BREAKING: Eagles actually sign a free agent!

Hey now!

THIS IS NOT A DRILL: the Philadelphia Eagles have added a free agent to their roster! They’re no longer the only NFL team to not make an external signing since free agency unofficially began on Monday.

The Birds agreed to terms with former Green Bay Packers running back AJ Dillon, according to a report from Mike Garafolo.

Dillon, 26, was a second-round pick (No. 62 overall) by the Packers in the 2020 NFL Draft. Over the first four years of his career, Dillon logged 597 carries for 2428 rushing yards (4.1 average) and 16 touchdowns. He also had 86 receptions for 763 receiving yards and two scores.

Dillon missed the entire 2024 season due to a neck injury he suffered during a joint training camp practice in August. Garafolo notes that Dillon has “received clearance from the top neck specialists in the country” to continue his NFL career.

The Eagles were in need of some more running back depth after losing Kenny Gainwell to the Pittsburgh Steelers. Dillon can compete with 2024 draft pick Will Shipley for playing time behind Saquon Barkley.

It’s fun to think about Dillon’s fit in Philly’s run-heavy offense as a 6’0”, 247 pound running back who is also capable of catching the football. Definitely a worthwhile flier.

More insight on the Eagles’ new RB from our associates over at Acme Packing Company, who wrote a post titled “The case for keeping AJ Dillon” last month. Interesting logic here:

Dillon has been in steady decline for years, and is coming off of a debilitating neck injury. When he last played in 2023, he had the 10^th worst Rushing Yards over Expected per Attempt of any back in football at -.36. He’s a huge, physical phenom, but that speed and power simply never show up on tape as Dillon almost always picks the wrong hole, and is far more likely to run into his own blockers than he is to run into empty space. As a ball carrier, he’s a disaster, and I think the team has started to see clearly on this point with the ascension of Wilson and Brooks. Brooks did not have enough attempts to qualify for NGS tracking, but Wilson’s very good .73 RYOE/A was identical to Jacobs. These guys were great in spite of the efforts of their lines.

Dillon would easily be the worst runner on the team which is exactly what they need to snap back into a pass-heavier offensive philosophy. While Matt LaFleur might steer clear of using a no-name bad running back in actual games, the fact that Dillon is a veteran who is well loved in Door County and by a certain segment of fans is more likely to get him on the field than a run-of-the-mill replacement level player. And, while Dillon can’t really run the ball at all, he is an excellent pass blocker who is coming off a career high 10.1 yards per reception. He is exactly what the doctor ordered, if the doctor is ordering the run-happy version of Antabuse.

And because Dillon is coming off of an injury that cost him all of 2024, and is pretty terrible, he shouldn’t cost much of anything. He’s an absolutely perfect fit, and should drag the GB rushing attack down just enough the return us to the proper level of passing.

Highlights:

Pre-draft scouting report via Lance Zierlein:

Built like a minibus but possessing enough vision and finesse to avoid being pigeon-holed as just a pure power back. Dillon is capable of handling heavy workloads and wearing down defenses, but there is a concern from evaluators that it’s taken a physical toll on him. He’s a disciplined runner who trusts his blocking scheme and follows his rush track. He’s a good one-cut runner with below-average wiggle but natural power to create yards after contact. Dillon will find more space as he faces fewer loaded boxes as a pro, but dropping weight and adding quickness could be the difference between a future as a committee back or starter.

Spider graph:

Grade the signing: