Tank Bigsby
Getty
Nick Sirianni opened up on the Eagles' decision to trade for Tank Bigsby from the Jaguars
The Philadelphia Eagles have been making moves like it’s nobody’s business since winning Super Bowl LIX, and that has continued even after the start of the 2025 season. After taking down the Dallas Cowboys in Week 1, the Eagles decided to trade for running back Tank Bigsby from the Jacksonville Jaguars earlier this week, and it sounds like his new head coach, Nick Sirianni, has a specific plan for how he will utilize him.
Trading for Bigsby was viewed as a somewhat confusing move, as Philadelphia already has Saquon Barkley, Will Shipley, and AJ Dillon leading their running back room. Sirianni isn’t concerned with how crowded that position is, though, largely because Bigsby will have a unique role with the Eagles moving forward.
Nick Sirianni Opens Up on Trank Bigsby Trade
The Jaguars selected Bigsby in the third round of the 2023 NFL Draft, but he spent a lot of his time playing second fiddle to Travis Etienne Jr. out of the backfield. With Etienne struggling last season, though, Bigsby took on a bigger role, and he ended up rushing for 766 yards and seven touchdowns on 168 carries for the Jags last year.
In Week 1, Etienne firmly asserted himself as Jacksonville’s No. 1 running back again with a dominant 143-yard performance on the ground. Add in fourth-round rookie Bhayshul Tuten, and Bigsby became expendable, leading to the Jaguars front office sending him to the Eagles in exchange for a 2026 fifth-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick.
Again, Philadelphia already has a pretty deep running back room, which makes Bigsby’s arrival a bit of a head-scratcher. According to Sirianni, though, Bigsby was simply too good a player to pass up on, and he figures to help out as a kick returner in addition to getting some work on offense in relief of Barkley.
“We’re always looking to be able to improve our roster,” Sirianni said to reporters on Wednesday. “You always look for depth, you always look for good players. This guy is a good player, gives us depth there, and he gives up depth at special teams … I just love the player, and we see a vision for the player.”
Eagles’ Offense Gets Even Deeper with Tank Bigsby Acquisition
Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Getty Jacksonville Jaguars running back Tank Bigsby traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
Bigsby will reportedly be utilized as the Eagles’ primary kickoff returner, and by sending a pair of day three picks the other way, the front office is showing just how much they prioritize their special teams units. Beyond that, if Barkley needs a rest, Bigsby is another option who can fill in for him alongside Shipley and Dillon.
Some folks believe that Philly may have overpaid for Bigsby, but when a team has a Super Bowl window open like this one does, it’s important to go out and make moves that you believe will help increase your team’s chances of winning it all. The Eagles will be hoping to have Bigsby on the field in Week 2 against the Kansas City Chiefs so that he can get his first shot to prove just how smart his new team was to go out and acquire him.