Philadelphia Eagles head coach Chip Kelly now has a new toy as Adam Schefter of ESPN is reporting that the New Orleans Saints have agreed to trade running back Darren Sproles to the Eagles in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick.
The Saints were originally going to release the 30-year-old running back, but changed their plans after realizing the interest other teams had in Sproles, who is still a very productive change of pace option out of the backfield.
The Eagles addition of Sproles should help lighten the load on starting running back LeSean McCoy, who registered 366 touches last year during Kelly’s first season as the head coach.
In trading for Sproles, the Eagles will now take on his $3.4 million base salary he is scheduled to earn in the final year of his contract in addition to the $100,000 workout bonus he is also scheduled to earn.
The Saints did good in getting a fifth-round draft for a player they were going to release had no trade been consummated over the course of the next several weeks.
