According to Adam Schefter of ESPN, running back DeMarco Murray will officially join the Philadelphia Eagles. Mike Fisher of 105.3 in Dallas reported earlier that Murray's family said he was going to sign with Philadelphia. Schefter also added that Dallas is now actively making calls looking for another running back.
This signing, a five-year deal worth $42 million, which guarantees an $21 million to Murray, will become official after the two-time Pro Bowler flies to Philadelphia today to meet with team officials.
Newly-acquired Eagles quarterback, Sam Bradford, was teammates and college roommates with Murray at the University of Oklahoma from 2007-2009.
Bradford entered the 2010 NFL Draft after his Junior season, and was selected first overall by the St. Louis Rams despite only appearing in three games for the Sooners in 2009 due to suffering a third degree AC joint sprain.
Murray stayed at Oklahoma for his Senior year, and was selected 71st overall out of the third round by the Dallas Cowboys in 2011.
Wednesday afternoon, at his introductory press conference, the 2008 Heisman Award winner revealed he had been 'trying his hardest' to recruit Murray to the Eagles:
"I've been trying my hardest. I called him. I've texted him. I've done everything. We've been in communication and I think if we could somehow land DeMarco, it would be a great pickup.
Not only is he a great player, but he's a great person. He's a really close friend of mine, too. I really think that he could help this ball club."
It appears Bradford's efforts paid off.
Not only did he want to Murray to come to Philadelphia, however, but so did Murray himself as he sought to re-unite with his former teammate. Murray reportedly called Eagles' head coach Chip Kelly according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen, which renewed the team's interest in signing him.
Murray, 27, led the NFL last season in five offensive categories: rushing attempts (392), rushing yards (1845), rushing touchdowns (13), rushing yards per game (115.3), and overall yards from scrimmage (2261).
Table 1: Demarco Murray's career statistics.
| Games | Rushing | Receiving | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Age | Tm | G | GS | Att | Yds | TD | Lng | Tgt | Rec | Yds | TD | Lng | YScm | Fmb | ||||||
| 2011 | 23 | DAL | 13 | 7 | 164 | 897 | 2 | 91 | 5.5 | 69.0 | 12.6 | 35 | 26 | 183 | 7.0 | 0 | 18 | 2.0 | 14.1 | 1080 | 1 |
| 2012 | 24 | DAL | 10 | 10 | 161 | 663 | 4 | 48 | 4.1 | 66.3 | 16.1 | 42 | 34 | 247 | 7.3 | 0 | 22 | 3.4 | 24.7 | 910 | 3 |
| 2013* | 25 | DAL | 14 | 14 | 217 | 1121 | 9 | 43 | 5.2 | 80.1 | 15.5 | 66 | 53 | 350 | 6.6 | 1 | 22 | 3.8 | 25.0 | 1471 | 3 |
| 2014*+ | 26 | DAL | 16 | 16 | 392 | 1845 | 13 | 51 | 4.7 | 115.3 | 24.5 | 64 | 57 | 416 | 7.3 | 0 | 34 | 3.6 | 26.0 | 2261 | 6 |
| Career | 53 | 47 | 934 | 4526 | 28 | 91 | 4.8 | 85.4 | 17.6 | 207 | 170 | 1196 | 7.0 | 1 | 34 | 3.2 | 22.6 | 5722 | 13 | ||
As DeMarco replaces LeSean McCoy as the team's starting running back, it is worth comparing their statistics from the previous two seasons in order to gauge what to expect out of the position in 2015.
Table 2: Comparing LeSean McCoy with DeMarco Murray for the 2013 and 2014 seasons.
|
|
2013 |
2014 |
||
|
LeSean McCoy |
DeMarco Murray |
LeSean McCoy |
DeMarco Murray |
|
|
Games Started |
16 |
14 |
16 |
16 |
|
Rushing Attempts |
314 |
217 |
312 |
392 |
|
Rushing Yards |
1607 |
1121 |
1319 |
1845 |
|
Rushing Touchdowns |
9 |
9 |
5 |
13 |
|
Rushing Yards per Game |
100.4 |
80.1 |
82.4 |
115.3 |
|
Fumbles |
1 |
3 |
4 |
6 |
Murray joins a crowded contingent on the team's depth chart at the running back position: Ryan Mathews, who agreed Wednesday morning to a three-year, $12 million deal, 2014 Pro Bowler Darren Sproles, and Chris Polk.
Expect either Sproles or Polk to be moved this offseason to free up room at the position, the team's salary cap hit, and to perhaps gain-back a comparable pick traded away in the Tuesday, Foles-for-Bradford swap with the St. Louis Rams. Nearly a year ago today on March 13, 2014, Sproles was acquired from the New Orleans Saints for a 2014 fifth round pick.
Just a quick reminder: Frank Gore also reportedly agreed to terms but did not sign. But with Mathews and Murray in town, it sounds like a decent bet.
Matt Rappa (@mattrappa) is a contributor to Eagledelphia.com
