If one were to go strictly by the numbers, the Eagles have a need at the running back position.
The Eagles currently have four running backs on their roster: Corey Clement, Josh Adams, Wendell Smallwood, and Boston Scott.
None of them have more than 1,000 career rushing yards nor more than 10 career touchdowns. Scott has yet to even register a carry in a regular-season game.
But the numbers do not tell the entire story.
Howie Roseman expressed this sentiment when he met with the media Monday during the NFL Annual Meeting in Phoenix.
Despite quality running backs being available in free agency, Roseman praised each of the four backs on the Eagles' roster and stressed the importance of developing the young talent at every position, not just running back.
"I just go back to our history over the last couple of years and we've been fortunate to win a lot of games with the running backs that we have on this roster and have opportunities to acquire backs not only before the draft but after the draft process," Roseman said.
"We're going to continue to look at every position and look at ways to improve our football team. We want to be as good as possible at every single position, but it will not put us in a position, at any spot, where we're forcing something in the draft because that's where certainly you make mistakes."
Clement only has 580 career rushing yards, but he has made the most of his opportunities during his first two seasons, including a 100-yard receiving performance in the team's Super Bowl Championship victory over the New England Patriots, which Roseman pointed out Monday.
Unfortunately for Clement, his second season was cut short due to a knee injury, but it allowed Adams to see an increased role in the offense. Adams finished the season with 511 yards, which was a lot more than expected for a guy that didn't even make the team's initial 53-man roster coming out of Training Camp.
"Josh Adams showed in flashes what he can do," Roseman said. "That jump for Josh, Year 1 to Year 2, is big."
Smallwood also benefited from a heavier workload and made some big plays during the 2018 season.
"When Wendell has been called upon to play, he's been a solid player. He's played well for us," Roseman said.
Roseman was also effusive in his praise of Scott, who the team signed off the New Orleans Saints' practice squad during the 2018 season.
"You got a guy in Boston Scott off the practice squad of the Saints who has tools in his body, traits to develop," Roseman said.
Although Roseman is happy with the quartet of backs the Eagles currently have, he made sure to note that the team's evaluation process is far from over. There are still six months until the 2019 season, and Roseman and his crew are going to continue to look to increase the talent level of the roster in all areas.
"The three running backs who played in the Super Bowl were all acquired after the 2017 draft, so the talent acquisition period continues to go," he said. "We want to have the best possible team. We're going to look into everything. That's our job and at the same time we've got to grow and develop our younger players."
