotta go into this year starting from ground zero. We have a foundation, but we haven't earned anything, and nobody cares that we made it to the Super Bowl last year. So, it's gonna be a new year. I'm excited. I'm ready to go to work. I'm gonna prepare. I'm gonna be ready whenever it's time to go. I'm coming for it."
