Last offseason, the Buffalo Bills traded a conditional draft pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for running back Bryce Brown.

This offseason, it looks like the Bills are going back to the Eagles to help their ground game, and they’re netting a much more prominent running back.

They reportedly acquired LeSean McCoy from the Eagles for linebacker Kiko Alonso, who starred as a rookie in 2013 but missed all of 2014 with a torn ACL.

The deal can be announced after the new NFL year starts on March 10.

Bills boost their ground game

The Bills decided to give their running game a jolt. It posted the second fewest expected points added (EPA) on rushing plays in 2014. The only team to rank worse was the Cardinals.

Most Rushes Last 2 Seasons

The Bills averaged 3.7 yards per rush in 2014, 26th in the league. Bills rushers didn't get much room, averaging 2.0 yards before contact per rush (28th in the league).

The Bills have had only one 1,000-yard rusher in the past five seasons (C.J. Spiller - 1,244 in 2012). McCoy has rushed for 1,000 yards in four of the last five seasons.

McCoy will have the second-highest cap hit of any running back this season ($11.95 million, nearly $3.5 million less than Adrian Peterson).

Why McCoy might have struggled in 2014

McCoy went from ranking fifth in the NFL in yards per rush in 2013 (5.1) to ranking 22nd in 2014 (4.2).

Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson was suspended for the first four weeks of last season, and McCoy’s play improved with Johnson’s presence.

McCoy averaged only 48 rushing yards per game and 2.8 yards per rush the first four weeks of the season, then averaged 94 rushing yards and 4.6 yards per rush the rest of the season.

One possible reason for McCoy's down 2014 season was offensive line instability. Only the Titans and Falcons (10) had more linemen with at least 100 snaps than the Eagles (9). In 2013, the Eagles were one of five teams that had the minimum five different linemen record at least 100 snaps.

McCoy does have a lot of wear on his legs. His 626 carries over the last two seasons are the most in the NFL. His 1,566 rushes and receptions are tied with Matt Forte for the most in the NFL over the last five seasons. McCoy leaves the Eagles as their all-time rushing yardage leader (6,792).

What Alonso brings

Alonso’s 159 tackles ranked third in the NFL in 2013, the third-most in a rookie season over the last 10 seasons. No Eagles player had more than 82 tackles in 2014.

Eagles Players From University of Oregon

Alonso had 117 tackles on rushing plays during his 2013 rookie season. Those 117 are the most for anyone in a season over the last three seasons.

Alonso and Luke Kuechly (2013) are the only two players to have a season with at least 150 tackles and four interceptions in the last 10 seasons.

Kelly gets his Ducks in a row

Alonso will become the ninth Oregon Duck on the Eagles roster. All nine played at Oregon under current Eagles coach Chip Kelly.