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  • Looking Ahead: Discussing the Eagles’ Super Bowl Odds for Next Season – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    It’s clearly the case that Eagles fans will have a few regrets from the 2025-26 NFL season.

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    There were some high points, including an absolutely dominant 31-0 performance over the Raiders, and two tight road wins over Philadelphia’s ‘perceived’ Super Bowl rivals, the Chiefs and Bills, but there were enough low points, including a really disappointing loss to the Giants and a three-game winless streak across the early winter that really underlined the fact that the magic of last season would be difficult to repeat. 

    The upshot is that Eagles fans will be watching on a little enviously as the Seahawks and Patriots clash at Levi’s Stadium on February 8. The odds for Super Bowl LX are live, but did you know that some sportsbooks have already released the market for Super Bowl LXI.

    It’s a common enough occurrence to see both markets running simultaneously, as it allows fans to get ahead of the game by diving into the futures markets for an event over a year away. 

    Eagles Are Respected in Super Bowl LXI Odds

    Nevertheless, the markets make interesting reading for the Eagles. Where does the average fan think the team should be? Outright favorites?

    Not as things stand, but the good news is that the sportsbooks retain ‘respect’ for the Eagles, putting them firmly in the top tier of contenders.

    Here’s the Super Bowl LXI market as it stands today*

    *Odds obviously subject to change 

    • Seahawks +950
    • Rams +950
    • Bills +1000
    • Patriots +1200
    • Eagles +1300
    • Lions +1300
    • Ravens +1300
    • Packers +1400
    • 49ers +1600
    • Chargers +1600
    • Chiefs +1600
    • Texans +1800
    • Broncos +1800

    Now, a few things are apparent from this list. The first is that it feels like a little bit of a place-holding list. Moves across the offseason will transform the market, and you should also get a little movement after Super Bowl LX. A comfortable win for the Seahawks, for instance, will firm up Seattle’s odds. The Patriots will move should the Super Bowl go New England’s way. 

    A Season of Shocks Makes Predictions Difficult

    There is natural hesitancy from sportsbooks at this point, so in most years, the Playoff teams tend to go back to the top of the markets, with the Super Bowl teams often pegged as the two favorites. But this was not an ordinary season, as numerous well-fancied teams fell by the wayside.

    Look at the odds for teams like the Ravens, Chiefs, and Lions, all of whom missed the Playoffs. 

    As for the Eagles, we will have to wait and see. There are big decisions to be made across the roster, not least what to do with AJ Brown. There was definitely a sense of “it’s not broken, why try to fix it” going into the 2025 season. Changes were made, sure, but this offseason might see more pronounced decisions, and that will filter through to the betting odds. 

    Indeed, it will be intriguing to see where the Eagles will be placed next September. The core of the team is good enough to ensure that the ‘respect’ we talked about will stay, but other teams will surely make big moves too.

    It’s going to be interesting because you get the sense that whatever the Eagles’ front office decides in the coming months could decide the direction of travel for a few seasons. 

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  • Filling Out The 2026 Coaching Staff – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    We’re a few days from finding out the winner of Super Bowl LX and the Eagles have already begun preparations to fill out position coaches while simultaneously opening up more availabilities. Making the offseason checklist a little bit longer. 

    The Good, The Bad, The Ugly

    Kevin Patullo 

    It didn’t take very long after the wildcard round for Howie Roseman to confirm the Eagles would be looking for their 5th Offensive Coordinator during the 6-year Nick Sirianni tenure. Moving on from Patullo was the right decision, as the Eagles struggled 18+ weeks and seemingly burned some extra bridges as things went on. With an Eagles offense that had 10/11 returning offensive starters, (Mekhi Becton – Tyler Steen) the Eagles went from a powerhouse ranking 5th in PPG (29.0) during the 2024 campaign into 19th with only 22.1 PPG. 

    Chopping off an entire touchdown from the Eagles scoring would’ve been enough points for them to finish the year 14-3. Alas, safe & turnover free football ended their season over a month ago.

    Sean Mannion 

    Since retiring in 2023 Mannion has been involved with the Green Bay Packers as both Offensive Assitant and Quarterbacks Coach. Getting to work alongside Matt LaFleur, viewed as an elite coach around the league. And working with the development of Jordan Love the past few seasons has primed Mannion for a promotion heading into the 2026 season. 

    Was he the Eagles first option? Probably not. But as Mike McDaniel, Brian Daboll and other top OC/HC options came off the board the Eagles had to strike for their guy. Giving Mannion autonomy with the offense opened the door for creativity and the ability to bring in guys he wanted. 

    Yesterday, the Eagles hired Ryan Mahaffey as the Run Game Coordinator and Tight Ends Coach. Filling out roles previously filled by Jeff Stoutland and Jason Michael. 

    Mahaffey was previously in Green Bay with Mannion as the wide receivers coach and Assistant offensive line coach. 

    So far the Eagles new hires are proving that Mannion will get to bring in his own staff. But pushing out tenured coaches like Jeff Stoutland who helped develop elite players from Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson, to turning a rugby player into an All-Pro in Jordan Mailata. 

    There’s also no current answer whether the team will retain Scot Loeffler who might have been the mastermind behind getting Dallas Goedert 11 touchdowns in 2025. While it seems coaches like Aaron Moorehead who has hung onto his job as wide receiver coach for the last 6 years as the Eagles have struggled to develop a single receiver outside of DeVonta Smith. Who, let’s be real. Wasn’t turned into the player he is today from the help of Moorehead.  

    There’s still a long offseason to go with plenty of roster and coaching changes along the way. Who’s on your list for the Eagles next move?

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • If the Eagles aren’t careful, they might just shut their contending window on themselves

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    It’s all a super fine line to walk, one that is obviously the ultimate luxury to because it meant winning the Super Bowl, but also one that comes with shifted and far greater expectations, especially in this town. 

    It comes with the weight of a “new norm,” of going from the goal of winning just one Super Bowl, which is lofty enough alone, to multiple, and of keeping that contending window open for as long as sustainably possible.

    The Eagles of the Pederson-Wentz era ultimately couldn’t do it. They’re immortal for doing the once thought impossible with Nick Foles miraculously leading the charge, but they crumbled trying to push forward in maintaining that.

    Now the Eagles of the Hurts-Sirianni era are standing at the windowsill trying to keep themselves in annual contention.

    But if they’re not careful over these next few months, they might just end up slamming it all down on their figurative hand.

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  • A Skill Position Where Too Much Is Never Enough – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    If the Eagles under Jeffrey Lurie and Howie Roseman have taught us anything over the last decade — it’s that they look to acquire talent from anywhere at any time. And with some positions — you just can never have too much. 

    One of those positions is that of Safety.

    It would appear that the addition of Andrew Mukuba in the 2025 NFL Draft just seven months earlier has solidified the safety position opposite Reed Blankenship. But then again — the Eagles rarely worry about being too deep at a given position.

    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    This season — Mukuba — who was the last rookie to sign a four-year contract worth $7,160,538, including $4,196,063 guaranteed money. The prospect of starting Mukuba is that his combination with Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell would make the Eagles’ defensive backfield one of the youngest starting in the NFL. He joins that Eagles secondary that was the only team in NFL history to start two rookie defensive backs in the Conference Championship Game and subsequently — the Super Bowl.

    Notre Dame’s season last year included a 49–14 throttling of ranked Army at Yankee Stadium behind Jeremiyah Love’s 99-yard touchdown run. Earlier in the year — Irvington, New Jersey’s Adon Shuler returned an interception thirty-six yards for the Irish to seal a win over Georgia Tech. 

    This season — Shuler is once again shining for #9 Notre Dame (8–2.) Last week against #23 Pitt — Schuler continued a great season on defense with a 100-yard interception return for a touchdown. The Irvington, New Jersey native isn’t just on the radar of NFL teams. He very well might be on the Draft Board of the Eagles.

    We may not find out until the NFL Draft next April.

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    Michael Thomas Leibrandt

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  • A.J. Brown’s Going Nowhere but Eagles Fans Will Be Impatient – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    It is shaping up to be a potentially interesting season once again for the National Football Conference East franchise, the Philadelphia Eagles, as we opened the 2025 NFL campaign with four straight wins and inexplicably fell to two straight defeats to boast a 4- 2 record as we begin slowly edging towards the month of November.

    Amongst all the stories and headlines that have been created by the season that the Iggles seem to be having right now, there is a very troublesome one when it comes to the reported and speculated future of 28-year-old wide receiver A. J. Brown.

    For the press and media, they have won the proverbial jackpot at an anonymous crypto casino because most of their sources so far have also been anonymous. But it seems that Arthur Juan appears to be an unhappy bunny at the moment. He has again sparked questions about what the future might hold as he has again recently taken to the world wide web to post yet another cryptic message, which has left many believing that his frustrations will inevitably lead to one of the most unexpected trades of the season.

    Credit: ClutchPoints

    In the matchups played so far, Brown has clearly not had the season that he, or others in the NFL, would have expected, as the six games so far have returned 274 receiving yards and a single touchdown. It is very fair to say that Brown is likely as frustrated as everyone else right now, but it naturally raises the question of his happiness with the franchise and whether his head is right, given that he feels his time may now be at an end in Philly.

    Given his wider social media form it was naturally inevitable that the words ‘In my distress I prayed to the LORD and the LORD answered me and set me free…’ would create concern and an almost endless stream of debate, and many (possibly wrongly) believe that the only interpretation that makes sense is that he is digging in for a move and simply showing perseverance in the uncertainty that has now been created.

    It is also very fair to say that others have read it as a direct response to the front office rumors and Howie Roseman in particular, given leaks that they would explore trading him, as discontentment and arguably resentment continue to grow

    Having joined the Eagles back in 2022 on a $100 million deal, with a further three year $96 million uplift extension agreed in 2024, it has been quite the fall from grace and Eagles fans will not appreciate the fact that we have another round of rumors simply owing to the fact that (whatever his issues are) he cannot seem to put his phone down.

    Not least, he was integral last season with 1079 yards and seven touchdowns as we took a 40-22 win over Kansas City in Super Bowl LIX – it was Brown’s first championship in the NFL, yet something has gone majorly wrong this year, and there is clear discontentment in the camp. Brown actually stated that he ‘didn’t recall’ a claimed meeting with Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley to discuss concerns, despite the quarterback’s own public words as he emphasized team unity.

    The mystery about his mindset will continue, and undoubtedly his fans amongst the fan base will continue to dwindle the longer this goes on – especially if it is not sorted by the November 4 trade deadline.

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  • FOCO Releases Big Dom Philadelphia Eagles Bobblehead – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    This blog contains links from which we may earn a commission.Credit: FOCO

    Bring the legendary sideline presence of Big Dom to your collection with the Philadelphia Eagles Big Dom Bobblehead from FOCO!

    This officially licensed collectible captures Big Dom in an Eagles sweatsuit, ready to represent the Birds.

    PHOTO: FOCO

    Whether you’re an Eagles diehard or just love the iconic figure who’s become a Philly fan favorite, this unique bobblehead is a must-have for any true fan’s shelf. Add a little grit, green, and game day energy to your display — Big Dom style!

    Where to Find More Philadelphia Eagles Gear?

    The bobblehead above is just a sampling of the full selection of Eagles merchandise offered by FOCO.

    FOCO is the prime location for officially licensed sports merchandise, and their love of the game is seen in all their products, from their apparel to their collectibles.

    If you don’t like what you see above, check out hundreds of additional options with FOCO’s full Eagles catalog. 

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  • Eagles Bring Back Some Familiar Faces After Roster Cuts – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Amidst all the chaos of a blockbuster trade happening in the division. The Eagles have been loading the practice squad and depth chart back up with some familiar faces from the last few seasons. While we’ve already seen Patrick Johnson make his return in the preseason. The Eagles didn’t stop there.

    Adding To The Practice Squad

    After the initial rush of Waiver Claims saw 27 players get picked up across the league.

    Once the hype of the day was over the Eagles made a few extra additions to the team.

    Britain Covey

    After missing most of last season due to injury, the Eagles tried moving on from Covey in the offseason. Even attempting to find a solution in Avery Williams at the start of free agency.

    Once Williams was released for roster cuts the question became, who would be taking returns? Fangio stated last season he didn’t want DeJean permanently on the return team and the Eagles needed a solution.

    Now the Eagles will have Covey back on the practice squad and be able to promote him to the game day roster three times. In 2023 Covey played in 16 games with 29 Punt Returns for 417 yards and a longest return of 54 yards. 

    For now, there is a solution on the return team.

    Marcus Epps

    Just in case the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade wasn’t confusing already. The Eagles brought back another familiar face to the practice squad. With 94 total tackles, 4 TFL and 1 Forced fumble on the Super Bowl 57 team. Epps moved on with many of the Free Agents after the 2022 season, where he landed with the Raiders.

    Missing the majority of the 2024 season from a torn ACL. With his 2 year deal expiring, the Eagles brought back Epps and waived Tristan McCollum (who was picked up by the Raiders).

    Epps will rejoin his former team, as well as former Raiders teammate Jakorian Bennett.

    For now, the Safety position group consists of 

    • Reed Blankenship
    • Andrew Mukuba
    • Sydney Brown
    • Marcus Epps (PS)
    • Andre Sam (PS)

    One More August Trade

    The day before 53-man rosters were due, the Eagles brought back one more familiar face from the Super Bowl 59 roster. This time via a trade. 

    Bringing back Fred Johnson gives the Eagles an extra body along the offensive line who’s already familiar with Stoutland and the Eagles offense.

    With 6 games started in the 2024 season Fred will be able to fill in for multiple positions across the OL. Including right guard, tackle and left tackle.

    Now with extra versatility along the offensive line. Will the Eagles finally be finished making moves before their September 4th season opener?

    Or is there one more trick up Howie Roseman’s sleeve?

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Observations from Eagles-Jets preseason finale: Valuable reps for some, OL depth concerning, Jake Elliott is back

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    Finally, mercifully, preseason football is over for the Eagles. They’ll rest up Saturday after their 19-17 win against the Jets at MetLife Stadium on Friday night and get back on the field next week, which promises a flurry of action – maybe even some trades – before Tuesday’s 4 p.m. roster cutdown deadline to 53.

    Real football comes the following week, when the Eagles will open their regular season on the following Thursday at The Linc against the Cowboys. You might have heard this already, but the Cowboys will have to watch the Eagles unveil their Super Bowl banner.

    Most of the starters and several key contributors didn’t play against the Jets, which is par for the course in the Nick Sirianni era. But here are my takeaways from the game.

    Who didn’t play reveals a lot

    Of all those who played vs. didn’t play, it’s interesting that Josh Uche didn’t dress but Azeez Ojulari did. Uche had a good start to camp and cooled down while Ojulari did the opposite. Ojulari’s track record of injuries clearly didn’t convince the Eagles to put him bubble wrap for the final exhibition, which could say something about his roster spot. EDGE depth is an area Howie Roseman will be examining closely in the coming days.

    Sydney Brown didn’t play. He obviously was making the 53-man roster, but it’s a good sign for him that Vic Fangio didn’t think he needed more reps. Jihaad Campell, who like most rookies needs reps, didn’t play while Jeremiah Trotter Jr. did – so there’s your clue that Campbell won the starting job.

    Veterans Adoree’ Jackson, Matt Pryor and A.J. Dillon didn’t play, so it appears they’ve locked up jobs, but Brett Toth and Kendall Lamm did, which isn’t a great sign for them.

    Jakorian Bennett got more valuable reps

    One guy who’s making the team but still played quite a bit was cornerback Jakorian Bennett, who played 35 snaps against the Browns last week and got a bunch more against the Jets. Bennett gave up a few completions despite some pretty good coverage. He also had a pass breakup very early in zone coverage against a receiver sitting down in front of him, although Bennett arrived a little early and probably would’ve been flagged in a preseason game.

    The hunch here is that Adoree’ Jackson starts the first few weeks until Bennett gets more experience in the defense and is ready to take over, although the Cooper DeJean factor is also there. Mac McWilliams will be an interesting rookie to watch as the season goes along. He makes plays.

    Kyle McCord finally drove the ball, but …

    …It wasn’t a good thing. McCord was known coming out of Syracuse, where he led the NCAA in passing, as a very willing downfield thrower, which we didn’t get to see much of in his limited camp reps or against the Browns. He took deep shots early and often against the Jets, but none connected, and one led to an interception.

    From a five-wide formation on 2nd-and-13, McCord went deep down the left side for … Montrell Johnson Jr., a running back who for some reason was about 30 yards downfield and didn’t have much of a chance to make a play. On his next deep heave, McCord looked for Darius Cooper, who wasn’t really open and ended up double covered as the safety came over by the time McCord’s pass made it to him, leading to Malachi Moore picking off the pass. In the second half, he under-threw Terrace Marshall deep down the right sideline. 

    Overall, McCord threw some risky passes, a bunch of errant passes and showed skittish pocket presence. He had one nice sidearm toss to Ben Van Sumeren and he was victimized by a few drops, but he also made two other throws that should’ve been picked. He’ll make the 53 because he was drafted, but he needs more development, especially with pocket poise.

    OL depth is a concern

    Some, if not all, of the rookies will make it because they were draft picks, but none of them are ready to play right now. Who’s #nextmanup at right or left guard if the Eagles need a starter for a few games? Matt Pryor, perhaps. Last year, Fred Johnson and Tyler Steen were those guys. With Johnson gone and Steen starting at right guard, the Eagles don’t appear as stocked in the reserve cupboard. 

    Trevor Keegan, a 2024 fifth-round pick from Michigan, should have been a competitor for a top reserve role this year but he’s been anchored to the third team, even trying out center, which hasn’t gone well. Looks like he’s a rare OL pick by the Eagles who could be cut after one season. Trade acquisition Kenyon Green likewise hasn’t seized the opportunity.

    Montrell Johnson Jr. fits the zone run scheme

    He probably won’t make the 53 but rookie free agent running back Montrell Johnson Jr. showed he’s got some juice. He ran a 4.41 at the NFL Combine, which is impressive for a 212-pound back, and put that speed on display, averaging more than five yards per carry. He’s got a nice jump cut that suits well for the Eagles’ zone-heavy run schemes, which shined through on his 15-yard TD run (right after he got flattened by a Jets linebacker). The Eagles didn’t run the ball well from under-center formations – like at all – but they rarely go under center in real games, so it’s not a big deal.

    He didn’t play the preseason opener because of an injury and gained just 20 yards on six carries against the Browns, but he’s an ideal candidate to have on the practice squad and could see an elevation if the running back room sustains an injury. Johnson came out of the game after appearing to sustain a lower leg injury. Hopefully, he’s ok. 

    Jake Elliott looks primed for a bounce-back

    After a tough 2024 season marked by some nagging injuries, Jake Elliott has looked very strong, both in camp and the preseason. Elliott nailed a 51-yard field goal right inside the goal post against the Jets and then nailed a 53-yarder in the second, showcasing his length strength and potentially forecasting a bounce-back season. He added a few more as the Eagles had trouble finding the end zone.

    Also, the operation looked clean, a nice sign for veteran long snapper Charley Hughlett and punter Braden Mann, who as Jimmy Kempski noted recently, had a great camp. 

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  • Eagles’ Assortment of Game-Breakers Has Them on Dynasty Watch – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Photo Courtesy of Eagles Nation on X.

    In their past three seasons, the Philadelphia Eagles have accumulated a 39–12 regular-season record and appeared in two Super Bowls. After narrowly falling by their hands in 2022, the Birds humiliated Patrick Mahomes and the Kansas City Chiefs en route to their second Lombardi Trophy win last winter.

    These accomplishments alone have the Eagles on the brink of a dynasty—another title would surely put them there. Given the team’s assortment of game-breaking talent, they might be in luck.

    Eagles’ Returning Game-Breakers

    General manager Howie Roseman has done such an excellent job adding talent to the Eagles that it’s hard to put into words. He built what many called a “superteam” in 2022, but only improved the roster over the next couple of seasons.

    But let’s stick with the players who oversaw both Super Bowls. Starting with Jalen Hurts, he’s one of the premier dual-threat quarterbacks in the NFL—immense rushing upside and one of the most efficient passers in the sport. He’s not necessarily the most gifted, but he gets high-end results. When the Eagles have needed him to perform the most, that’s often when he has shone the brightest.

    Then, you have the offensive line. Landon Dickerson deserves a shootout here, but tackles Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson are definitely in that “game-breaking” tier. Recognized as two of the best exterior linemen in the sport, they make the offense’s life easier by consistently and emphatically winning their assignments.

    Next, wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith have been one of the league’s top one-two punches for a few years now. Coming up clutch in late-down situations and with huge contested-catch upside, they’ve flipped games on their head. Both have fourth-down snags to their name in the NFC Championship, leading to a momentum-altering touchdown a short while later.

    Eagles’ “New” Game-Breakers

    Over the past couple of seasons, the Eagles have added three game-breaking talents: Saquon Barkley, Zack Baun, and Jalen Carter. Their two recently drafted cornerbacks may get there (if they haven’t arrived already), but those are the big three who the Birds would’ve had no chance in 2024 without.

    PHOTO: Eagles Nation on X

    Barkley’s impact is self-explanatory. Setting the NFL record for rushing yards in a single season (2,504), he rushed about 1,000 yards over what would have been considered a huge win for the Birds. Winning games early in the season virtually by himself, and taking long-distance runs to the house in the playoffs, the MVP love he got was deserved.

    Baun was a Defensive Player of the Year candidate last season. He was the nucleus of that core, preventing big rushes and forcing turnovers at the most pivotal moments. For a team that often struggled in both of those areas before his arrival, he changed the game for the Birds.

    Finally, we have Carter. Already one of the most feared defensive linemen in the league, the 24-year-old should have about a decade of game-breaking football. His most influential play came on a third-down sack of Matthew Stafford in the NFC Divisional Round in January. With the Los Angeles Rams on the verge of a last-second go-ahead touchdown, the youngster saved the day and the Eagles’ season.

    The Eagles have something special here. With eight game-breaking talents on the roster (if not more), their excellence can be felt every week. It’s why Philadelphia’s hopes of yet another Super Bowl title are quite realistic.

    PHOTO: Eagles Nation on X

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    Justin Giampietro

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  • One Week Before Roster Cuts. Are The Eagles Finished Making Moves? – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    13 Days after acquiring Jakorian Bennett from the Raiders, and 5 days after wondering if the Eagles had finished their off-season shopping. They struck again with another trade. 

    This time, the Eagles finished off the C.J. Gardner-Johnson trade by re-acquiring the pick they previously swapped.

    Moving on from Harrison Bryant was one of multiple moves teams made this week by trading roster bubble players before the 53 man deadline on the 26th. 

    If Metchie was on the Texans bubble and at risk of being waived. The Eagles have the 32nd priority on the waiver wire, and would lose out players they’re after. Instead, teams are swapping late round picks to grab players they otherwise might not stand a chance acquiring next week.

    Ahead Of Unforeseen Circumstances

    The Eagles made a trade for a receiver that had many asking questions.

    • Is A.J. Browns injury worse than perceived?
    • Do the Eagles have bigger plans coming?
    • What did this mean for Johnny Wilson, Ainias Smith or Darius Cooper?

    Well, one of the receivers in question had their year ended when news broke that Johnny Wilson will be missing the 2025 season due to injury. Making the decision on how many receivers will make the 53 man roster a little easier.

    Now the Eagles can carry 6 receivers without leaving a preseason sensation on waivers or to the practice squad.

    • A.J. Brown
    • DeVonta Smith
    • Jahan Dotson
    • John Metchie III
    • Ainias Smith
    • Darius Cooper

    Are They Done Yet?

    There’s still 5 days until the deadline. And even that hasn’t stopped Howie Roseman & Co. Before. With multiple trades coming right after roster cut downs leaves the Eagles with plenty of last minute options.

    And for a team that still has 13 picks in the 2026 draft. They have more than enough capital to round out the perfect roster on their road to Super Bowl 60. 

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    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Reviewing the abnormal number of trades Howie Roseman makes with the Texans

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    Since 2022, Philadelphia Eagles GM Howie Roseman has made eight trades with Houston Texans GM Nick Cesario. I thought it’d be fun to quickly review them.

    • 2022 Draft: The Eagles traded the 15th overall pick, plus a fourth-round pick and two fifth-round picks for the 13th overall pick, which was used to select Jordan Davis.

    • 2023 Draft: The Eagles traded their second-round pick (62nd overall) to the Texans for the Texans’ third-round pick (65th overall), their sixth-round pick (188th overall), and their seventh-round pick (230th overall). 

    The third-round pick ended up being RG Tyler Steen, and the sixth-round pick became QB Tanner McKee. The seventh round pick we’ll get to in a moment.

    • 2023 Draft: The Eagles traded a 2024 third-round pick to the Texans for the third pick in the fourth round (105th overall).

    That fourth-round pick was used to select CB Kelee Ringo.

    • 2023 Draft: The Eagles traded the seventh-round pick (230th overall) mentioned in the second trade above as well as another seventh-round pick to the Texans for their sixth-round pick (191st overall). The Eagles then flipped that sixth-round pick to the Buccaneers for their fifth-round pick in 2024.

    That fifth-round pick in 2024 was included in the trade up for Cooper DeJean, but certainly not a major piece to that deal.

    • 2024 Draft: OK, your eyes above to glaze over on this one. The Eagles traded a third-round pick (78th overall) to the Texans for their third round pick (86th overall) and fourth-round pick (123rd overall). The Eagles then traded each of those two picks to other teams.

    The 86th overall pick was traded to the 49ers for their third-round pick (94th overall) and their fourth-round pick (132nd overall). The Eagles selected Jalyx Hunt with the 94th pick. 

    They traded the 132nd overall pick along with a sixth-round pick (210th overall) to the Lions for fifth- and sixth-round picks (164th and 201st overall), plus a fourth-round pick in 2025. They then packaged those same fifth- and sixth-round picks (164th and 210th overall) for the 155th pick, which became Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. 

    The 2025 fourth round pick from the Lions became the 134th overall pick. The Eagles packaged that and the 101st pick to the Broncos for the 111th pick, the 130th pick, and the 191st pick. 111 became Ty Robinson. 191 became Myles Hinton. 130 was traded to the Jets for 145 (Mac McWilliams) and 207 (Cameron Williams).

    • 2024 Draft: The Eagles traded the aforementioned 123rd pick noted in the trade directly above to the Texans for the 127th pick (Will Shipley) and a fifth-round pick in 2025 (Smael Mondon).

    • 2025 offseason: The Eagles traded S C.J. Gardner-Johnson and a 2026 sixth-round pick to the Texans for OG Kenyon Green and a 2026 fifth-round pick. 

    • 2025 training camp: The Eagles traded a fifth-round pick and TE Harrison Bryant to the Texans for WR John Metchie and a sixth-round pick. 

    Anyway, I guess the takeaway here is that Howie is at his best when he’s wheeling and dealing, and it’s nice to have a partner out there willing to make a lot of trades with him. Also, I need a life.

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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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  • What they’re saying: The Eagles won the 2024 NFL Draft

    What they’re saying: The Eagles won the 2024 NFL Draft

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    Howie season is a real thing. If you don’t believe me, look around — nearly every website that covers the NFL and the NFL draft is calling the Eagles front office big winners (in some cases the biggest) after they made a record-tying eight trades while adding nine rookies via the event this weekend.

    Here’s a quick look at why numerous outlets are head over heals for the Birds’ body of work — and you should be too:

    Best class

    Jordan Reid and Matt Miller | ESPN+

    Over at the Worldwide Leader, their experts broke down their favorite picks in each round, favorite QB landing spots and a handful of other superlatives. They anointed the Eagles group of nine as the best draft class of the 32 NFL teams:

    In the 2002 NFL draft, the Eagles used three early picks to remake a bad secondary. It changed the defense immediately. That’s what GM Howie Roseman must be thinking in 2024. The additions of Quinyon Mitchell in Round 1 and Cooper DeJean in a Round 2 trade up will immediately boost a secondary that looked old, slow and banged up during the team’s collapse late in 2023. The late part of Round 3 was a solid place to draft developmental pass-rusher Jalyx Hunt from Houston Christian too. He’s the type of player who could be a massive steal if the Eagles can tap into his raw potential. [ESPN.com]

    Zigging when others zag

    Will Brinson | CBS Sports

    The praise train continues at CBS, where Will Brinson was impressed more with how Roseman used his Day 3 picks. 

    … Clemson running back Will Shipley was a steal in the fourth round. Dipping back into Death Valley for Jeremiah Trotter Jr., is just good for business, even if it’s largely an emotional pick. Johnny Wilson in the sixth round?!?! NC State’s Dylan McMahon (aka “Baby Jason Kelce”) later in the round?? Just elite stuff from Howie late in the draft. Maybe most impressive: he traded out of spots a ton and acquired extra picks for next year. The drop-off in talent in this class (largely due to NIL trickle down) made moving out of the seventh round and improving your 2025 ammunition. [CBSSports.com]

    Highway robbery

    Austin Gayle | The Ringer

    Get ready for a whole lot of Howie Roseman love over the next few entries. Over at The Ringer, just how Roseman was able to nab the Eagles essentially the two best cornerbacks in the draft class seems confounding. More from Austin Gayle:

    How does Howie Roseman just keep getting away with this?! Drafting cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, two top-25 players on the media consensus board, at pick no. 22 and no. 40 (respectively) almost feels too good to be true—and downright disrespectful to the rest of the league. The trade up for DeJean on Friday evening diminishes some of the value of the selection, but both Mitchell and DeJean have all of the tools necessary to be long-term starters at outside cornerback on a team that desperately needs to get younger in the secondary. Plus, DeJean has inside-outside versatility and could make the switch to safety if necessary. [TheRinger.com]

    A safety net?

    Mike Jones | The Athletic

    Was Roseman operating under the assumption that the alleged tampering his team did during free agency to woo running back Saquon Barkley will yield a punishment? If so, surmises Jones, he was able to add a bunch of extra picks for the 2025 draft as a buffer just in case. Oh, and also, he said the Eagles won the draft:

    The Eagles received some good fortune, as cornerback Quinyon Mitchell fell to them in Round 1. Then Roseman pulled off a trade that positioned the Eagles to take another cornerback, Cooper DeJean, in Round 2. From there, Roseman and company continued to improve the depth of their roster while also stockpiling picks for 2025. For now, the Eagles have nine picks in next year’s draft. That gives Philadelphia a cushion in case the NFL’s investigation of potential tampering with Saquon Barkley reveals any wrongdoing and the Eagles are docked a pick or two. [TheAthletic.com]

    On a different level

    Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz | USA Today

    Remember last year, when the Eagles got two of the best defensive linemen in the same draft? And also essentially acquired running back De’Andre Swift for nothing? Roseman was operating at a different level — and at USA Today they’re accusing the GM of doing the same thing this offseason too. He added a ton of ammunition to the stockpile for 2025 and that was not by accident:

    He extracted some substantial additional value for the future by doing so, including a 2025 third-round pick thanks to his willingness to part with a fourth-rounder this year. And his Day 3 picks themselves were solid, too, with fourth-round running back Will Shipley, fifth-round receiver Ainias Smith and sixth-round receiver Johnny Wilson all looking capable of aiding the passing game through specific roles. The speedster Smith also could yield big value as a returner in the aftermath of the league’s new kickoff return rules. [USAToday.com]

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  • Possible Trade Up Candidates for the Eagles in 2024 NFL Draft – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Possible Trade Up Candidates for the Eagles in 2024 NFL Draft – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The draft is less than a week away, and the rumor mill is starting to pick up.

    It would be nothing new to Eagles fans if the Birds traded up in the first round.

    Lets take a look at a few candidates that they could trade up for.

    Jared Verse

    The edge rusher out of Florida State would bolster a position in need. The Eagles traded Haason Reddick, and they could use someone else in that room. Verse is coming off a season with 11 sacks, 15 QB hits, and 36 QB hurries. His production in college makes him a probable top-15 pick in this upcoming draft.

    The Eagles need to acquire at least one defensive lineman who can play immediately. They will miss Haason Reddick’s production, so it would make sense for them to draft Verse in the first round.

    Quinyon Mitchell

    The Eagles need a young talent at the corner, and Quinyon Mitchell could be a guy they trade up for. Mitchell is coming off a year with 41 tackles, one interception, and 18 passes defended. He ran a 4.33 40-yard dash at the combine. His total combined score was first among all corners. He is someone that can step in and start right away.

    If the Eagles don’t feel comfortable with James Bradberry playing the opposite of Slay anymore, Mitchell would be a good option to go with. If the Eagles wanted to trade up for Quinyon Mitchell, they would most likely have to move up into the 10-15 range.

    There are plenty of ways this draft can go for the Eagles.
    We all know Howie loves to make moves on draft day, and the Eagles could move up for one of these players next Thursday night.

    Photo: Getty Images

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  • Setting The WR Market, Eagles Extend DeVonta Smith – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Setting The WR Market, Eagles Extend DeVonta Smith – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The Eagles front office has done it again.

    After speculation that the Eagles would be paying their WR2 next after agreeing to a 3-year $66M extension with Jordan Mailata just two weeks ago. News finally broke on Monday that not only would DeVonta Smith’s 5th year be picked up, but it also came with a nifty 3-year extension.

    The Eagles will now have the following players on the offense under contract through 2026:

    • QB Jalen Hurts
    • QB Kenny Pickett
    • WR A.J. Brown
    • WR DeVonta Smith
    • RB Saquon Barkley
    • LT Jordan Mailata
    • LG Landon Dickerson
    • OL Tyler Steen
    • RT Lane Johnson

    Not a bad thing to have 8 offensive starters under contract for the next 3 seasons!

    But how did the Eagles get all these top tier players under contract without being well over the cap? (like the Saints have been for years)

     

    Ahead Of The League

    This is now back to back off-seasons where Howie Roseman and co. have been able to extend franchise cornerstone players before the other 31 teams in the league came to terms with their counterparts.

    QB Frenzy

    Starting with Jalen Hurts on April 17th 2023. A 5 year, $255M contract was signed ahead of the following quarterbacks

    • Joe Burrow – 5 years, $275M signed on September 7th 2023
    • Justin Herbert – 5 years, $262.5M signed on July 25th 2023
    • Lamar Jackson – 5 years, $260M signed on April 27th 2023

     

    Offensive Line Mania

    Not only did the Eagles get away with drafting Jordan Mailata in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. They’ve now extended him. Twice! While doing so, the Eagles have gotten ahead by signing Mailata to a 3 year, $66M deal. Now under contract until 2029.

    There weren’t many Offensive Tackles looking to be signed this off-season, but getting an extra 3 years from Mailata at $22M was perfect value giving some previously signed OT’s including:

    • Laremy Tunsil – 3 year, $75M signed on March 19th 2023
    • Andrew Thomas – 5 year, $117.5M signed on July 26th 2023

    However, this was the perfect market to get the Left Tackle signed for those extra years. Because the following will be due for a 5th year option and probable extensions in the next year.

    • Penei Sewell – drafted 7th overall 2021
    • Rashawn Slater – drafted 11th overall 2021
    • Ronnie Stanley – 5 year, $98.75M signed in 2020

     

    Setting The WR Market

    And that’s exactly how the Eagles have set the WR market with DeVonta Smith’s new deal.

    Had the Eagles not worked as quickly as possible on this deal. They would’ve been at risk of the following Receivers potentially getting record breaking deals done first.

    Since we don’t have contract money for these other receivers, let’s keep it simple and compare Yards/TDs.

    • DeVonta Smith – 50GP, 3,178 Rec Yards, 19 TD. signed a 3 year, $75M deal.
    • Justin Jefferson – 60GP, 5,899 Rec Yards, 30 TD. On a 5th year option for $19.74M
    • Ja’Marr Chase – 45GP, 3,717 Rec Yards, 29 TD. 
    • Tee Higgins – 53GP, 3,684 Rec Yards, 24TD. On a $21.8M Franchise Tag
    • CeeDee Lamb – 61GP, 5,145 Rec Yards, 32TD. On a 5th year option for $17.99M

     

    With DeVonta Smith’s extension checked off the offseason to-do list. The next big milestone will be the draft. Just one week away.

     

    Who do you have the Birds taking at 22nd?

     

     

    Photo Credit: Matt Slocum / AP Photo

     

     

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  • Predicting the Eagles First Three Rounds of 2024 NFL Draft – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Predicting the Eagles First Three Rounds of 2024 NFL Draft – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    The draft is approaching, and Philadelphia has a few different ways to approach this year’s draft.

    There are obvious needs on the roster, and the Eagles have a philosophy that they usually stick to.

    Predicting the draft class is almost impossible, but we can use previous years’ roster needs to try to narrow down what they might do.

    Round 1

    In the first round, I think the Eagles will disappoint everyone and pick an offensive lineman. The Birds value the position too much and will want to be ready for when Lane Johnson retires. The Eagles have drafted two players who were supposed to step in for Kelce when he retires, and they ended up playing on other spots on the line. Now that Kelce is gone, they will want to do the same with Lane Johnson.

    This is a pretty good offensive tackle class, and the Eagles are known for their trench-building philosophy through the draft. It isn’t the cool, flashy pick that everyone wants, but I think the offensive line is the way they go.

    Rounds 2 & 3

    In rounds two and three, I think the Eagles will go with a mix of defensive back and linebacker. These are two huge positions of need, and the Eagles can’t risk having as bad of play from these positions as they did last year. The defensive back pick could be a mix of either safety or corner. We don’t know if CJGJ will play safety or the slot, so based on where the Eagles put him, they will probably pick the opposite position in the draft.

    Defensive back is what everyone would love to see in the first round, but I don’t believe they will focus on that position until day 2. The need for a linebacker is obvious. The Eagles can’t run it back with the same guys they had last year. It is still to be seen how well NaKobe Dean can play, but for now, we still need an upgrade.

    The draft is one of the most exciting parts of the NFL off-season, and there are less than two weeks to go.
    The Eagles will have some interesting decisions to make when the time comes.

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  • Howie Roseman Won’t Let the Eagles’ Great Culture Fade – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Howie Roseman Won’t Let the Eagles’ Great Culture Fade – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    After a relatively addition-free offseason just a season ago, GM Howie Roseman has gone all out in 2024. He has, at the very least, improved every position of need for the Philadelphia Eagles, minor or massive.
    More than anything, that says that he is not keen on letting the Eagles’ winning culture fade. It means a lot in the NFL, and he’s not about to let that go away. He wants to get better no matter what.

    Roseman’s Additions

    In the opening days of free agency, Roseman most notably helped acquire running back Saquon Barkley, defensive end Bryce Huff, safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and linebacker Devin White.

    Photo: Russ Heltman

    Having money for the future is important — the salary cap, believe it or not, does actually exist. Backloading contracts and restructuring them does come into play at some point or another, so Roseman has gone all out.

    Three of the Eagles’ biggest needs going into the offseason were all pretty apparent: the secondary, running back, and linebacker. There’s still plenty of time (and an entire draft class)  to add more, but Roseman prioritized his team needs while getting younger in the process. It would be one thing to sign veterans for an “all-in” season, but he’s maximizing his window here. Each of these players is relatively young, with Barkley being the oldest at 27.

    Getting to what these deals actually mean, let’s first start with Barkley. He was a more explosive back (10+ yard rushes) on a per-play basis than D’Andre Swift, who signed with the Chicago Bears this offseason for a decent sum of money. And he did that behind, arguably, the worst offensive line in football versus Swift doing it behind, arguably, the best. Barkley is the only running back to have a top-10 score in rushing yards over expected (RYOE) in both 2022 and 2023, so he still has a lot left.

    Both Huff and Gardner-Johnson are huge, young additions that help the Eagles have long-term hope at their respective positions. Huff has a lot of upside, while Gardner-Johnson is the exact energy Philadelphia was missing last season. The latter was a big culture signing, but more on that in a bit.

    White is an athletic linebacker who didn’t have the best season in 2023, but he should still be a solid asset for the Eagles. On a one-year deal, there is little risk involved.

    The Importance of Culture

    It’s hard to call what happened to the Eagles last season a lack of culture, but it’s clear that the vibes around the team were far lower than they were in 2022 when they went to the Super Bowl. You don’t have to be in the room every day to know that. And the fact that the Eagles dropped six of their last seven games, including their Wildcard loss, probably didn’t help matters.

    So what did Roseman do? He brought back an energy player in Gardner-Johnson. Not only was he a really good player for the Eagles when he was there during their run to the Super Bowl, but he gave them a little bit of spice. The Detroit Lions know all about this, especially when he taunted the San Francisco 49ers’ crowd during the NFC Championship when he was up by 13— just to lose anyway.

    But that’s the sort of attitude the Eagles need. There was far too much of the cliches last season — every player on the team promised they’d be better the next game and never got better. In an endless loop, the team needed real character and emotion. That was acquired. It might seem trivial, but “vibes” are very real. Look no further than when the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 2017 — that team was full of “vibes”. Perhaps the best team in that department the Birds have ever seen.

    Photo: —

    Not every team needs to adopt the “Patriot Way.” Players need to have fun and enjoy themselves. The Eagles sort of lost their character — that’s what made them special. With Roseman showing belief in his players by adding legitimate stars to both sides of the ball, the Eagles have veteran leadership and character in a player like Brandon Graham, skillful youth in someone like Jalen Carter, and stars in their prime, including A.J. Brown, Jalen Hurts, DeVonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Jordan Mailata just to name a few.

    Having a good, young team with a GM who is willing to make sacrifices to add to that helps build culture. The Eagles lost in the Super Bowl, started out as hot as ever the following season with a 10-1 record, faded, and got much better. They made changes. They have a lot of draft picks to work with. They have the recipe in place to be a good team again. Roseman deserves credit for that.

    The Eagles aren’t playing any games this season. They saw what failed just a year ago. Roseman is doing everything to not let it happen again.
    Growing as a GM, it is becoming apparent that Roseman could remain with the Eagles for a while. Not doomed to repeat history, he has evolved his entire career. He likely recognized just how influential culture is in football.

    Photo: —

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    Justin Giampietro

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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

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    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

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  • Jason Kelce’s Replacement is Ready – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Jason Kelce’s Replacement is Ready – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Tears are still streaming from Jason Kelce’s eyes as I write this. Hell, if not for the benefit of typing on a keyboard, half this paragraph would be smudged by my own self-made waterworks. On Monday afternoon, the Eagles’ captain announced his long-awaited retirement before a crowd of family, friends, and press.

    If you haven’t watched it yet, take a look:

    The announcement hardly comes as a surprise, as the center had been expected to retire for multiple years now. Jason Kelce leaves behind a Hall of Fame career as a 7-time Pro Bowler, a 6-time All-Pro, and most importantly, a Super Bowl Champion.

    Take a moment and relive… The Speech™

    However, I don’t like to live in the past – that’s where all my exes are – and as such, I am here to talk about the future:

    All-Pro Jason Kelce suggests Bills player attempted injury Eagles teammate during 'tush push' | Fox News Cam Jurgens (left) and Jason Kelce (right)

    Cam Jurgens

    Jurgens IS the next Jason Kelce. He was drafted out of Nebraska in the 2nd round, 51st overall in the 2022 NFL Draft, joining Jordan Davis as the Eagles’ second selection. Much like Kelce, Jurgens stands just 6’3” – short for a center – but with over 20 pounds of mass on his predecessor. Not only that, Jurgens’ 40-yard dash time was just 0.03 seconds longer than the famously-quick Kelce.

    Jurgens’ 2022 Draft profile hailed his speed, toughness, and durability, while critiques focused on his lack of size and mass – things Jurgens has made up for with core strength. In fact, he earned a score of 99 (1st overall in his draft class) for “athleticism,” according to NFL Next Gen Stats.

    Sound familiar? That’s because he IS Jason Kelce 2.0

    Don’t believe me? Take it up with Kelce. The now-retired Eagles legend hand-picked Jurgens, telling Philadelphia scouts and media alike that “of all the centers that have been compared to me… this is the guy. It’s him.”

    There is a chance the team finds a center in the draft as well, and Jurgens has plenty of time to continue developing at just 24-years-old. After all, Jason Kelce’s first Pro Bowl season didn’t come until he was 30 years old! But if Howie Roseman is looking for the next great anchor of the offensive line, Jurgens is primed for the job.

    Photo via Eric Hartline, USA TODAY Sports

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    Will Connell

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  • Eagles’ Top 5 Running Back Options – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Eagles’ Top 5 Running Back Options – Philadelphia Sports Nation

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    Eagles fans should get ready for their next jersey, with the team at risk of losing three of four running backs to free agency.

    D’Andre Swift (25-years-old), Boston Scott (29), and Rashaad Penny (28) can sign with any team, and while Howie Roseman is no stranger to re-signing a reliable back, the odds he outsources some of these roster spots is all but certain. Only Kenneth Gainwell (25) is set to return, hitting the final year of his four-year rookie deal.

    The good news? That means the current depth chart at the position costs just $1.055M. That leaves plenty of wiggle room, and Philadelphia is sure to address one of these openings in the draft. That leaves two open spots beside Kenny G and this unnamed rookie sensation – so the question stands: Who do the Eagles sign?

    Here are the top five options the Eagles should consider, in ascending order:

    5. AJ Dillon

    AJ “Quadfather” Dillon — how he got the nickname, no one knows

    This would be one of two VERY Howie Roseman moves – find a high-value guy who hasn’t been a lead back, pay him a million or so, and toss him in a committee with three other guys. AJ Dillon has been splitting carries with Aaron Jones his entire career, having never hit more than 187 carries in a season. In a list with some grizzled veterans, Dillon would represent an option with a ton of tread still on the tires.

    Additionally, Dillon has only had fewer than 4.1 yards per carry once in his four-year career. Benefiting from fresh legs as an RB2 certainly helps, but he would arrive to a familiar scene in that sense. If Howie wants to find an affordable guy to get consistent, strong yards, Dillon would be a buy-low candidate.

    4. Derrick Henry

    Number FOUR? It’s difficult to imagine three running backs who are better than King Henry AND a free agent. Hell, it’s tough to name three better backs in the game at all!

    Derrick Henry has been the face of the Tennessee Titans since 2016, landing signature stiff-arms and carrying caravans of defenders with him across the goal line. The Alabama alum is a four-time Pro Bowler with 9,502 yards and 90 touchdowns to his name. His career-worst 4.2 yards per attempt was 18th in the NFL last season – but 8th when limited to backs who crested 1,000+ rushing yards.

    His downfall? Age. Henry just turned 30 in January, famously the age we see running backs drop off (except, of course, Philly legend Frank Gore).

    The reason Henry still fits in the Eagles’ running back plans are their historic approach to the position. In Philadelphia, Henry would see a massive drop in total carries. For example, last season D’Andre Swift carried the ball 229 times, 51 fewer than league-leader Derrick Henry with 280. The year before that, Miles Sanders led the team with 259, well behind Josh Jacobs at … 340! Throw in Jalen Hurts’ rushes and Henry might pull a Joe Flacco and fall asleep on the sideline.

    3. Joe MixonRunning Back Busts for 2021 Fantasy Football

    Unlike Dillon, Mixon is NOT known for his efficiency, clearing 4.1 yards per carry just once in his career (2018). The other thing he isn’t known for is fumbling – he has only dropped the ball 6 times over 1,854 touches in 7 seasons. Insanity. He is also a sneaky-good receiver, with 154 catches in the last three seasons. In 2023 he had the 9th most receptions by a running back, and in 2022 he was No. 5 in the NFL in this category.

    What’s more, the Bengals have also boasted a dreadful offensive line throughout Mixon’s career. For the Oklahoma product to even be a Pro Bowler is a testament to the powers of individual effort. Four of five healthy seasons, Mixon has rushed for over 1,000 yards. If Philly wants a workhorse who can get the job done, this could be the guy.

    2. D’Andre Swift

    Howie still has Swift’s number, and giving the back a ring might be his best option. Swift has been an affordable solution to the running back question his entire career, never costing more than $1.7M while cresting 4.1 yards per carry every season. His efforts earned him a Pro Bowl appearance this year, the first of what could be an illustrious career.

    In Detroit Swift established himself as one of the position’s best receivers, catching 156 passes in three seasons. He finished fourth in catches in 2021 and 12th in rushes in 2023, demonstrating his utility as a dual-threat. I don’t need to waste by breath telling Philly what it already knows, but in his first full season as an RB1 this year he accrued his first 1,000+ yard season. Bringing back Swift represents an affordable option that keeps things consistent after a rocky end to the year.

    1. JK DobbinsJ.K. Dobbins: “Whenever they want to let me out the cage, it'll be the right time” - Baltimore Beatdown

    There’s no joking when it comes to Dobbins’ talent. The oft-injured running back has started just 10 games and only played in 24 over four seasons. He missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL and only played a single game last year, rushing for 22 yards and a TD. So what’s the hype?

    Check out the efficiency: JK Dobbins has a massive 5.8 yards per attempt over his entire career. Derrick Henry’s best season saw just 5.5 yards per attempt. Sure, Dobbins hasn’t shown an ability to stay healthy, but the Eagles have one of the best fitness staffs in the league. Philadelphia’s has been one of the healthiest rosters in the NFL the last two seasons – if the team can get a full season out of Dobbins?

    Watch out.

    Photo via Sports Illustrated

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    Will Connell

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