By Kevin Durso, Sports Talk Philly editor 
Monday morning brought the news that the New Orleans Saints would be without starting center Max Unger to start the season, and that set off the rumor mill. At the top was that Eagles center Jason Kelce could be a target for the Saints and that perhaps running back Mark Ingram could be a possible return for the Eagles.
On paper, a trade centered around the two makes complete sense. The Eagles have offensive line depth and Kelce’s career is clearly in its twilight, though he was a Pro Bowler in 2016. Ingram was the Saints starter in 2016, but with the additions of Adrian Peterson and Alvin Kamara at running back, Ingram’s usage takes a huge hit.
While nothing has developed as of yet between the two teams, perhaps making a deal that makes sense for both sides in filling a need is a logical move. So is a trade worth it?
One thing the Eagles didn’t do in free agency was target a running back, even down to last week when Jamaal Charles, who had made it through April without signing, inked a deal with Denver. They didn’t put it at the top of the draft list either, taking Donnel Pumphrey in the fourth round.
That leaves a group led by Wendell Smallwood, Darren Sproles, Pumphrey and supposedly Ryan Mathews, if you believe Howie Roseman. Mathews, however, is not likely to return, so there would still be a gaping hole at running back.
Enter Mark Ingram.
Last season, Ingram ran for 1,043 yards and six touchdowns on 205 carries and added 46 catches for 319 yards and four touchdowns in the receiving category. The Eagles top three running backs last season — Mathews, Sproles and Smallwood — rushed for 1,411 yards on the season. Mathews led the team with 661 rushing yards.
Ingram certainly fills a need. He may not be the ideal choice for a primary running back, but he takes some of the pressure off of a young grouping that features Smallwood and Pumphrey. With Sproles in the final season of his career, Ingram could also serve a purpose on the Eagles beyond 2017, even if the Eagles draft their future running back early in the 2018 NFL Draft.
More than anything, Ingram has the makeup of the type of running back the Eagles are looking for. He’s built for power and strength, something that would offset the Eagles current group.
Ingram is built for all-purpose situations, can do it on the ground or in the air and gives Carson Wentz and the Eagles offense much more of a weapon than the group of running backs in its current state could.
With all due respect to Kelce, the Eagles have a fair share of quality linemen available to fill the void. Isaac Seumalo has experience at center, even though he played more of a guard role last season. With Brandon Brooks and Chance Warmack being options for the guard spots and Jason Peters and Lane Johnson holding down the tackle positions, the Eagles could be in a comfortable spot to pull off such a trade.
They also have plenty of draft picks that could be included in an offer if needed to put it over the top.
It’s still far too early to know if there is any legitimacy to the rumors. But it does make sense for both sides. If Roseman and company have the opportunity to pull off a move like this by utilizing a team’s need to their advantage — a la Sam Bradford a season ago — then it’s certainly worth the discussion.
