PHILADELPHIA — LeGarrette Blount is bringing his power running to Philadelphia.
The Eagles and Blount agreed on a one-year contract Wednesday, giving the team a bruising back to complement its group of smaller, speedy runners.
Blount led the NFL with 18 touchdowns rushing in 2016 while helping the New England Patriots win the Super Bowl. He ran for 1,161 yards, averaging 3.6 per carry.
“LeGarrette Blount is a tough, physical runner who has enjoyed a great deal of success in New England and we are excited about adding him to this football team,” said Howie Roseman, the Eagles’ executive vice president of football operations.
The Patriots are expected to receive a compensatory draft pick for losing Blount.
The 30-year-old Blount is the latest veteran playmaker the Eagles have added in free agency. They also signed wide receivers Alshon Jeffery and Torrey Smith, giving Carson Wentz more options.
Blount joins his fourth team in eight seasons. He began his career in Tampa Bay and played briefly with Pittsburgh in between two stints with New England, where he won two Super Bowls.
Blount has 5,122 yards rushing in his career and 4.4 average yards per carry to go with 49 TDs.
Veteran Darren Sproles, second-year pro Wendell Smallwood and rookie Donnel Pumphrey will team with Blount in the backfield.
JAGUARS: Running back Leonard Fournette, the fourth overall pick in last month’s NFL draft, signed his rookie contract, which is expected to be worth more than $27 million and include an $18 million signing bonus.
BROWNS: Free-agent defensive back Jason McCourty, who played the past eight seasons in Tennessee with 90 starts, signed a two-year contract with Cleveland.
STEELERS: Pittsburgh signed second-round pick Juju Smith-Schuster to a four-year deal. Smith-Schuster caught 213 passes for 3,092 yards with 25 touchdown catches in 40 games at USC.
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