Given history and circumstance, the odds of the Philadelphia Eagles taking a running back in the first round seem low.

The history is that the Eagles haven't picked a running back in the first round since Keith Byars in 1986. Executive vice president of football operations Howie Roseman has not gone in that direction since first assuming a power role in 2010, nor did his mentor, Joe Banner, before him. Judging by their actions, drafting running backs high is not a philosophy they generally subscribe to.

A home run hitter with breakaway speed, Dalvin Cook averaged 6.5 yards per carry and 15 rushing touchdowns per season during his time at Florida State. Brian Spurlock/USA TODAY Sports

The circumstance is that, while the Eagles need to add at running back, there are big holes at multiple positions on defense that need immediate attention. Both starting cornerback spots are open, and the departure of defensive end Connor Barwin and defensive tackle Bennie Logan means just half of the starting D-line from 2016 will return. They need pass-rushers; they need defensive line depth; and, with the potential departure of Mychal Kendricks via trade, they likely need to address the linebacker position as well.

Given those factors, it might not be easy to justify taking a running back in the first round unless the grade on the player is light-years beyond the other available prospects.

The Eagles are doing their homework on at least one of the top-end backs, however. According to NFL Network, Florida State's Dalvin Cook is in Philadelphia for a pre-draft visit. A home run hitter with breakaway speed, Cook averaged 6.5 yards per carry and 15 rushing touchdowns per season during his time at Florida State. He led the ACC in rush attempts (288), yards (1,765) and yards from scrimmage (2,253) in 2016. Many analysts have Cook as one of the top two backs in a loaded draft class along with LSU's Leonard Fournette.

There are a couple of question marks that come with Cook, however. Is it possible he could fall out of the first round as a result?

"His stock has dropped to the point where he might not even go in the first round now," ESPN draft analyst Mel Kiper Jr. said during an appearance on 97.5 the Fanatic in Philadelphia. "He could end up being an early- to mid-second-rounder.

"It's a combination of things. [There's a fumbling] issue; he's had some off-the-field [issues]; he's had injuries; he didn't have a great workout. A lot of things contributed to that."

Kiper added that Stanford's Christian McCaffrey is now considered the consensus second-highest-rated back behind Fournette and ahead of Cook, according to insiders he has spoken with.

Cook has had multiple shoulder injuries dating back to high school. He also has had several run-ins with the law, though charges were dropped or he was found not guilty on each occasion. As for the fumbles, CBS Sports has him with seven (five lost) over his college career.

Both medically and otherwise, teams are going to have to find answers that they are comfortable with before drafting Cook. That's part of the benefit of the pre-draft visits, like the one Cook is on with the Eagles right now.

Roseman described the running back depth in this class as "historic," so in theory impact players can be had on Day 2 of the draft and beyond. If Cook is pushed down the board and available when the Eagles are on the clock in the second round (43rd overall), that might be too good of a value to pass up, assuming everything checks out.