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Tag: Eli Ricks

  • Eagles Secondary is in Good Hands – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Secondary is in Good Hands – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    It’s been a while since the Eagles have been in such a good position in their secondary.

    They’ve always had issues there, and aside from 2022, they’ve never really had a trustworthy secondary.

    With their talent back there, they should be in good hands for the foreseeable future.

    Other than Darius Slay, whose veteran presence is valuable for the other defensive backs, the Eagles are extremely young at that position. The next oldest players in the secondary behind Slay are CJGJ and Isaiah Rodgers, who are only 26 years old.

    Everyone else is 25 and younger and has a ton of time to create chemistry with one another.

    The two rookies, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean looked like they would be the future of the defense halfway through their rookie years.

    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
    Oct 13, 2024; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Cleveland Browns wide receiver Elijah Moore (8) is tackled by Philadelphia Eagles cornerback Cooper DeJean (33) during the fourth quarter at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

    Quinyon has locked up some of the best receivers in the league so far, and Dejean has brought much-needed physicality to the team. Both have upgraded the secondary from what the Eagles had at the end of last season and seeing young players pan out this well is exciting.

    The other young guys, including Reed Blankenship, Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, and Sydney Brown, have also played well. Sydney Brown seems like he could be a starting safety for the Eagles for the next 5+ years, and the other guys look like they can be valuable to the team, too.

    The biggest thing this young group needs to work on is forcing some interceptions. They only have two as a group so far, and Reed Blankenship has both. Once they can figure that out, they will be a menace to the league for years.

    This young group is full of talent. This is rare for the Eagles, and we should all be excited about their bright futures.
    The Eagles’ secondary is finally in good hands.

    PHOTO: Eric Hartline/Imagn Images

    Nate Schweitzer

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  • Eagles Cornerback Carousel: Who Will Make the Final Cut? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles Cornerback Carousel: Who Will Make the Final Cut? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Eagles wrapped up their third and final day of minicamp today. The team will hold a training camp closer to the end of July.
    Final 53-man rosters won’t be due until August 29th, but an overcrowded position noticeably stuck out throughout the week.

    How Many Corners Are Too Many Corners?

    The Eagles announced this morning that they have finally signed Quinyon Mitchell to his rookie contract.

    Quinyon was the final rookie of the Eagles 2024 draft class to be signed.

    With 14 Corners under contract and over 2 months before any final roster decisions, the Eagles will have a deep secondary. But who will make the cut?

    Similar to the last few seasons at defensive tackle, the Eagles have made acquisition after acquisition in the secondary to revamp a defense that gave up 252.7 passing yards a game, ranking 31st in Passing Yards against.

    Even with the draft picks, the Eagles will have most of the same secondary they did last season, with the following players returning.

    • Darius Slay
    • James Bradberry
    • Avonte Maddox
    • Kelee Ringo
    • Zech McPhearson
    • Eli Ricks
    • Josh Jobe

    With the additions of Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, and Isaiah Rodgers, there will be a few odd men out unless something changes with those already under contract.

    Having too much depth isn’t a bad thing.

    During the last training camp, the Eagles had 5 options at running back before only using 3 throughout the entire season. (We’ll still never know why Swift didn’t play week 1)

    But for the Eagles’ corners, things changed throughout the last 3 days, as we’ve seen Kelee Ringo and Isaiah Rodgers at CB2 already. With Mitchell, DeJean, and Rodgers sharing 2nd team throughout the week, the Eagles might finally have the depth if multiple injuries occur once the season picks up.

    So, Who’s Out?

    During the Eagles minicamp, multiple things came up.

    The Eagles seemed to already have assessed the Safety position this offseason, bringing back C.J. Gardner-Johnson on a three-year deal. And if Maddox is ‘learning the safety position,’ that will end up being another depth piece behind those penciled-in starters.

    If Bradberry is also getting a change of scenery on the field, perhaps this is the end of the road before getting traded or cut. We’ll have to wait and see, as Bradberry went to the medical tent at the start of the minicamp and wasn’t a participant for the rest of the week.

    While I’m sure, there are plenty who may want Bradberry off the team as soon as possible. The Eagles have the cap space committed to the player, and he was a ‘part of the plans‘ (12:04) during the Combine. If there’s a team in desperate need of a corner, Bradberry might be on the block to make room for the new additions to the Eagles.

    With another month plus break before more Eagles football. Who do you have making the roster in the secondary?

    PHOTO: Philadelphia Eagles

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • 3 Weeks From The Draft. Who Might The Eagles Take With Pick #22 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    3 Weeks From The Draft. Who Might The Eagles Take With Pick #22 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    With three weeks until the NFL draft.
    Rosters are beginning to take shape and some clear picks are beginning to show.

    With the Bears, Patriots and Commanders expected to take their QBs of the future. There will be a long way to go to see who might fall to the Eagles with the 22nd overall pick.

     

    While the Eagles have recently ended the conversation whether they would trade Reddick or Sweat. Another hole has opened in the depth of the roster.

    Sure the Eagles have already signed Bryce Huff to a $51M deal and have Nolan Smith waiting in the wings after only playing 188 defensive snaps in his rookie season. Barely seeing an increase in playtime after the Eagles had waived Derek Barnett prior to their Week 11 game against Buffalo. 

    Laiatu Latu – Edge, UCLA

    Re-filling the edge-rusher position after trading away Reddick, with Brandon Graham on his final season all while not knowing what you have in Smith and Huff is probably one of the best options for the Eagles at #22. Similar to drafting Davis and Carter in lieu of Hargrave and Cox departures in the last two seasons.

    The biggest area of concern regarding Latu is from a neck injury he suffered during a preseason workout in 2020. An injury that had the University of Washington medical staff refusing to medically clear him to continue playing.

    The Eagles have had multiple instances of drafting players with this warning, including Josh Sweat and Nakobe Dean. 

    If the Eagles don’t believe that Huff and Smith are able to take over enough of the defensive snaps. Bringing in Latu could be the final piece to a new defensive line. 

    NFL.com has multiple mock drafts with Latu going to the Rams at 19 and 24, as well as the Buccaneers at 26. He might fall perfectly within the Eagles range.

     

    Kool-Aid McKinstry – CB, Alabama

    After the disastrous end to the Eagles season. It’s clear a new CB might be needed on the roster. They’ve already gone and re-signed C.J. Gardner Johnson and now brought back Avonte Maddox as well.

    James Bradberry was “part of the plan” when Howie Roseman spoke at the combine, but things can always change by September.

    There’s plenty of available Cornerbacks in this draft. From Quinyon Mitchell, Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean and McKinstry are all projected to go in the late 1st round per NFL.com’s mock drafts. 

    Much like Latu. The Eagles may have to look at trading up if they wanted to go after Mitchell in the draft. However, if they wanted to move back in the 1st, McKinstry could be available past 22nd. Allowing the Eagles to regain assets later in the draft.

    With Bradberry and Slay still under contract for multiple seasons. The Eagles should be looking to drafting their predecessors like they have on the defensive line. Unless Eli Ricks or Kelee Ringo have breakout sophomore seasons, a long-term solution needs to be put in place alongside Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown in the secondary. McKinstry could be that answer, and could even allow them to trade Bradberry before the start of the season. Rumors have swirled about the Eagles landing Surtain from the Broncos, but I’d prefer to draft and acquire a starting caliber player still on a rookie deal.

     

     

    No Offensive Picks?

    The offence may not have been able to score at will last season. But the Eagles defense hemorrhaged yards and points beyond belief last year. Was it all on coaching?

    The Eagles have already gone and signed Saquon Barkley, DeVante Parker, Matt Hennessy and Parris Campbell plus more additions for the offense. Taking another day one defensive pick won’t hurt an offense that recently extended two players on the offensive line. With Mailata, Dickerson and Jurgens all under contract for multiple years. There’s multiple options for the Eagles to find a Right Guard late in the draft if Steen hasn’t won the starters spot.

    The Eagles will still have 7 draft picks following the 22nd pick. Where they’ve been able to make successful picks in the later rounds, including 2 more picks in the the top 60.

     

    Who do you have the Eagles drafting in the 1st round?

     

     

     

     

    Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports

    Tyler L’Heureux

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