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Tag: A.J. Brown

  • Eagles 2024 Fantasy Football Guide – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles 2024 Fantasy Football Guide – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Dec 25, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith (6) and wide receiver A.J. Brown (11) against the New York Giants at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

    The Philadelphia Eagles have one of the best offenses in the NFL, if not the best.
    For the fans’ sake, that’s good for fantasy football leagues around the country.

    Which Eagles should you draft? How might they perform? That’s what I’ll try to answer.

    For simplicity, I’ll reference points per reception (PPR) formats, as there are different discussions in non-PPR leagues.

    Saquon Barkley, Running Back

    The Eagles’ new starting running back, Saquon Barkley, whom they paid handsomely, is going off the board pretty early in most leagues. He is seen as give or take, one of the five best running backs this season.

    Especially with a playmaker like Barkley, he should get high-end usage and be somewhat involved in the passing game as well. Behind a competent offensive line (an elite one, at that), he should soar as long as he’s healthy.

    It’s a worthwhile concern to take issue with a potential lack of touchdowns due to how many weapons are on the offense. This can limit Barkley’s upside. There’s a very high floor here but a questionable ceiling. Could he really be the best running back in fantasy?

    A.J. Brown, Wide Receiver

    Simply put, A.J. Brown was a league-winner last season. Averaging 19.9 PPR points per game from Week 3 to Week 16, this player demolished the competition. He showed his upside even with big names in the fold—this is a good top receiver in all leagues with more than a couple of people.

    Brown is magical with the football in his hands, so a decreased target share isn’t much of a worry. If he’s healthy, he’ll get plenty of looks. He only had seven touchdowns in 2023, so the sustainability of his play leans more optimistic than pessimistic.

    Jalen Hurts, Quarterback

    The time to maximize Jalen Hurts’ stock was a long time ago, but it now seems that the fantasy world has caught onto his status as a top-tier player. It’s tricky when dealing with quarterbacks, as a lot of people will tell you that you’re better off waiting until later rounds to take one. That’s only true in some instances.

    Assuming your league has anywhere from eight to around 12 participants (and just one quarterback slot), which should be a large majority, there are options out there aside from the elite names. But to truly contend for a championship, you must have an answer. For example, there’s a low likelihood that teams who were streaming quarterbacks late in the season did much of anything in the playoffs—that’s a vital position.

    If you can trust yourself to scope out future breakouts who are going low in drafts, such as rookie Jayden Daniels of the Washington Commanders, then it’s justified to avoid a quarterback and take another position. But if you want to be confident in a vital spot in the lineup, taking someone like Hurts makes sense. He can pass and run, and he should be one of the leaders in rushing touchdowns (which are worth more than passing touchdowns) thanks to the “Brotherly Shove.”

    DeVonta Smith, Wide Receiver

    Even in competition with Brown and others, DeVonta Smith got his fair share of targets last season. From Week 8 to Week 16, he averaged 17.4 points, even in a crowded offense. As a secondary receiver, this is one of the higher-end options.

    Betting on talent in fantasy is never a bad idea. Though Smith could soar in a situation where he isn’t behind one of the best receivers in the world, this is a gifted player who could take charge any given week. There’s some consistency here, but you’re looking for games that he can blow open. In the Eagles’ offense, he absolutely has the chance to do that.

    If you’re in a championship game, that’s the kind of upside you dream of.

    Dallas Goedert, Tight End

    Dallas Goedert used to be one of the best tight ends in fantasy, but he had a disappointing season in that regard in 2023. There’s a ton of competition for involvement, and, unfortunately, players like Barkley, Brown, Smith, and even Hurts take the ball out of his hands. This isn’t a bad upside bet, though.

    Touchdowns are massive for tight ends since they don’t get the ball a ton, but Goedert only had three last season. And there’s just not a lot of confidence we see that number soar, but there’s a non-zero chance that it does. In bigger leagues (closer to 16 or more people), this might actually be a smart play. But he’s a low-end starter in your standard 8-12-man league.

    Jake Elliott, Kicker

    There aren’t many kickers better than Jake Elliott, either in real life or in fantasy football. He has been especially incredible over the last two seasons for the Eagles, aided by a dominant offense.

    Most assume that there isn’t a difference between the top kickers and those on waivers, which is true to some extent. However, you could be gaining a point or two on a week-to-week basis when looking at his averages. We’ve all lost games by that margin—it almost feels like it happens all of the time. In my personal case, it happened in a championship game in a friend’s league last year (it was actually by 0.06 points).

    Kickers matter, too.

    If you want the best option and some upside, it’s not crazy to go for someone like Elliott when skill positions are still flying off the shelves, especially when you’ll statistically end up cutting them anyway.

    Eagles D/ST

    It would be best to leave this defense and special teams unit on waivers. The Eagles’ defense was one of the worst in the NFL last season, yet their most memorable splash in the offseason was a running back.

    Some improvement here can happen, but it might only be a good idea to stream this defense if they have a favorable matchup. Even that wasn’t always the best bet—their lack of sacks, takeaways, and overall inability to stop offenses resulted in some low-end quarterbacks feasting.

    Deep League Targets

    Suppose you’re in a very deep league, such as with 32 players; both Jahan Dotson and Will Shipley appear to be decent bets. There’s some upside here.

    With Dotson, it feels like an injury to either Brown or Smith would be the path here. Obviously, you never want players to get hurt—these athletes have families to feed. However, the reality of the sport is that it can happen to anyone. That would theoretically allow Dotson to get a big target share. It’s a sad way for that pick to pay off, but it’s something to understand. He’s a strong option with whom Hurts could fall in love anyway, perhaps. Hopefully, his emergence is what wins him over, and not someone getting hurt.

    As for Shipley, he might not even get more reps than Kenneth Gainwell, another running back for the Eagles. The rookie has been pretty good in his action, though, and could be a solid early-down option in some instances. It’s hard to come by running backs in 32-man leagues so that big performances can win you a matchup. Shipley can maybe provide a few points here and there with a couple of 10-point showings if the Eagles like him enough and he hits his stride. That’s an unlikely outcome, but it’s not impossible. With that being said, there isn’t enough upside to consider him in normal leagues with a dozen or fewer players, but he’s intriguing if you have way too many football friends.

    There’s a saying that you should try to avoid drafting based on your personal rooting interest. But in the Eagles’ case, you’re justified in doing so.
    If anything, some of these players might be undervalued.

    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/USA TODAY Sports

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • DeVonta Smith’s stellar camp has Eagles teammates bracing for ‘another jump’

    DeVonta Smith’s stellar camp has Eagles teammates bracing for ‘another jump’

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    If the ball is flying DeVonta Smith’s way, he is going to catch it. 

    That’s just how training camp has been so far for the star wide receiver entering year 4, and it hasn’t mattered who’s been covering him during practices – Isaiah Rodgers and Kelee Ringo can both tell you about that. 

    He looks better, and faster, noticeably so compared to his previous camps and already building off of back-to-back 1,000-plus yard seasons. 

    His Eagles teammates can see it, too, and are getting a sense that whatever his next step is, it’s going to be big. 

    “Nobody has been able to cover DeVonta all camp,” fellow wideout A.J. Brown said ahead of the Eagles’ open practice over at Lincoln Financial Field on Thursday night. “He’s having an amazing camp. I think the offense is doing a really good job. Really just trying to execute, it takes all players – Jalen’s been doing a great job as well. 

    “But I’m expecting Smitty to take another jump because he definitely has all the tools, and for me to sit on the sidelines watching him, I know how hard he works. It just makes everybody around around him better, and that’s what we want.”

    Still only 25 years old, Smith is already regarded as one of the best route runners in the NFL and is arguably one of the better jump-ball receivers as well, with his seemingly innate ability to get up and over defenders on 50-50 passes. 

    Each of those traits have been on full display during camp practices down at the NovaCare Complex, and quite possibly at the sharpest they’ve ever been, which could spell a nightmare for the rest of the league’s defensive backs if Smith has more in the tank once the games start going for real.

    “He looks very quick,” said quarterback Jalen Hurts, who has had Smith as one of his main targets since 2021. “He’s always been an explosive player. I think he’s just been patient…He’s been diligent. He’s always been about the grind and about the work and I’m excited to see him continue to progress. 

    “I know the work he puts in, and you see how it looks out there. It’s exciting.”

    MORE: Brandon Graham’s ‘farewell tour’ begins

    Follow Nick on Twitter: @itssnick

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    Nick Tricome

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  • Current Roster Candidates for the Eagles’ Hall of Fame – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Current Roster Candidates for the Eagles’ Hall of Fame – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Philadelphia Eagles Hall of Fame is an exclusive place where only the best of the best can find their names. Which current players might find themselves there, as well?

    Shoo-in: Lane Johnson, Brandon Graham

     PHOTO: —

    Both of the players here have had incredibly long and successful careers with Philadelphia, essentially making them locks for the team’s Hall of Fame. These are two different cases, so let’s take a look.

    Lane Johnson is one of the most accomplished Eagles ever, being one of the best players on the Eagles’ Super Bowl roster in 2017, plus being a five-time Pro Bowler and a two-time first-team All-Pro. He has played in 143 regular season games with the Birds from 2013 to the present, so he has seen a lot in his tenure.

    Speaking of a player who has seen a lot, we get to Brandon Graham. It took him a while to spread his wings and fly, but he was one of the best Eagles at his peak—he was a key figure on the Super Bowl team and several elite defenses. Making perhaps the biggest play in team history, putting up 73 sacks in 195 games, plus receiving a Pro Bowl nod in 2020, there’s just no way that Philadelphia can leave him out.

    More Likely Than Not: Jake Elliott

    Jake Elliott has been at it long enough to deserve to be in the “shoo-in” territory here, but he has been an Eagle for about half the time as Johnson and Graham. Still, that doesn’t mean he is any less incredible. Yes, he is a kicker, but he has consistently been a great one.

    Elliott has flourished in the clutch, which is an area where many other kickers falter. He was terrific in 2017, and from there he has really only gotten better. Over these past few seasons, he has gotten a Pro Bowl nod and been a second-team All-Pro. One of the NFL’s most accurate kickers from 2021-2023, he has seemingly already done enough to join David Akers in the Eagles Hall of Fame.

    Maybe/Too Early to Tell: Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Jordan Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Jalen Carter, Rick Lovato

    This is the territory where we get the most subjective. They won’t all get in, but all of these seven players at least deserve a mention.

    Jalen Hurts’ case is pretty obvious. He has only completed three seasons as the Eagles’ starting quarterback thus far, but his time in Philadelphia over just the last two seasons has been sensational. He finished second in MVP voting in 2022 and was the favorite at some points during 2023, so the potential is there. The 25-year-old still has a lot to show before he can be put in the Eagles Hall of Fame with players like Randall Cunningham and Donovan McNabb, but there is definitely a world where it happens.

    DeVonta Smith has even more to prove than Hurts does, but we shouldn’t put it past him to be among the Eagles’ greats. Averaging over 1,000 receiving yards across his first three seasons in the NFL, the 25-year-old is clearly pretty special. He has a ton of talent and is a big reason why Philadelphia made it to the Super Bowl in 2022, so he has that going for him. If he can win a championship or have a long tenure with the Eagles, that would be his ticket to eternal glory.

    A.J. Brown is our first player here to not be drafted by the Eagles, but he is freshly 27 years of age and has put up two of the best receiving seasons in the history of the team. From 2022-2023, he has an incredible 2,952 yards and 18 touchdowns on 194 receptions. If he can keep that up for a few more years, it would be an inevitability for him to make the team Hall of Fame.

    Jordan Mailata is an interesting case because he doesn’t have any accolades on his resume, but it is clear from both the eye test and the advanced stats test that he is sensational. The 27-year-old tackle is lovable and genuinely really good at what he does. He would probably need a Super Bowl win and perhaps some individual accolades to make an Eagles Hall of Fame nod happen, but it’s not like either of those are unrealistic.

    Landon Dickerson is in a similar boat, but he has two Pro Bowl nods through just three seasons in the league. The Eagles projecting to be a great team both now and in the future should do wonders for his Hall of Fame case—a championship could set him over the top.

    Jalen Carter, while just a sophomore in the NFL, lived up to his draft hype in his rookie campaign. Finishing second in Defensive Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, greatness could be in his future. We shouldn’t get too ahead of ourselves, but there is obvious potential here.

    Rick Lovato probably deserves to be considered, but he is also a long-snapper. He has played in 118 regular season games with the Eagles, has a Super Bowl championship to his name, and made the Pro Bowl in 2019. Perhaps it’s a stretch considering the position, but maybe it’s time to give a long snapper some love. Really, there is not much else he could have accomplished at this stage, so he deserves a mention.

    Seeing as the Eagles have 10 different players on their current roster who could potentially make it to the team Hall of Fame (and perhaps a few more), there’s a lot of greatness in their group. Some of them are bigger stretches than others, but there is still an immense level of talent in their 2024 roster. Can they put it all together?

     

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • Receivers Extended Around The League – Eagles One Step Ahead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Receivers Extended Around The League – Eagles One Step Ahead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    When you get things done ahead of 31 other teams in the league, there’s always a reward.

    For Howie Roseman and the Eagles, it’s a sigh of relief knowing your star players under contract for the next 2-6 years. And they’ve managed to save MILLIONS while doing so.
    Back in April, the Eagles extended multiple players. Now that the ink has dried on those contracts. It was about time the rest of the league got around to paying some of the other superstars.

    Eagles Remain Ahead

    In April, the Eagles signed their star receivers to two massive extensions.

    • April 15th,  DeVonta Smith, 3-year, $75M + 5th year option
    • April 25th, A.J. Brown, 3-year, $96M

    These contracts don’t come without merit, below has been the duos stat line the last two seasons.

    • DeVonta Smith – 33GP, 2,262Rec Yards, 14TD
    • A.J. Brown – 34GP, 2,952Rec Yards, 18TD

    While these may have been the first few receivers to be paid this off-season, they certainly weren’t the biggest paydays handed out in recent signings.

     

    This Weeks Extensions

    In the last few days. Multiple receivers have gotten contract extensions with their current team, including:

    Let’s see how these recent contracts compare with base stats of the following two seasons in comparison to the Eagles duo

    • Nico Collins – 24GP, 1,778Rec Yards, 10TD
    • Jaylen Waddle – 31GP, 2,370Rec Yards, 12TD

    When comparing to the Collins deal things might look great. Keep in mind that’s only 1 season with C.J. Stroud as the Texans Quarterback. Things might change in the upcoming season as well, with the addition of Stefon Diggs as well as the hopeful return for Tank Dell’s sophomore season.

    The same goes for looking at Waddle’s deal. Similar to DeVonta Smith who’s in a WR2 role behind Brown/Tyreek Hill. DeVonta Smith has put up similar numbers (108 less yards) and will be getting paid nearly $10M less across the 3 years of his deal. With these new contracts for star studded teams, which receiver would you rather in this scenario?

     

    Past Deals

    Of course these weren’t the only Receivers to break the bank this off-season, in fact multiple have already seen their new deals come through, including:

    • March 11th, Michael Pittman Jr, 3-year, $70M
    • April 24th, Amon-Ra St. Brown, 4-year, $120.01M
    • March 13th, Calvin Ridley, 4-year, $92M

    Of course with their payday, comes the stats. How does this other batch of receivers hold up to the last 4?

    • Michael Pittman Jr. – 32GP, 2,077Rec Yards, 8TD
    • Amon-Ra St. Brown – 32GP, 2,676Rec Yards, 16TD
    • Calvin Ridley – 17GP, 1,016Rec Yards, 8TD

    Even if Calvin Ridley had played the 2022 season. His numbers would still be somewhere between Pittman and DeVonta Smith. Depending on what team he had gone to, Ridley could have surpassed the 1,200 mark with ease.

    With all these receivers being under contract for the next 3-5 Years. You’d think that means the rest of the big names due in the upcoming year have seen new deals? For some, that’s not the case.

     

    No Contract In Sight?

    Also from the 2021 Draft class with Smith and Waddle, is Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase. Entering his 4th season, Chase has put up the following his last two years as a Bengal:

    • Ja’Marr Chase – 28GP, 2,262Rec Yards, 16TD

    Without a contract, the Bengals have exercised their $21.8M 5th year option for the following season. It will be hard to deny Chase of an extension. Even without Joe Burrow for lengthy periods, Chase has still been able to have success.

    But in the NFC, there’s two more names struggling for a payday.

    • CeeDee Lamb – 34GP, 3,108Rec Yards, 21TD
    • Justin Jefferson – 27GP, 2,883Rec Yards, 13TD

    Seeing every other team continue to lock up receivers might be good for the players, but certainly not the teams. A.J and Amon-Ra’s deals are going to be the closest comparison for this duo to get paid. And if they’re trying to takeover the #1 and #2 spot for highest paid receivers, teams will be looking to pay north of $30M to keep these players under contract.

     

    After all the deals and carousel doors of acquiring younger receivers, what contracts would you offer these players who might be left still bargaining for a deal come next off-season?

     

     

    Photo Credit: Rich Schultz / AP Photo

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Revisiting the Eagles’ 2020 Wide Receiver Room – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Revisiting the Eagles’ 2020 Wide Receiver Room – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Philadelphia Eagles of today are spoiled with talent, and that especially applies to the receiving room. When all is said and done, both A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith could be heralded as two of the best receivers in the history of the franchise — they are on the team at the same time.
    Just before those two arrived, the Eagles were in a dreadful spot regarding their wide receiver room.

    The 2020 Birds were the absolute worst example of this on the talent front, leading to an awful 4-11-1 record.

    Let’s take a look at all of its members.

    Travis Fulgham // 539 yards

    The 2020 season was that one time that Travis Fulgham, a practice squad wideout before starting out, led the Eagles in receiving yards. At 25 years old, he had one of the most unlikely breakout seasons in team history, with 539 yards through the air. He didn’t have a single reception in his NFL career before this.

    In Week 5, he had the game of his life. In an eventual 38-29 loss to a Pittsburgh Steelers team that would go on to win their first 11 games, he had 10 catches on 13 targets for 152 yards and a touchdown. From Week 4 through Week 9, he had 435 receiving yards and four touchdowns in just five contests.

    After this stretch of excellence for Fulgham, things died down. He is now in the Canadian Football League (CFL). With all due respect to him and his worth, he being the team’s best receiver is exactly why they won four games. It shows just how far the Eagles have come in such a short period of time.

    Greg Ward // 419 yards

    Greg Ward’s stint with the Eagles was short yet somewhat memorable. Even though he maxed out at just 419 yards through the air with six touchdowns, the college quarterback turned receiver in the NFL had his clutch moments.

    Ward’s story is a pretty wholesome one, getting a few looks with the Eagles after once being released by them in 2018. Fun fact: he was actually a member of the practice squad when the Eagles won Super Bowl LII.

    Jalen Reagor // 396 yards

    Now we get to one of the more scorned players on the list. Third up in yards for the Eagles was Jalen Reagor, who had 396 of them in his rookie season. Infamously drafted in the 2020 first round, the pick before Justin Jefferson, who already has an Offensive Player of the Year title to his name, Reagor didn’t live up to expectations.

    For a little while, Reagor showed some flashes. Still, it didn’t take long for the Eagles to realize his upside was essentially zero. He was traded to the Minnesota Vikings in 2022.

    DeSean Jackson // 236 yards

    DeSean Jackson’s second stint in Philadelphia could have been something special, but it was absolutely crushed by injury. From 2019 to 2020, he only played in eight games, yet he had a 154-yard game against the Washington Commanders in Week 1 of 2019, ending things off with a single catch that went 81 yards for a touchdown against the Dallas Cowboys in 2020.

    Even though he was getting up there in age, Jackson could still play by the time he went to the Eagles the second time around. His lack of health did not do the Eagles any favors, as he probably would’ve been their best receiver by a landslide had he played in all 16 games.

    John Hightower // 167 yards

    Next up, former fifth-round selection John Hightower finds himself on this list. 2020 was the only time in his career that he caught as much as a pass, appearing in 13 games and having 167 yards along with that. Today, he is in the United Football League (UFL) with the Michigan Panthers.

    Alshon Jeffery // 115 yards

    For the sheer importance of Alshon Jeffery to the Eagles franchise, it’s a shame he ended his tenure in Philadelphia so poorly. He only played in seven games, scoring a touchdown and gaining 115 yards on 13 targets.

    While Jeffery never had a 1,000-yard season with the Eagles, he was essential in their Super Bowl win in 2017. After his notorious drop against the New Orleans Saints in the playoffs, he was never the same.

    Quez Watkins // 106 yards

    Of all the players mentioned to this point, Quez Watkins was the only one to last for at least two more seasons in Philadelphia after 2020. He was an Eagle through 2023, signing with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason.

    He had a peak of 647 yards and a touchdown catch in 2021, so he was one of the few Eagle draft picks here that actually lived up to his potential. Selected in the sixth round, he had a decent tenure in Philadelphia, but of course, that is clouded a bit by one play in particular.

    JJ Arcega-Whiteside // 85 yards

    JJ Arcega-Whiteside was another one of those patented Howie Roseman draft-day busts that he took in the middle of the Carson Wentz era.

    Drafted in the second round in 2019, he simply never lived up to his potential and is now in the CFL.

    Deontay Burnett // 19 yards

    For the last Eagles wide receiver who caught a pass in 2020, Deontay Burnett finds himself last on the list. He was an undrafted free agent after the 2018 NFL draft, having stints with the Tennesse Titans, New York Jets, and San Francisco 49ers. He had five catches in Philadelphia for 67 yards during his whole tenure.

    If you ever want to complain about the Eagles’ struggles again, just remember how bad they were not too long ago. The lack of talent on the offense was unbearable at times, but they seem to have that under control now.
    All we can do in the present is wonder how it got as bad as it did; Fulgham, Ward, and Reagor were their three best wide receivers in terms of yardage.

    PHOTO: X/@RoobNBCS

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • The Draft Is Coming… Will The Eagles Make Another Draft Day Trade? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Draft Is Coming… Will The Eagles Make Another Draft Day Trade? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    We’re just under a month away from the 2024 NFL Draft.

    Starting on April 25th, the Eagles will have the following picks after a fully loaded free agency.

    After signing 13 players over the last few weeks the Eagles have found the solution to most of their 20 free agents this off-season.

    Spotrac has the Eagles at a projected $10.5M in cap space, so they might be done spending as they’ll still have to sign all their rookies following the draft. If they’re looking to open up more cap space, the Eagles have yet to make any decisions on Josh Sweat or Haason Reddick.

    Even after their shopping spree on the open market. The Eagles still have 8 picks in the upcoming draft, including 3 in the first 2 rounds.

    The Eagles have already traded  #98 and two 2025 5th round picks for Kenny Pickett and #120. Moving down 22 spots and acquiring a QB with term.

    And for a team that’s always active during the draft. Don’t expect them to be quiet.

     

    Previous Draft Trades

    Below are the past 3 years of Draft Pick trades the Eagles have made

    2023 Draft

    • Eagles trade 10th pick and a 2024 4th to the Bears in exchange for 9th overall (Jalen Carter)
    • Eagles trade 62nd pick to the Texans in exchange for picks #65(Tyler Steen), #188(Tanner McKee) and #230
    • Eagles trade a 2024 3rd to the Texans in exchange for #105 (Kelee Ringo)
    • Eagles trade a 2025 4th to the Lions for D’Andre Swift and #249
    • Eagles trade #230 and #248 to the Texans for #191
    • Eagles trade #191 to Tampa Bay for a 2024 5th

     

    2022 Draft

    • (Pre-Draft) Eagles traded #16, #19 and #194 to New Orleans for #18, #101, #237, a 2023 1st and 2024 2nd
    • Eagles trade #15, #124, #162 and #166 to the Texans for #13 (Jordan Davis)
    • Eagles trade #18 and #101 to the Titans for A.J. Brown
    • Eagles trade #154 to Jacksonville for #188 and #198
    • Eagles trade #188 and #237 to Detroit for #181

    2021 Draft

    • (Pre-Draft) Eagles trade Carson Wentz for #84 and 2022 #16
    • (Pre-Draft) Eagles trade #6 and #156 to Miami for #12 and a 2022 1st
    • Eagles trade #12 and #84 to Dallas for #10 (DeVonta Smith)
    • Eagles trade #70 to Carolina for #73(Milton Williams) and #191(Tarron Jackson)
    • Eagles trade #225 and #240 to Washington for a 2022 5th

     

    Time and time again the Eagles have shown to be very active in the draft. Loading up on future picks and trading up to acquire the guys they want.

    It’ll be no surprise by the end of April if the Eagles have traded more of their picks. Whether it’s to acquire players or future picks we’ll have to wait to find out.

     

    Photo Credit: Philadelphia Eagles

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Eagles’ Strengths & Weaknesses Entering the 2024 NFL Draft – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles’ Strengths & Weaknesses Entering the 2024 NFL Draft – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The 2024 offseason is now underway for the Philadelphia Eagles, with the bulk of free agents already gone. With the upcoming draft, they have some choices to make on how to fix their roster.

    What are the Eagles’ current strengths? What are their weaknesses?

    Strength: Offensive Line

    Yes, even with Jason Kelce’s expected yet still gut-wrenching retirement, the Eagles are still strong at their offensive line. It shows how spoiled they’ve been for a long, long time.

    Photo: Eagles Nation on X.

    Sure, the Eagles’ interior offensive line took a big hit with the loss of Kelce, but it will serve as a chance for someone like former 2023 third-round pick Tyler Steen to emerge. He only played 71 snaps last season, so he’s due for an increase in that department. The Eagles have done a fantastic job acquiring and developing offensive linemen over the past couple of decades — the hope is that he can be the next.

    The Eagles know what they have in Landon Dickerson, as he is a two-time Pro Bowler with just three seasons under his belt in the NFL. Getting him was a fantastic snag for the Eagles back in the 2021 NFL draft early in the second round. At 25 years of age, he should be the anchor of the interior offensive line for years to come — especially with his new four-year deal.

    As for Cam Jurgens, he is the likely Kelce replacement at center after playing a lot of guard for the Birds last season (89%, to be exact). He’s still just 24 and played decent last season, so his progression will be something to monitor.

    As for the rest of the offensive line, the Eagles know what they’re getting in tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson at this point. Arguably the best tackle duo in football, the offensive line will still be a strong point for Philadelphia, if not their strongest. If they can stay healthy, there shouldn’t be much to worry about with this unit.

    Weakness: Defensive Backs

    Looking at the Eagles’ first major weakness, the defensive backs took a significant step back from 2022 to 2023. They lost Avonte Maddox this offseason, who didn’t have the best 2023 campaign, but it’s still a loss nonetheless. James Bradberry’s regression has been apparent, and he still has two seasons left on his $38 million contract that he signed last offseason.

    Before free agency, the only positives in the secondary were arguably only Darius Slay and Reed Blankenship. Even Slay took a small step back in 2023, so it was (and still is) a worrying aspect of the team.

    But the Eagles went out and signed safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson to a three-year deal, giving the Eagles their 2022 swagger back and some good coverage at that. The secondary still needs major work, but the importance of that addition cannot be understated.

    Strength: Offensive Skill Positions

    One thing that hasn’t always been great for the Eagles has been their skill positions. Now, however, it is one of the best features of their roster. The duo of A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith at wide receiver is can’t-miss good. Both of them will be eyeing Mike Quick’s record from 1983 to 1985 where he notched three straight 1,000-yard receiving seasons — they each have two in a row.

    More recently, star running back Saquon Barkley agreed to terms with the Eagles. He is the only back in the NFL who recorded top-10 rushing yards over expected (RYOE) campaigns in both 2022 and 2023. He had dozens of big rushing plays (10 or more yards) for the New York Giants on a brutal offensive line, so he’ll help bring some explosiveness to Philadelphia. Even if he’s 27, he’s still one of the best at his position.

    At this point, Jalen Hurts doesn’t need to be discussed. Even at his worst, which was arguably last season, he was still a phenomenal quarterback. He will only continue to get better.

    Whether or not a tight end is considered to be a skill position or not, Dallas Goedert makes a good case for it. He’s not just a standard tight end — he can block, catch, and make plays. He is a vital player in the Eagles’ offense.

    Weakness: Linebackers

    It’s been the case for a while now, but the Eagles’ linebackers are not up to par. It’s been a while since that has been a strength, really. It’s both good and bad news that Nicholas Morrow, Zach Cunningham, and Shaquille Leonard are all likely on the way out. They had some good performances in there, but it was overall pretty disappointing.

    The Eagles’ defense needs to improve next season, obviously. Things went smoothly early on, but some bad games against the Washington Commanders of all teams suggest they need more. By the end of the season, surrendering 30 or more points came with regularity. The linebackers definitely played into that, and there will be some big changes. If there was a position that the Eagles go heavy on in the draft and what’s left of free agency, that’ll be it.

    In free agency, the Eagles added linebackers Oren Burks and Zack Baun to the room, but those are more or less depth adds. The addition of Devin White was a high-reward move, but it doesn’t take away from the Eagles’ issues. With the addition of Johnson to the secondary, the linebacker core is probably the Eagles’ biggest weakness as of now, even with White, especially now there.

    Strength: Pass Rush

    Much like the offensive line, the Eagles have had a fantastic defensive line for a while. They have great youth in Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, while Josh Sweat and Milton Williams are both relatively young, too.

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    Carter, specifically, could take a massive jump for the Eagles. He was an elite player last season, so the hope is that his sophomore season can bring even more. With a duo of him and Davis out there, the Eagles should be dangerous for years to come. But 2024 could be a massive one for both of them.

    Veterans like Brandon Graham and Reddick are still important to the Eagles. Reddick was the Eagles’ sack leader, while Graham has had his game age like a fine wine. He is still a great player at age 35. He is reportedly in the works for an extension to give it one more year. At this point, he’s one of the greatest Eagles of all time — the good news is that keeping him around will actually help the team rather than serve as a sentimental move.

    However, considering the fact that the Eagles signed 25-year-old defensive end Bryce Huff to a contract worth $51.1 million, among their other huge splashes, chances are that someone like Reddick could go. There’s not enough money to keep everyone, and it would be a bit irresponsible for a young team to do that. With that out of the way, the Eagles pass rush should still be an area of strength without either of them. It might take a hit, but it is a young unit with a lot of talent.

    In the draft, the Eagles will have three picks in the first two rounds. That’s plenty of ammo to make some big changes.

    If the Eagles want to go back to the Super Bowl, addressing their needs will be a must. They have the assets to do so adequately.

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • Bold trades keyed offensive jolts for 49ers, Eagles

    Bold trades keyed offensive jolts for 49ers, Eagles

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    SANTA CLARA, Calif. (AP) — The San Francisco 49ers got a jolt offensively when they made the bold decision in October to trade four draft picks to add Christian McCaffrey to an already deep group of playmakers.

    The Philadelphia Eagles made an aggressive trade of their own to supercharge their offense when they added game-breaking receiver A.J. Brown in a draft-day trade.

    The two moves by the NFC powerhouses are big reasons why the Niners (15-4) and Eagles (15-3) are set to meet in the conference title game in Philadelphia on Sunday with a spot in the Super Bowl on the line.

    “It’s what we expected and he’s only exceeded all our expectations,” 49ers tight end George Kittle said of the trade that brought McCaffrey to San Francisco.

    McCaffrey was languishing in last place in Carolina and the Niners were sputtering a bit on offense when they sent four draft picks to the Panthers to add McCaffrey.

    McCaffrey got back to performing at the star level that made him one of the league’s most dangerous players and the Niners turned into the NFL’s most diverse offense with versatile players like McCaffrey, Kittle, Deebo Samuel, Brandon Aiyuk and Kyle Juszczyk.

    “He’s a guy that if you leave him one-on-one with a linebacker, good luck: He’s going to tear you apart,” Kittle said. “You have to put two guys on him. And then if you pressure at all, you’re bringing a linebacker, and every other guy on the field has a one-on-one. Whether that’s Deebo, Brandon Aiyuk, me, Kyle Juszczyk. Those are a lot of one-on-ones where I’m going to take my guy over anybody else. And if you double anyone else? Good luck on Christian McCaffrey.”

    Since inserting McCaffey into the starting lineup in Week 8 against the Los Angeles Rams, the 49ers have won 12 straight games. During that span, the Niners rank second in the NFL in scoring at 30.4 points per game and second in yards per play with 6.10.

    “It’s a force multiplier,” general manager John Lynch said at the time of the trade. “It makes everyone around him better.”

    McCaffrey leads the NFL with 1,341 yards from scrimmage in the 11 games since he became a starter and is tied for the most touchdowns with 12, including at least one in the last eight games.

    But he is far from satisfied.

    “What makes it so fun is that constant pursuit for perfection,” he said. “I think everyone on this team has that.”

    Brown has had a similar impact on the Eagles after being acquired from Tennessee during the draft for a first and third-round pick and immediately getting a $100 million, four-year deal with $57 million guaranteed.

    The move helped Jalen Hurts develop into an MVP finalist and lifted a team that got knocked out in the wild-card round a year ago as the seventh seed into the top team in the NFC.

    “I thought we had a lot of pieces to try and make a potential run,” Brown said. “We’ve just got to put it together and execute. I think things are going well, of course. We’ve still got a lot of work to do. It’s not really a time to self reflect.”

    Brown had 155 yards receiving in his Eagles debut and kept on rolling all the way to 88 catches for 1,496 yards and 11 touchdowns. He topped Mike Quick’s 1,409 yards in 1983 for most in a season in team history.

    Brown’s addition alongside DeVonta Smith has given the Eagles a much more difficult offense to slow down than the one San Francisco faced in Week 2 of the 2021 season.

    “The first thing is his size and strength,” Niners defensive coordinator DeMeco Ryans said. “That’s the one thing that separates him from a lot of receivers, but not only that, when he catches the ball he turns it to a different gear. His run after catch, it’s been pretty dynamic to watch this year. He’s big where he can go down the field and make plays on the deep balls, but also he’s just catching the 5-yard routes and turning it up field and turning that into an explosive.”

    The Eagles see the difference McCaffrey has made on the 49ers offense as well.

    “You just add in another really, really good player into your organization, and that shows up,” defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon said. “He can beat you a lot of different ways, and we’ll have to have a plan for all the ways that he’s beating people.”

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    AP Sports Writer Dan Gelston in Philadelphia contributed to this report.

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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  • Analysis: Cowboys’ Parsons made valid point about MVP debate

    Analysis: Cowboys’ Parsons made valid point about MVP debate

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    Micah Parsons took a lot of heat this week for expressing his opinion about the MVP race.

    The Dallas Cowboys’ star linebacke r said the Philadelphia Eagles are 12-1 more because of the overall talent on the team than Jalen Hurts. The Eagles’ third-year quarterback is a frontrunner for NFL Most Valuable Player entering Week 15.

    Speaking on Von Miller’s podcast, Parsons pointed out the Eagles have an excellent defense and superb players on offense around Hurts.

    “It’s system and team!” Parsons said about the credit.

    He’s not wrong.

    The Eagles have the league’s most dominant offensive line. A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith are among the best wide receiver tandems. The rushing attack led by Miles Sanders is outstanding. And, coach Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen have devised an offensive scheme that maximizes Hurts’ skills and helped him elevate his all-around game.

    Parsons also argued that Patrick Mahomes would be his MVP choice because he’s having another tremendous season for the Kansas City Chiefs without star wide receiver Tyreek Hill, who was traded to Miami.

    Of course, some Eagles fans took offense to Parsons’ comments. Others considered his words a compliment about the team. Hurts and his teammates, to their credit, refused to engage. The Eagles and Cowboys face each other in Dallas on Christmas Eve.

    Parsons provided plenty of fodder for talk shows and reporters by openly sharing his thoughts. He didn’t do his team any favors by giving Hurts and the Eagles bulletin-board material for next week’s game. Then again, players shouldn’t need extra motivation to play their best, especially in a rivalry game with playoff implications. The Cowboys (10-3) still have a shot winning the NFC East.

    The conversation between Parsons and Miller about Hurts and other MVP candidates is a similar debate voters are having. With four games remaining, it’s a close race between Hurts and Mahomes with Joe Burrow and Josh Allen also in the mix. Tua Tagovailoa could enter the discussion with spectacular finish. Hill and Justin Jefferson deserve consideration, though a non-quarterback hasn’t won the award since Adrian Peterson in 2012.

    Parsons was at least one voter’s choice at the midpoint of the season but only two defensive players have ever won MVP. Parsons also is the leading candidate for the AP Defensive Player of the Year.

    Hurts has made a dramatic leap in his second full season as Philadelphia’s starter. He led the team to a 9-8 record and a playoff appearance last season but the front office still had questions about his ability to be a franchise QB and considered trading for Russell Wilson and other proven starters.

    Given another season in Sirianni’s offense, Hurts has thrived. He has 3,157 yards passing, 22 touchdowns and only three interceptions, and leads the NFL in passer rating at 108.4. Hurts also has 686 yards rushing and 10 TDs on the ground.

    Despite losing Hill, Mahomes, the 2018 NFL MVP, leads the NFL with 4,160 yards passing and 33 TDs. The Chiefs are 10-3 with losses to Allen’s Bills and Burrow’s Bengals.

    Burrow, who led Cincinnati to the AFC championship in his second season last year, has overcome an 0-2 start and helped the Bengals (9-4) win five straight.

    Allen has Buffalo (10-3) sitting in the top spot in the AFC.

    The MVP winner will be decided down the stretch and it could end up being Hurts or the AFC quarterback who leads his team to the No. 1 seed.

    The Associated Press announces the league’s MVP winner at NFL Honors on Feb. 9. A panel of 50 voters, comprised of national writers and broadcasters, including former players and coaches, will select a top five for the first time this season.

    Until then, the debate continues.

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    Follow Rob Maaddi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/robmaaddi

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    AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl and https://twitter.com/AP_NFL

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