It’s not every day a running back gets traded mid-season following a breakout year with the team that drafted him. It becomes even less likely when that player can add value on special teams. However, that’s exactly what happened with former 3rd Round Pick Tank Bigsby.
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How Did We Get Here?
Heading into the 2023 draft, the Jaguars had some depth concerns at running back, knowing that Travis Etienne had never been a bell-cow back. Dating back to his college career, Etienne typically has shared the workload with another running back in order to keep him fresh and explosive. This seemingly worked to perfection during college, with Etienne averaging 7.8 yards per touch on offense and scoring 78 times for Clemson in 55 games.
Ultimately, the Jaguars zeroed in on Tank Bigsby, who is, for all intents and purposes, a similarly skilled player who could step in and provide the Jags with a productive option behind Etienne, keeping him healthy and preventing a dramatic drop off in talent. Coming out of Auburn, Tank Bigsby had amassed over 3,600 all-purpose yards while also displaying an ability to be a true three-down back and an added threat in the return game.
During the 2023 season, Tank Bigsby quickly proved himself, working his way into being the top back behind Etienne. Ultimately, he finished with 50 carries for 132 yards and 2 touchdowns. He was third in carries and rushing yards behind only Etienne and Trevor Lawrence. Heading into 2024, the Jaguars thought Tank Bigsby would be the second fiddle in their rushing attack; they would end up being slightly off in that assessment.
The 2024 season proved just how valuable Tank Bigsby can be. Not only did he prove he could be efficient in his touches, producing 4.6 yards per carry, but he also went on to finish first on the team in carries with 168. Splitting carries with Etienne, he finished with just 18 more carries, but produced 208 more yards and 5 more touchdowns on the ground. Tank Bigsby also returned 11 kicks for 314 yards during his time in Jacksonville.
The Trade that Flew Under the Radar
When the Eagles added Tank Bigsby, the trade largely flew under the radar. Saquon Barkley had just rushed for over 2,000 yards and signed a fresh new extension after all. Acquiring a backup running back did not appear to be an impactful move; it looked like the Eagles had just brought in more depth and an option as a kick returner.
What most did not realize is how the 2025 season would unfold for the Eagles, who had a top-two rushing attack in 2024. Seven games into the season, and Barkley has just 369 rushing yards and has yet to log a single game with over 100 yards from scrimmage. During the Eagles’ first 7 games last year, he topped 100 yards from scrimmage six times, including four 100-yard rushing games.
Then, in week 8, the Eagles’ rushing attack exploded. Barkley would rush for over 150 yards, and Tank Bigsby saw 9 carries rushing for over 100 yards for the first time as an Eagle. After being acquired shortly after week one, Tank Bigsby waited weeks before seeing his first offensive touches for the Eagles. Philadelphia chose to work him into the rotation slowly, instead of leaning on his ability as a kick returner to see an immediate impact.
In six games, he had 187 return yards on 9 attempts. He would see his first touches in week seven when he received one carry and one target. He rushed for 11 yards and lost 1 yard on the lone reception. In week 8, the Eagles let Tank Bigsby loose, giving him 9 carries on offense, and instead relegated Will Shipley to return duties. Tank Bigsby is a high upside second running back for the Eagles and a player who can assist the team in multiple capacities.
Heading into the tail end of the season, the Eagles will need to keep Saquon Barkley and, more importantly, Jalen Hurts healthy. To make this work, there have to be other productive options in the running game, and that’s exactly where Tank Bigsby comes in. He can be a home run threat even with limited carries. In just two games, he has 11 touches for 118 yards on offense, and I expect his role in the offense to continue now that he has had time to learn the offense.
Howie Roseman Doing Howie Roseman Things
The Eagles GM, Howie Roseman, catches a lot of flak for some of his moves that have not panned out; Bryce Huff, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson being released, etc, but often moves like the acquisition of Tank Bigsby fly under the radar. Picking up players who can play valuable rotational roles should not be slept on, nor should moves like acquiring Aj Brown, Saquon Barkley, drafting Devonta Smith, Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and so many more.
Over the past two seasons, Roseman has identified areas of need and aggressively pursued options to fill these needs. Last year, it was Jahan Dotson, and this season, in my opinion, Tank Bigbsy will prove to be that player for the Eagles. While his infusion into the offense this week came as he gave up his role on kick return, I think the Eagles may be better off just allowing him to mix in on both facets of the game, maximizing their return on their trade investment.
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- Jahan Dotson Taking on a Larger Role in 2025
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