LeSean McCoy is one of the best running backs in the NFL — but he’s also one of the most expensive running backs in the NFL at a position that is no longer a premium.
We told you the Eagles wanted LeSean McCoy to take a paycut, and it appears the star running back balked at the idea. In a move that can only be explained as wow, the Eagles have agreed to trade McCoy to Rex Ryan and the Bills for linebacker Kiko Alonso.
Filed to ESPN: Bills have notified LB Kiko Alonso he is going to be traded to Philadelphia for RB LeSean McCoy. Trade official next week.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) March 3, 2015
McCoy is scheduled to count $11.9 million against the Eagles’ cap this year, which makes him the second-most expensive running back in the NFL for 2015, behind only Adrian Peterson.
Throw in Darren Sproles’ $4.1 million cap number and have $16 million of the Eagles’ 2015 salary cap (expected to be around $140 million) invested at running back. And that will increase even more once the Eagles tender restrict free agent Chris Polk. McCoy is only 26 and is one of the two or three best backs in the league. But he already has nearly 1,800 career touches. If his cap number were, say $5 million to $6 million, we probably wouldn’t be having this conversation. But it isn’t. Chip Kelly has said he wants McCoy back, but at $11.9 million? Not likely.
Expect to see a ton of Sproles, Chris Polk and a running back drafted early in round 2 or 3.