Eagles bolster backfield with Miles Sanders

The Philadelphia Eagles selected running back Miles Sanders out of Penn State with the 53rd overall pick of the 2019 NFL Draft.

Sanders sat behind Saquon Barkley in college until last season, where he broke out as a starter for the Nittany Lions.

Philadelphia's backfield already features Corey Clement, Wendell Smallwood, Josh Adams, and recently acquired Jordan Howard from the Chicago Bears. Sanders appears pegged for a rotational role in Year 1.

The Eagles' rush offense ranked 28th in the NFL last season.

Prospect profile

School: Penn State
Height: 5-11
Weight: 211 lbs

Strengths

• Dynamic athlete who explodes in and out of cuts to avoid defenders
• Elusiveness helps him create yards on his own
• Excellent balance
• Patient runner with vision to find the ideal lane
• Physical mindset to finish runs
• Timed speed answers some questions about ability to hit the big play
• Willing and capable pass-protector

Weaknesses

• Ball security an issue
• Often tries to do too much rather than taking what's there
• Flashes pass-catching ability but no production

Bottom line

It's tough to get past the visions of Saquon Barkley while watching Sanders at Penn State. He's not the same level of elite player, as evidenced by his placement on this list, but he does do a lot of the same things. Sanders is an explosive athlete who runs with patience, balance, elusiveness, and physicality. If he can address his fumbling issues, there's little reason to believe he won't be one of the most productive running backs in this class.