Now that the first two waves of free agency are over, time to take a look at where the Eagles could go from here. Make no mistake they lost come damn good players over the last week. They also kept some damn good player, some leaders. I was listening to Jason Kelce podcast last night. First it is a damn good podcast, 2nd he had Nick on. This was recorded several weeks back at the combine. Listening to Nick talk he named every one of the leaders on the team. He mentioned Cox, He mention Kelce, he mentioned BG, he mentioned Slay. He mentioned Hurts & Lane. The interesting thing is Cox, Kelce & BG were not signed at that point. He knew they were bringing them back. He probably lobbied for them to come back. Its interesting that not one guy who left via FA was mentioned. Now does that mean we didn't lose core players. Oh hell no we lost some core guys. But we had planed for most of them. I do think they planed to keep CJGJ, but the whole negotiation went south. So lets take a look at each positional group and where we can go from here.
QB - Hurts, Mariota, Book. This group is better than last years group for several reasons. Hurts going into year 3 as a starter, Mariota is a better backup than Minshew and can run the offense the same way. Book continues to be the developmental guy but having a hole offseason in the program should help him. I don't see the need to add here.
RB - Gainwell Penny Scott Sermon - I really liked the way Gainwell played down the stretch. He basically supplanted Miles. Penny is.a risk but a good risk to take because he is different than both Gainwell, Scott or even Miles. In fact when he is healthy he is a better back than Miles. Bigger, stronger, breaks tackles and just as fast. They could draft another back that would take over for Sermon but I doubt it, not with only six picks. They probably will add another UDFA guy. Which you can find backs that way. Right now I will say this is a slightly worse group than last year only because of Pennys healthy history. If he is healthy all year look out.
WR - Brown, Smith, Watkins and about 10 guys who are practice squad guys. The top 3 are one of the better in the league. Yes Quez has had his drops and he could be replaced at some point. I would bring back Pascal and I think they at some point. They could draft another WR late day 2 or early day 3 if they obtain picks. I would say this is about even from last year
TE - Goedert, Stoll, Calcaterra - Goedert is a top 10 TE in football but seems to be nicked for a game or two every year. Stoll is fine as a 3rd tight end. Calcaterra is a guy who has the talent to be a solid number 2 and play the number 1 role for short spurts. Looking forward to seeing him in year 2. If another weapon is there on day 2 I could see the Eagles possibly taking a TE.
OT - Johnson, Mailata, Toth, Driscoll - Starters are two of the best in the business. Toth coming back healthy would solve some issues here. Driscoll to me is a better guard than tackle. I would not be surprised if they use a first round pick on a OT. Or trade back from 30 and use an early day 2 pick for a tackle. Less depth than last year so its slightly worse
OG/C - Kelce, Jurgens, Opeta, Dickerson , Tom. This is an area of need. Even if Jurgens slides to guard they need a solid backup . They had high hopes for Sills but legal issues now have him gone. Tom is. 5 year vet who can played some back in 2018 as a rookie for New Orleans. I think this is going to be address either they draft an OT and move Driscoll back or take a C/G at some point.
Offensively the team is pretty much set. They need some depth at WR, OL and maybe TE. They value the lines so I think OL will be one of their first three picks. see mock below.
DE - BG,Sweat, Barnett, Robinson, Jackson - BG coming back is a huge one. Barnett will be back to take some snaps and that will help in the run game. As much as people rip on him he is a pretty good end on the run side of things. Sweat is one of the better pass rushers in the league. They will address this position in the draft. Possibly with pick 10. Reddick is at SLB for me btw. This is about the same as last year, subbing in Barnett for Quinn may actually be an upgrade.
DT - Cox, Davis, Williams Tuipulotu, - Davis is year two needs to take the next step. He was really good last year before he got hurt. Never seemed to get it back after. This is going to be a big year for him. Williams started to flash last year. I think with an expanded role he is going to be good. Cox and Tuipulotu provide good rotational depth. However this group is going to miss Javon Hargrave. If Jalen Carter for some reason falls to the 7-10 area, I would jump up there and take him. Otherwise there are a few others I like in this draft. The Eagles will address this in the draft day1 or day 2.
SLB - Reddick , K Johnson, P Johnson - Reddick is the best SLB in the game. He can rush the passer and cover in small spaces. The Johnson brothers are depth at best. Still this group is as good as last years group
MLB/WLB - Dean, Bradley ,Ellis - This starts the great unknown. Based on his college play you may think Dean is an upgrade from coverage adverse Edwards. He fell to the 3rd round for. a reason and we didn't get to see him much on defense. When we did he played a little more WLB. FIRST FREE AGENT I am going after is Bobby Wagner. If not Wagner I will take Myles Jack. Either one of them brings instant veteran leadership, while Wagner is not the Wagner of a few years back he is a solid football player still. Same with Myles Jack. I think we are also going to draft a LB at some point
CB - Slay, Maddox, Bradberry, Williams, Jobe, McPherson - Pretty stacked group. Veterans and some youth. Better unit than last year. Williams really adds to the depth. They could still address this position in the draft.
Safety - Blakenship, Wallace - Biggest position of need on the team. I loved what I saw of Blankenship and can buy into him being one of the safetys. Wallace stinks. I am going to sign Adrian Amos or Deon Bush (who played for Desai). I am also going to bring back Jalen Mills and draft a guy.
Recap - Sign Bobby Wagner, Amos and Mills - None of them will break the bank.
Draft:
10 - Trade back to the Patriots at 14 - !0 and 219 for 14, 76 & 117
14 - Nolan Smith EDGE Georgia - Freak athletic that shows up on film. Can rush from the DE position or the LB position and can play in space. In Desai 5-15 alignments he could be put next to either Sweat or Reddick and cause some major havoc with his 4.4 speed.
30 - Trade back again with Tennessee - 30 & a 5th rounder in 24 for 41 & 72
41 - Owen Poppoe LB Auburn - This kid can hit and he has the speed to play sideline to sideline. Showed up in every game I watched of him.
62 Ji'Ayre Brown S Penn State - If you are looking for the next CJGJ type here he is . Cover safety more than a box safety but he can tackle and he can play the pass well. Play dropped off slightly last year after Brisker left for the Pros. Can play in some of those sub packages right away and take over for Amos in 24.
72 Gervin Dextor DT Florida 6ft 6 320 lbs. Can play rotationally at first with starter upside.
76. Tyler Steen OT Alabama - 6ft 6 320lbs. Played tackle in college could move into guard in the pros. Get him into Stoutland U. Starter upside.
94. Jaylon Jones CB Texas A&M - 6ft 2 205lbs - Bigger corner in the Bradberry mold. Just adds to a loaded CB room but you can never have too many CBs
117. Jayden Reed WR Michigan St 6ft 185lbs - Broke some really big plays in college. Shifty receiver who can return kicks and punts.
249. Micheal Turk P Oklahoma - This goes without saying Sippos needs competition in camp
I have to say overall this team is in better shape than I thought they would be in going into the offseason. They actually have a chance to get better. Hard to believe but they do.
QB - Hurts, Mariota, Book. This group is better than last years group for several reasons. Hurts going into year 3 as a starter, Mariota is a better backup than Minshew and can run the offense the same way. Book continues to be the developmental guy but having a hole offseason in the program should help him. I don't see the need to add here.
RB - Gainwell Penny Scott Sermon - I really liked the way Gainwell played down the stretch. He basically supplanted Miles. Penny is.a risk but a good risk to take because he is different than both Gainwell, Scott or even Miles. In fact when he is healthy he is a better back than Miles. Bigger, stronger, breaks tackles and just as fast. They could draft another back that would take over for Sermon but I doubt it, not with only six picks. They probably will add another UDFA guy. Which you can find backs that way. Right now I will say this is a slightly worse group than last year only because of Pennys healthy history. If he is healthy all year look out.
WR - Brown, Smith, Watkins and about 10 guys who are practice squad guys. The top 3 are one of the better in the league. Yes Quez has had his drops and he could be replaced at some point. I would bring back Pascal and I think they at some point. They could draft another WR late day 2 or early day 3 if they obtain picks. I would say this is about even from last year
TE - Goedert, Stoll, Calcaterra - Goedert is a top 10 TE in football but seems to be nicked for a game or two every year. Stoll is fine as a 3rd tight end. Calcaterra is a guy who has the talent to be a solid number 2 and play the number 1 role for short spurts. Looking forward to seeing him in year 2. If another weapon is there on day 2 I could see the Eagles possibly taking a TE.
OT - Johnson, Mailata, Toth, Driscoll - Starters are two of the best in the business. Toth coming back healthy would solve some issues here. Driscoll to me is a better guard than tackle. I would not be surprised if they use a first round pick on a OT. Or trade back from 30 and use an early day 2 pick for a tackle. Less depth than last year so its slightly worse
OG/C - Kelce, Jurgens, Opeta, Dickerson , Tom. This is an area of need. Even if Jurgens slides to guard they need a solid backup . They had high hopes for Sills but legal issues now have him gone. Tom is. 5 year vet who can played some back in 2018 as a rookie for New Orleans. I think this is going to be address either they draft an OT and move Driscoll back or take a C/G at some point.
Offensively the team is pretty much set. They need some depth at WR, OL and maybe TE. They value the lines so I think OL will be one of their first three picks. see mock below.
DE - BG,Sweat, Barnett, Robinson, Jackson - BG coming back is a huge one. Barnett will be back to take some snaps and that will help in the run game. As much as people rip on him he is a pretty good end on the run side of things. Sweat is one of the better pass rushers in the league. They will address this position in the draft. Possibly with pick 10. Reddick is at SLB for me btw. This is about the same as last year, subbing in Barnett for Quinn may actually be an upgrade.
DT - Cox, Davis, Williams Tuipulotu, - Davis is year two needs to take the next step. He was really good last year before he got hurt. Never seemed to get it back after. This is going to be a big year for him. Williams started to flash last year. I think with an expanded role he is going to be good. Cox and Tuipulotu provide good rotational depth. However this group is going to miss Javon Hargrave. If Jalen Carter for some reason falls to the 7-10 area, I would jump up there and take him. Otherwise there are a few others I like in this draft. The Eagles will address this in the draft day1 or day 2.
SLB - Reddick , K Johnson, P Johnson - Reddick is the best SLB in the game. He can rush the passer and cover in small spaces. The Johnson brothers are depth at best. Still this group is as good as last years group
MLB/WLB - Dean, Bradley ,Ellis - This starts the great unknown. Based on his college play you may think Dean is an upgrade from coverage adverse Edwards. He fell to the 3rd round for. a reason and we didn't get to see him much on defense. When we did he played a little more WLB. FIRST FREE AGENT I am going after is Bobby Wagner. If not Wagner I will take Myles Jack. Either one of them brings instant veteran leadership, while Wagner is not the Wagner of a few years back he is a solid football player still. Same with Myles Jack. I think we are also going to draft a LB at some point
CB - Slay, Maddox, Bradberry, Williams, Jobe, McPherson - Pretty stacked group. Veterans and some youth. Better unit than last year. Williams really adds to the depth. They could still address this position in the draft.
Safety - Blakenship, Wallace - Biggest position of need on the team. I loved what I saw of Blankenship and can buy into him being one of the safetys. Wallace stinks. I am going to sign Adrian Amos or Deon Bush (who played for Desai). I am also going to bring back Jalen Mills and draft a guy.
Recap - Sign Bobby Wagner, Amos and Mills - None of them will break the bank.
Draft:
10 - Trade back to the Patriots at 14 - !0 and 219 for 14, 76 & 117
14 - Nolan Smith EDGE Georgia - Freak athletic that shows up on film. Can rush from the DE position or the LB position and can play in space. In Desai 5-15 alignments he could be put next to either Sweat or Reddick and cause some major havoc with his 4.4 speed.
30 - Trade back again with Tennessee - 30 & a 5th rounder in 24 for 41 & 72
41 - Owen Poppoe LB Auburn - This kid can hit and he has the speed to play sideline to sideline. Showed up in every game I watched of him.
62 Ji'Ayre Brown S Penn State - If you are looking for the next CJGJ type here he is . Cover safety more than a box safety but he can tackle and he can play the pass well. Play dropped off slightly last year after Brisker left for the Pros. Can play in some of those sub packages right away and take over for Amos in 24.
72 Gervin Dextor DT Florida 6ft 6 320 lbs. Can play rotationally at first with starter upside.
76. Tyler Steen OT Alabama - 6ft 6 320lbs. Played tackle in college could move into guard in the pros. Get him into Stoutland U. Starter upside.
94. Jaylon Jones CB Texas A&M - 6ft 2 205lbs - Bigger corner in the Bradberry mold. Just adds to a loaded CB room but you can never have too many CBs
117. Jayden Reed WR Michigan St 6ft 185lbs - Broke some really big plays in college. Shifty receiver who can return kicks and punts.
249. Micheal Turk P Oklahoma - This goes without saying Sippos needs competition in camp
I have to say overall this team is in better shape than I thought they would be in going into the offseason. They actually have a chance to get better. Hard to believe but they do.
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