A big piece of the Eagles' 2017 Super Bowl season is moving on.
Running LeGarrette Blount is signing a one-year deal worth $4.5 million to join the Detroit Lions, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.
Blount, 31, was scheduled to visit the Lions on Friday and he didn't leave without a new deal. He'll reunite with Lions head coach Matt Patricia, who was the defensive coordinator in New England when Blount was there; the familiarity probably helped.
Last offseason, Blount took his time deciding where he'd land. He didn't sign with the Eagles until May and his contract was worth around $1 million. He apparently showed enough during 2017 to get a bigger deal this time around.
After beginning the season as the Eagles' primary runner, he eventually saw his role diminish after the Birds added Jay Ajayi through a trade. Still, Blount played in all 16 games and rushed for 766 yards during the regular season. More importantly, he had 14 carries for 90 yards and a touchdown in Super Bowl LII. Blount had a rushing touchdown in all three playoff games after having just two during the regular season.
Perhaps more important than his contributions on the field, it was Blount's unselfish nature that seemed to rub off on his teammates. When he and Alshon Jeffery were on board with that unselfish mindset, it seemed like the rest of the team followed.
As recently as late February, Blount indicated he wanted to return to Philadelphia, where he really seemed to fit in the locker room and under running backs coach Duce Staley, whom Blount clearly respects.
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"Obviously I like it a lot there," Blount said in February on NFL Network. "They like me a lot there. It's a mutual respect and a mutual agreement thing about how we feel about each other. Obviously, you guys know how I feel about the team, the guys; I love those guys."
While Blount said he wanted to return to Philly, it was unlikely the Eagles could have (or would have) offered him the type of contract he's getting from the Lions.
Meanwhile, the Eagles still have Ajayi and Corey Clement under contract from last season. Kenjon Barner is a free agent. The running back position still seems up in the air, but the Eagles have a few months and a draft to figure it out.
