By: Brock Wells

The Philadelphia Eagles are currently the best team in the NFC, sporting a perfect 8-0 record. They’re currently ahead of their rival Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants in the NFC East, which seems to have returned to the status it had attained some years ago as the NFL’s best division. Despite the Eagles’ favorability in the outlook of both their division and the conference, they’ll be taking advantage of a top-ten draft pick in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Eagles have a stout roster at the moment, but there are a couple of areas in which they could stand to shore up resources. It isn’t overly apparent where the weaknesses on this team are, but even the best teams can find improvement somewhere. With six picks in the first seven rounds, here’s a direction they could go.

1^st Round (8^th Overall): Kelee Ringo ”“ CB, Georgia

Kelee Ringo is arguably the most versatile defensive back in the 2023 NFL Draft. His ability to play the entire field in pass coverage as a corner makes him a heavily sought-after prize. The flaws he has exhibited in the past have been largely corrected in 2022, like his ability to be a bit overly aggressive in coverage.

For Ringo, having played in the SEC could go a long way for his outlook in the NFL. The SEC is the closest college football gets to NFL-level competition, and that’s a plus for his draft outlook. His tutelage with the Eagles and Darius Slay, one of the NFL’s best corners, only improves this outlook.

1^st Round (31^st Overall): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB ”“ Alabama

Alabama’s mill of running backs to the NFL continues with Jahmyr Gibbs who, while not a defining offensive element a la Derrick Henry, will make an excellent addition to an offensive with a number of other key pieces already in place. His playmaking ability is what has made Alabama’s offense even more difficult to disrupt.

An Eagles offense with Jalen Hurts, Myles Sanders, A.J. Brown, DeVonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert is loaded and the addition of someone like Gibbs seems a plus in every respect. Even if Sanders goes to another team, Gibbs could be ushered in nicely.

2^nd Round (63^rd Overall): Rashad Torrence II ”“ S, Florida

More SEC here with Rashad Torrence II out of Florida. The safety has a great ability to recognize routs and has top-notch close-in abilities. He also has abilities when being used in a blitz package. All of this makes him an addition for NFL teams to get excited about, and he has enough quickness to be able to make an instant impact.

The Eagles have a lot of depth in their defensive backfield with Slay and C.J. Gardner-Johnson, allowing for a player like Torrence II to be able to grow into his own at the NFL level. He’ll need to grow a bit, literally, as his size is more like a corner at the moment than a safety.

3^rd Round (95^th Overall): Jaquelin Roy ”“ DL, LSU

Jaquelin Roy has played a major role in the recent resurgence of the LSU program. The 6’4”, 297-pound interior defensive lineman has excellent quickness for his size and is able to utilize that quickness to create disruption, particularly as a pass rusher, which stands out as his best asset at the current moment.

Neither Brandon Graham nor Fletcher Cox are as young as they used to be, so the Eagles could stand to benefit immediately as well as long term from a player like Roy. His addition could take some pressure of these veteran pieces and tighten up a defensive line rotation.

6^th Round (168^th Overall): Cameron Latu ”“ TE, Alabama

Cameron Latu isn’t one of the most recognizable pieces of the Alabama offense, but he is one its most reliable. Intermediate and short routes are his specialty, and he has some of the strongest hands in the ’23 draft. He’s one of the most solid tight end options in the draft because there’s very little risk with his profile.

Dallas Goedert has become one of the best tight ends in the NFL for the Eagles, but it’s always worth it to add depth to your skill positions. Latu, like Goedert, has been dependable for his team and can be deceptive with his ability to show out.

7^th Round (249^th Overall): Zak Zinter ”“ T, Michigan

6’6”, 315-pound offensive tackle Zak Zinter from Michigan struggles with pass protection, but he has major upside in the running game. He hasn’t played a ton of football either, which makes him a tad worrisome, and the reason why he comes up back in the 7^th round. But he isn’t going to be a player who comes in to start immediately, so his upside gets him a spot.

The Eagles’ offensive line, led by Jason Kelce, has proven to be a strength for the team in 2022. Bringing in a guy like Zinter means they’ll be able to get him the kind of experience he’ll need to adapt to the NFL level and could lead to him being a dependable piece at some point.

The post Philadelphia Eagles 7-round mock draft appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Mike McCarthy raised the Dallas Cowboys out of the ashes in 2021. He brought his team from a 6-10 record last season to an impressive 11-5 record and NFC East title this season. Nonetheless, McCarthy will have one more test in his early Cowboys tenure before his 2021 year is in the books. The Cowboys HC will face off against his classic rival in the Philadelphia Eagles. The ring leader on the other sidelines is none other than Nick Sirianni. 

There is no debate over which head coach has a more impressive and respectable legacy. It is none other than Mike McCarthy, who has brought home a Lombardi trophy to Green Bay. But, it is fascinating to witness how McCarthy has performed in Dallas. It’s also worth comparing how each HC has faired in their new NFC East seats. So, let’s rewind the tape and outline the notable highlights for these NFC East rivals. 

McCarthy

• 17-15 in the first two seasons (12-8 with Prescott)
• second in passing yards, 10th in rushing yards, 
• Defense leads league in turnovers
• NFC East title
• DROY favorite in Micah Parsons
• DPOY candidates in Micah Parsons and Trevon Diggs
• CPOY favorite in Dak Prescott
• Enormous wins over Patriots, Saints, and Chargers

Sirianni

• 9-7 record in his first season
• 14th ranked offense in YPG 
• Jalen Hurts improved from 52% in 2020 completion percentage to 61.3% in 2021
• Hurts improved his passer rating from 77.6 last season to 87.2 this season
• Monster victories against the Saints, Broncos, and Washington Football Team

It should seem that McCarthy has a slight edge over Sirianni “at the moment”. Nonetheless, it is impressive how Sirianni has found success and a playoff berth with a much less talented roster than the Cowboys. The Cowboys carry a dream-like team, while the Eagles have a second-year QB and no Zach Ertz. The Eagles have been surprising and positive, but they don’t seem to carry a scary ceiling or the ability to throttle an opponent. McCarthy appears to have his team climbing the ladder of quality play, especially after their 56-14 thrashing of the Washington Football Team. 

The Cowboys will need the Rams and Cardinals to lose if they want to claim the #2 seed. A win won’t likely change anything in the playoff picture, but it would mark a very impressive 12th win on the season ”“ which would be three more than Nick Sirianni’s win tally. Yet, if Sirianni’s team comes out with the upset, they would just be a win behind the much more talented Cowboys. 

The post Mike McCarthy vs Nick Sirianni: who really has the edge? appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Jacob Keppen

We are officially under 50 days away from the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl in Mobile, Alabama. Seen as the first stop of the draft, the Senior Bowl is an annual postseason college football all-star game featuring many of the top graduated players heading into the draft in April. Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert, 49ers receiver Deebo Samuel, and Packers star lineman Elgton Jenkins are just three of the many players to showcase their talents down in Mobile. Here are five players that Eagles fans should keep an eye out for at the 2022 Reese’s Senior Bowl.

1. Abram Smith, RB Baylor

The Eagles offense has been at its best this year when it sticks to a powerful run game. The Eagles still have one of the best offensive lines in the game, making some key replenishments over the past few seasons. Jordan Mailata has looked every bit the part of a franchise left tackle, especially in the run game where his size and athleticism really show. Rookie left guard Landon Dickerson has been a great addition to the line, Mailata, and Dickerson harkening back to the days of Jason Peters and Evan Mathis. 

Jordan Howard has been capable as a power runner for the Eagles this season, showing just how well a strong powerful runner can do in Nick Sirriani’s offense. Abram Smith fits the bill of a strong, powerful rusher, routinely breaking tackles in a 1,429-yard campaign for the Bears. A former linebacker who had over 10 tackles in three contests last year, Abram brings that same physicality to the offensive side of the ball.

2. Isaiah Likely, TE Coastal Carolina

Dallas Goedert looks to be playing at the level every Eagles fan knew he could this season. Featured as the defacto #2 weapon beside Devonta Smith, and with Zach Ertz off to Arizona, Goedert has put together an extremely strong campaign so far. The #1 tight end situation might be figured out in Philadelphia, but they should still look for a complementary tight end if the price is right.

While rookie Jack Stoll and former quarterback Tyree Jackson are fine developmental pieces, Jackson receiving a good amount of hype in the preshttps://twitter.com/PFNDraft/status/1472027992914378755?s=20eason, they still have only combined for three catches this season. Isaiah Likely is a home run hitting tight end, averaging over 15 yards a reception this year and 20 last year. He is athletic and could pair well next to Goedert.

3. Alec Pierce, WR Cincinnati

The Eagles drafted Devonta Smith with the 10th overall pick in last year’s NFL Draft. The Eagles wide receiver situation is solved and will never come up again! Until it did immediately the first week of the season”¦ It turns out just having one good-quality receiver isn’t enough in today’s NFL. While Quez Watkins is a fine speedster off the bench who maybe can be the 3rd receiver eventually, Jalen Reagor currently does not look like an NFL player. The Eagles have to keep swinging at wide receiver, and if they don’t take a pass-catcher with one of their three first-round picks, Cincy’s Alec Pierce is a name to watch out for.

Alec Pierce is a quarterback’s best friend. With a big frame at 6’3 213, Pierce is the perfect jump ball receiver to make any signal caller’s day easier. There are countless times on film where a throw will be a bit inaccurate or late and Pierce will use his long arms to come down with the catch. On a team that really needs a bigger target on the perimeter, the tallest wide receiver on the roster J.J. Arcega-Whiteside (yeah”¦) Pierce would immediately have a role in the Eagles offense. The upcoming Cotton Bowl against Alabama and Senior Bowl will be immense for the smaller school receiver. 

4. Dylan Parham, OL Memphis

Yes, the Eagles offensive line is one of the best in the league, but how did they get this way? How have the Eagles pretty much been able to have a top offensive line in the league over the past decade? There are two big reasons. O-Line coach Jeff Stoutland is one of the best overall position coaches in football, and they constantly draft new talent. 

Over the past two years, Landon Dickerson and Jack Driscoll have stepped in to play guard, both not looking out of place at all. The Eagles have the next-man-up mentality with their linemen, and it’s helped them over the years. The Eagles have found many quality linemen outside of the first round such as guard Isaac Seumalo in the third round, guard Landon Dickerson in the second round, and tackle Jordan Mailata in the seventh round. You can never have too many linemen.

Dylan Parham is a prospect who has played nearly everywhere for the Tigers. With experience at both guard positions and at right tackle (Don’t expect to see him play there at only 6’3 285) Parham is a versatile piece who can fill a variety of roles as a backup. With roster space limited, you want your backups to be able to fill a variety of positions. There have been talks of playing Parham at the center at the Senior Bowl, and if that goes well the Eagles should be even more interested in the Memphis Tiger.

5. Jaquan Brisker, SAF Penn State

Safety is arguably the position most needed for the Eagles moving forward. While Anthony Harris has been fine for the Eagles this year, he is 30 years old. Rodney McLeod is also on the other side of 30 as well. While Marcus Epps has shown to be a solid third safety, second-year player K’Von Wallace hasn’t been able to see the field much this year. Safety is a huge need moving forward for Philadelphia so why not keep Jaquan Brisker in state.

As previously mentioned with Parham, versatility is so valuable in today’s NFL. Jaquan Brisker is a safety who can play a variety of roles for the Eagles defense. Brisker has the speed and range to make plays down field in coverage but also uses his athleticism in combination with great aggression as a run defender. He gives 110% effort and would be a fan favorite in Philadelphia. Watch out for him in Mobile.

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By: Jacob Keppen

The draft landscape has changed a bit for the Philadelphia Eagles over the past month. Once thought to possibly have three top ten picks in their possession, the Eagles draft picks are slowly starting to move down the board and space out. With Miami starting to win games, Indianapolis being competitive, and the Eagles being a massive question mark week to week, the Eagles still have three top 15 selections. With 11 total picks, here is the Eagles mock draft heading into December.

8th Overall (Round 1): Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame

Safety might be the sneakiest need for Philadelphia moving forward. Anthony Harris is only here on a one year deal and is 30, while Rodney McLeod will be 32 next year and is coming off a major injury this year. There isn’t really a replacement plan in place at the position, and Kyle Hamilton is one of the best players in the draft regardless of position. A 6’4 athletic unicorn, Hamilton has the range and tackling of a potential All Pro safety in the NFL.

9th Overall (Round 1): Andrew Booth Jr, CB Clemson

The Eagles are not done at cornerback yet, not by a long shot. While Darius Slay is playing some of the best football of his career, he is 30. Hopefully the Eagles get a few more productive years out of their star corner, but eventually his replacement must be found. With Steve Nelson on a one year deal the bandaid over the 2nd corner position will almost surely be ripped off come next season. Andrew Booth is an extremely talented and athletic corner who can be the second in command across from Darius Slay, eventually taking over Slay’s role as the team’s lockdown corner. 

14th Overall (Round 1): Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State

Yes, it disgusts me as well to select a receiver this high once again for Philadelphia. Since 2019 the Eagles have taken three receivers in the top two rounds, twice in the first round the past two years. The Eagles also took a receiving threat in Dallas Goedert early in the second in 2018. If last game against the Giants made anything clear, it’s that the Eagles weapons simply are not good enough. Bringing in one veteran receiver in the offseason won’t fix that either, teams needing multiple weapons to really get an edge in today’s NFL. Garrett Wilson can really do it all, his technique winning him most reps at the line of scrimmage and his ability with the ball in his hands making him a dynamic threat next to Devonta Smith.

42nd Overall (Round 2): Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE Penn State

This edge rusher class is really good, like really good. Even in the second round teams will have a bevy of fine pass rushers to choose from, and Arnold Ebiketie is one of the best. Since transferring to Penn State this year, Ebiketie has been on an absolute tear making the 2021 All Big Ten First Team Defense. Ebiketie has great bend and athleticism, combined with some very educated hands. With a big week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, he might not even be available at 42.

73rd Overall (Round 3): Brandon Smith, LB Penn State

Double dipping once again in the vast pool of defensive talent at Happy Valley, Brandon Smith could be the finishing piece to an Eagles linebacker corps that is starting to figure it out. Once the biggest hole on the team, the additions of T.J. Edwards and Davion Taylor to the starting lineup have been very solid this season. In Smith the eagles take another swing on an extremely athletic linebacker.

110th Overall (Round 4): Isaiah Likely, TE Coastal Carolina

That’s right, another receiving weapon. If the Eagles truly want to see if Jalen Hurts is the guy they can’t give him bargain bin weapons. No more excuses, get him help and see what happens. The backup tight end spot is one I think the Eagles should look at. While Tyree Jackson has shown a ton of potential, Isaiah Likely has been a force for Coastal Carolina the past two years. An athletic threat up the seam Likely can be a good complementary threat next to Dallas Goedert.

151st Overall (Round 5): Jalen Pitre, LB/S Baylor

Jalen Pitre is one of my favorite later-round guys in the draft, and he fits a mold of players that Philadelphia tends to like. It’s almost a running joke at this point how the Eagles don’t take linebackers, they just take safeties and put them at linebacker. Pitre plays that hybrid linebacker/safety role, utilized best blowing up plays around the line of scrimmage. Opposing teams rarely can barely get screens off cleanly when playing against Baylor.

160th Overall (Round 5): Max Mitchell, OT Louisiana

It is never a bad idea to take backup linemen with upside later in the draft. Philadelphia has been doing this routinely during Roseman’s reign as GM, and it usually has worked out. Multiple times we’ve seen later round linemen thrust into starting roles due to an injury in Philadelphia. For the Eagles Lane Johnson has been the man at right tackle for the past decade, but it’s time to start thinking about some reassurance behind him. He’s getting older and has dealt with some injuries. Max Mitchell is an aggressive lineman who flashes on film and could make for a good option behind Lane.

173rd Overall (Round 5): Tyler Allgeier, RB BYU

The Eagles running back situation is a very interesting one. It seems as though the team really isn’t sold on Miles Sanders being the guy, the former second-round pick never really receiving a heavy workload. Jordan Howard has at times been featured as the power back this year, and it’s worked pretty well. Of course, you do still have Kenny Gainwell, last year’s 5th round selection, who adds as a receiving threat. I don’t think Miles Sanders is going to be the guy in Philadelphia after his contracts up, and Tyler Allgeier’s an interesting option to add to the mix in Philly. Possibly the most underrated back in college football over the past two years, Allgeier is a speedy back who slashes through defenses.

193rd Overall (Round 6): Dylan Parham, IOL Memphis

It is never a bad idea to take backup linemen with upside later in the draft. Philadelphia has been doing this routinely during Roseman’s reign as GM, and it usually has worked out (Hey, where have I seen that intro before?) Dylan Parham has impressed this year at guard and there have been talks of trying him out at center at the Senior Bowl. A superb athlete for the position, Parham could be a sneaky good player if he bulks up a bit more.

206th Overall (Round 6): Brad Hawkins, S Michigan

Why not end the mock by sending a local player back home! Playing high school football at Camden High (You want the High, you got the High!) right across the bridge from Philadelphia, it would be a full circle for the Eagles to draft him. A fifth-year player with tons of Big 10 experience, Hawkins can fill a variety of roles as a backup including special teams.

The post Philadelphia Eagles 7 round mock draft in December appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

By: Chris Thomas

Even though the 2022 NFL Draft is months away it is never too early to speculate about who could go first overall. Two weeks into the college football season it appears that a non-quarterback may go first overall since Myles Garrett was drafted in 2017. Oregon pass rusher Kayvon Thibodeaux is the consensus #1 non-quarterback prospect. He is also thought of by many as the potential number one prospect of this entire draft. Here is why Thibodeaux could be the first overall pick in the draft in late April. 

Lack of premier quarterback talent

An NFL Draft class is defined by its quarterbacks. Over the last couple of seasons, it feels like there has been a premier quarterback prospect that has been on top of the class and went first overall. After the first two weeks of the college football season, none of the speculated upon top quarterback prospects have been over impressive. Oklahoma quarterback Spencer Rattler had a brutal debut where he threw only one touchdown and two interceptions against Tulane. Oklahoma barely won that game. North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell had an even worse season debut against Virginia Tech. Howell threw for only 208 yards and one touchdown. He finished the game with three interceptions as well. Both quarterbacks bounced back in their second games of the season, but at this rate, none have looked like a first overall pick quarterback. The standard a quarterback must reach to be taken first overall for it to be worth it is Kyler Murray, Joe Burrow, and Trevor Lawerence.

Recently there have been a couple of quarterbacks that have gone first overall that was not worth the selection. Some of these quarterbacks aren’t considered busts but during their respective predraft processes other non-quarterbacks were considered better prospects and turned out to be much better than the quarterbacks taken first overall. Those quarterbacks are Baker Mayfield and Jared Goff. Both are solid starters but both the Browns and Rams had better options available. Cleveland could have drafted Saquon Barkley, Quenton Nelson, or Bradley Chubb with the first pick in 2018. All three of which are considered more talented than Mayfield, when healthy. Then the Rams showed they regretted trading up for Goff in 2016 when they packaged him with two first-round picks to Detriot for Matthew Stafford. Los Angeles could have drafted Joey Bosa, Jalen Ramsey, Ronnie Stanley, DeForest Buckner, or Laremy Tunsil with the first overall pick. 

This draft class is shaping up to be similar to the latter where there may be multiple non-quarterback prospects who could end up being better than the quarterbacks in this class. Whoever lands the first overall pick may want to learn from the previous mistakes of those teams and take the best player available which is Thibodeaux.

Production

Kayvon Thibodeaux is the number one edge rusher in a loaded edge rusher class. He isn’t just the number one edge rusher prospect in the draft class like Jaelan Phillips, Bradley Chubb, or Dante Fowler Jr. Right now he is spoken about above the likes of Joey Bosa, Nick Bosa, and Chase Young who were elite pass rusher prospects in their respective drafts. Thibodeaux has been placed in the same tier as Jadeveon Clowney and Myles Garrett who were no doubt first overall picks in their respective draft class. He has been placed in that tier of player for good reason. 

During his first season at Oregon, Thibodeaux had 9 sacks and 14 tackles for loss. PFF gave him a 79.9 grade that season which was the best in the Pac-12 and ten points higher than any other freshman edge rusher in the Power Five. In seven games last season Thibodeaux had 3 sacks and 9.5 tackles for loss. Already this season Thibodeaux has a sack and forced fumble in one game played. He earned an 87.2 PFF grade for his sophomore season.

This is a player who has dominated college football over the last three seasons. Scouts have anticipated this season because Thibodeaux is now eligible for the draft. From what he has shown on the field, he is the type of player that scouts love the opportunity to analyze and potentially add to their roster. 

Multiple #1 pick contenders have a young quarterback

In a decent amount of cases when a team drafts a quarterback that team usually doesn’t improve dramatically from where they finished the season before. These are teams who selected quarterbacks early in recent drafts could be picking near the top of the draft and be in the range of this year’s top quarterbacks. These teams include the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Jets, and Cincinnati Bengals. They are a few teams who could be in range to select a quarterback in this upcoming draft but should be content enough with their quarterback play to not consider selecting another one early this year, especially in a potentially weak quarterback class. 

Other teams like the Philadelphia Eagles, Carolina Panthers, Detriot Lions, and Las Vegas Raiders have a great enough quarterback in house to pass on a quarterback. Also, the Houston Texans have shown in recent history that they are willing to take a pass rusher first overall went they have to choose between an elite one and a quarterback from a weak class (Mario Williams 2006 & Jadeveon Clowney 2014). Since they took Davis Mills in the third round it is likely they want to give him a shot to be the team’s potential QB1 before taking one in the first round. 

All of the teams listed could potentially land the first overall pick. If they land it they would likely have to choose between trading down to a quarterback-needy team or taking the draft’s best prospect Kayvon Thibodeaux.

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By: Brady Akins

In fantasy football, we crave players that can do it all.

Running backs who can catch passes, as well as, can run are valued much higher among experts than players who specialize in one. Wide receivers who get a high amount of targets better rank well in yards per target to be seen as a WR1. And of course, quarterbacks who run often and run well, are seen as must-start players.

The do-it-all focus is why we’ve seen players like Lamar Jackson, Kyler Murray, and Josh Allen emerge as some of the hottest players in all of fantasy football. They put up impressive passing stats, and oftentimes outpace their own running backs in rushing yards.

Four of 2020’s top six highest-scoring quarterbacks had at least 400 yards rushing, and with the next four players outside the top six adding at least three rushing touchdowns to their fantasy production, it might be fair to say that the trend of rushing quarterbacks isn’t going anywhere.

The latest team to pick up on the trend is the Philadelphia Eagles, who will head into the 2021 season with their second-round pick from last year’s draft looking ready to lead the team back to glory– Jalen Hurts.

Hurts, as a runner, finished ninth among quarterbacks in rushing yards, despite starting in only four games last season. On top of that, he added three rushing touchdowns in just a three-week span and used that rushing performance to finish seventh overall in fantasy points per game from the time he became the team’s starter to the end of the year.

Hurts’ fantasy production in that time was ahead of Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Deshaun Watson– and did so facing strong defenses as well, going up against the Saints, Cardinals, and Washington Football Team in three of his four starting appearances.

But the craziest thing about Hurts is that he might not even be a duel threat, at least not yet. One look at the Eagles’ quarterback’s box scores will show that he still struggles as a passer. Hurts managed only one game in that four-game period with more than one passing touchdown, finished the year with a 1:3 touchdown to interception ratio in his final two games, and has yet to start a game and finish with a completion percentage above 60%.

But there’s reason to believe Hurts can improve on his passing, all while maintaining his elite ability as a rusher. If he can make the leap from ”˜bad passer, good runner’ to at least above average in both, Hurts will have a legitimate case to be one of fantasy football’s best quarterbacks by the end of the 2021 season.

Help is on the way

With the 2020 season well in the rear-view mirror, it could be easy to forget that the Eagles’ pass-catchers last season were”¦ let’s say “sub-optimal.”

The Eagles didn’t have a single player on their roster finish the season with over 1,000 receiving yards. Or, for that matter, over 900 receiving yards. Or 800”¦ or 700.

In fact, Philadelphia’s leading receiver, a former sixth-round pick by the Detroit Lions, Travis Fulgham, didn’t even break the 600-yard mark with 539 yards in 13 appearances. 

But reinforcements should be arriving just in time to lead Hurts to a masterpiece season.

The best and the (metaphorically) biggest boost to the receiving corps will be the Alabama-rookie Devonta Smith, coming off of a Heisman-winning season where he led the FBS in essentially every statistical category you could imagine. On a loaded Crimson Tide offense, Smith’s skill stood out to the point where he became the first wide receiver to win the Heisman since 1991.

Smith is now in Philadelphia, joining the Eagles’ first-round draft pick from last year in Jalen Reagor– a player who struggled with injury through a chunk of 2020 but will be looking to bounce back from a down rookie campaign. Also looking to bounce back will be tight end Dallas Goedert, who, despite finishing with more yards, catches, and touchdowns than his tight end counterpart Zach Ertz, was out-snapped and out targeted by Ertz.

But now, with rumors swirling around Ertz’s unhappiness with the Eagles, Goedert’s door to becoming the full-time starter at the tight end might be open. Between him, the addition of a potential star in Smith, and the hopeful bounceback of Reagor, Hurts could have three talented pass-catchers at his disposal, enough to make a strong leap in his passing stats.

Now add that to Hurts’ rushing potential. The guy who, again, finished top ten among quarterbacks in rushing yards with only four starts. The guy who had three games with over 60 rushing yards, and one with over 100, all while playing quarterback. 

Hurts, without the exceptional numbers as a passer, still finished as the QB7 in his time as a starter. All the stars are aligning for that already impressive ranking to get much better in 2021– and you won’t want to miss out on it.

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By: Adam Hulse (@AdamHulseSports)

Gardner Minshew has officially been traded from the Jacksonville Jaguars to the Philadelphia Eagles in exchange for a conditional 6th round draft pick that could become a 5th rounder based on playing time. This news came very shortly after head coach Urban Meyer announced that first overall pick Trevor Lawrence would be the day one starter for the Jags. There was apparently a “quarterback competition” in camp but let’s be honest, it was always going to be Lawrence named as the starter. He is a generational talent that has been labeled “the best QB prospect of all time” by several professional scouts.

The official announcement is what made Minshew available via trade and the Eagles organization did not waste much time in acquiring him. In a corresponding move, third-string QB Nick Mullens was released from the team. Minshew will now likely serve as the backup to starter Jalen Hurts entering the 2021 NFL season but his role could actually mean more than just that. He has proven to be a capable player and has the ability to push Hurts and serve as an alternative option if things don’t work out as planned.

Gardner Minshew: Exceeding Expectations

Though his two seasons with the Jaguars were not great, Minshew demonstrated that he is a capable quarterback at the NFL level. In 23 total games played, he completed 63 percent of his passes for 5530 yards and 37 touchdowns with just 11 interceptions. While these numbers are mediocre, it’s fairly impressive considering the circumstances. He was only a 6th round draft pick out of Washington State and was considered more of a development project at best. He far exceeded those initial expectations and did it on a team with very little offensive talent surrounding him. Furthermore, he lacks the overall athleticism and arm talent of a typical NFL quarterback so it’s encouraging that he was able to overcome that and still find success.

Expected Role with the Eagles

Considering the very low price tag that the Eagles gave up to get him, this trade makes perfect sense for them. He is a safer option than anything they could draft in the 5th or 6th round because he has already proven that he can play at the professional level. The only other quarterback on the roster, besides Hurts, is Joe Flacco. His best days are long behind him and probably are never coming back considering he is already 36 years old. With the Eagles being a rebuilding team right now, Minshew makes a ton more sense than Flacco does as a back up. If the Hurts plan does not work out the way they want it too, they now have a realistic second option in Minshew.

This concept can also provide extra motivation for Hurts now that he knows there is a true backup on the roster behind him instead of just a roster filler and emergency replacement like Flacco. Hurts was decent last season, but he will have to progress as a player this year to gain the confidence from the Eagles organization that he is their long-term solution at quarterback. Last year in his rookie campaign, Hurts eventually took over the starting job from the disaster that was Carson Wentz. Hurts started the final four games of the season but appeared in 15 games total, completing 52 percent of his passes for 1061 yards and six touchdowns against four interceptions.

Based on passing statistics alone, Minshew actually has a much better track record so far. Granted it’s an extremely small sample size for Hurts, but that is definitely something to keep an eye on. Hurts will have to improve his passing numbers this season to show that he can be a starting quarterback moving forward. The thing that Hurts brings to the table that Minshew lacks is athleticism and in particular the ability to contribute in the rushing game. Hurts recorded 63 rushing attempts for 354 yards and three touchdowns last season in his limited role with the team and are expected to be a part of the rushing attack this season by design. In conclusion, Hurts will definitely begin the season as the starting quarterback, but the Eagles now have a “real backup plan” if he does not develop his passing game the way they hope he will.

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By: Andy Davies

Plenty of uncertainty surrounds the Detroit Lions, Philadelphia Eagles, and Houston Texans going into the 2021 season. Their quarterback situations are far from clear and their overall rosters are mediocre at best.

The same goes for their head coaches, with all three going into their first seasons at the franchise. Neither of Dan Campbell, Nick Sirianni, or David Culley has been a full-time head coach in the NFL. Campbell is the only one to have some experience, with his spell as interim head coach of the Miami Dolphins in 2015.

Here is why you should be expecting the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the three worst records in the league in 2021.

Saying Goodbye To A Franchise Legend In Detroit. Struggles For The Replacement

Matthew Stafford was the number one overall pick in 2009, with the entire city of Detroit hoping he would be the man to turn around the fortunes of the franchise. Despite three seasons of making the playoffs, the Lions and Stafford never won a single postseason game as the wait continues. The Lions remain the team with the second-longest period without a playoff win, their last taking place on January 5th, 1992.

Stafford had some great individual moments as a Lion, most notably his Mic’d up moment during his 2009 rookie season. In a week eleven game against the Cleveland Browns, he overcame injury to produce a moment of pure heroism. He played with a separated shoulder despite the efforts of the medical staff to keep him off the field, leading the Lions to a touchdown-winning drive.

Jim Caldwell guided the Lions to these playoff appearances but was not seen as good enough to take them to the next step. New England Patriots assistant head coach Matt Patricia was brought in but never took to life as head coach. The Lions had three consecutive losing seasons under the coaching of Patricia. They will hope that they have found their guy in Dan Campbell. His press conference was certainly not dull, with Campbell referring to “biting kneecaps”. As a former Lions player, he knows what it takes to play in the league. He also knows about the city of Detroit and his intentions are both positive and clear. If he is given time, he has the desire to bring the good times back to Detroit. However, he is inexperienced as a head coach and the roster is below average.

New quarterback Jared Goff has the potential to struggle. This is despite the drafting of offensive lineman Penei Sewell at seventh overall, a selection that had Campbell and new General Manager Brad Holmes very excited.

Despite his brilliant 2018 season that saw the Rams reach Super Bowl 53, Goff had a poor game and struggled in 2020 as he and head coach Sean McVay’s relationship deteriorated.

Goff struggled despite a plethora of offensive talent around him. Robert Woods and Cooper Kupp form one of the best wide receiver duos in the NFL. He is going to a franchise that let go of their two best wide receivers and failed to replace them.

The Lions have a schedule that features the San Francisco 49ers, Baltimore Ravens, Cincinnati Bengals, Los Angeles Rams, Pittsburgh Steelers, Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Cleveland Browns. There are also two games against their division rivals, the Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, and Chicago Bears. The Lions do not have it easy.

Prediction: 3-14

Trouble In Philadelphia; Reason For Hope?

The Eagles have seen three years of gradual decline after winning Super Bowl 52. The 2017 season saw the Eagles lift the Lombardi Trophy for the first time after two previous attempts.

Doug Pederson was the head coach to guide the Eagles to a Super Bowl but was fired after the conclusion of the 2020 season. His decision to bench rookie quarterback Jalen Hurts in order to lose and gain a higher draft pick appeared to be the final nail in the coffin.

Carson Wentz had an MVP caliber season before an injury derailed hopes of winning the award. Backup Nick Foles stepped in and guided the Eagles to the Super Bowl 52 win. He also stepped in a year later and guided the Eagles to a shock Wildcard Round win against the Chicago Bears, with thanks also going to a Cody Parkey missed field goal.

Both Foles and Wentz are no longer Eagles players. Out of the starters in that Super Bowl 52 win, only seven remain with the franchise. Their decision to draft Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson continues to be mocked by rival fans and nobody knows how new head coach Nick Sirianni will do in the role.

The schedule is mixed for Philadelphia. Whilst they face the New York Jets, Lions, and twice play the New York Giants, they also have to face the Atlanta Falcons, Carolina Panthers, Tampa Bay Buccaneers, San Francisco 49ers and the Kansas City Chiefs.. This is as well as facing a rising Washington Football Team twice as well as playing the Dallas Cowboys both home and away.

Reports have surfaced in recent days of the Philadelphia Eagles being the favourites for Deshaun, with talks said to be “heating up”.

This could be a move that transforms the franchise. However, Deshaun Watson had his best statistical season yet the Texans only managed four wins all year. This proves that whilst it is very important to have a good quarterback, you need more around to be successful.

Unless the Eagles do something in what remains of the offseason, they will continue to be mediocre if their roster continues to be this poor. If they get offensive or defensive talent in the next one or two offseasons, then they are a team that will compete for years to come. Otherwise, the Eagles will fail to be a threat to both the NFC and NFC East.

This is why Deshaun should avoid the Eagles at this present time. He will be going into a situation no different to what he experienced in Houston.

Prediction: 4-13

What A Difference A Year Makes

Where do we start with the Houston Texans? The 2019 season saw them take a 24-0 lead against the Chiefs in the Divisional Round. However, they allowed 41 unanswered points as they lost 51-31. What has unfolded since in the following nineteen months has been reminiscent of a Greek tragedy.

Head coach Bill O’Brien, who also was general manager, made the unusual decision to trade star wide receiver, Deandre Hopkins. In exchange, the Texans received a running back past his sell-by date in David Johnson, one second-rounder and one fourth-round pick. O’Brien only lasted four games in the 2020 season as they finished the campaign with just four wins.

Since the conclusion of the 2020 season, franchise legend J.J Watt has left and there continues to be an uncertain future surrounding quarterback Deshaun Watson. Houston’s quarterback requested a trade in January before allegations of sexual assault arose. These have lingered throughout the remainder of the offseason. It is unclear if Watson will play in the NFL at all in 2021 but even if he does, it is unlikely that he will be wearing a Texans jersey.

Houston has said they would listen to trade offers for Watson, with the franchise said to be wanting three first-round picks. They have also acquired Tyrod Taylor via Free Agency and used their first pick in the draft on Davis Mills in the third round. Even if the Eagles stick with Hurts, there will be plenty of other suitors.

Even with Watson, the Texans are light on the ground when it comes to elite talent. Linebacker Zach Cunningham and Laremy Tunsil are talents and despite adding Phillip Lindsay and Mark Ingram to the running back room, the roster is one of the league’s worst.

David Culley has developed somewhat of a worrying reputation after his time with the Eagles, Chiefs, and Baltimore Ravens. During his fourteen-season spell with the Eagles, his four seasons with the Chiefs, and two years with the Ravens, he had 0 wide receivers earn a PFF grade of 80 or above.

The Chiefs wideouts went an entire season without a touchdown under Culley. With a wide receiver room featuring Brandin Cooks, Nico Collins and Anthony Miller, this is not exactly a position of strength for the Texans. Culley is unlikely to see any of these receivers score high PFF grades.

Whilst the Texans might be playing the Jacksonville Jaguars twice and the Jets, they have a tough schedule. They will face the Cleveland Browns, Buffalo Bills, Arizona Cardinals, Los Angeles Rams, Miami Dolphins and Seattle Seahawks. Houston will also play the Los Angeles Chargers and the San Francisco 49ers as well as the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans twice.

They are unlikely to win many of these games. Fans should be expecting a difficult season.

Prediction: 2-15

The post Expect the Lions, Eagles, and Texans to have the worst records in 2021 appeared first on Pro Football Mania.

Jacob Keppen

Davion Taylor

Heading into the 2021 NFL Season, former 3rd round pick Davion Taylor was just an afterthought to many fans, he was a name many were actively trying to forget. The Colorado linebacker was one of the most scrutinized picks in the whole draft, with many viewing Taylor as a day three project. While the athletic upside was intriguing, Taylor running a 4.49 40 yard dash, Taylor had a ways to go as a football player. 

Taylor was a player who never participated in football until he was 18 years old. The instincts and overall feel for the game had not been developed over time, and many doubted whether or not they ever would. Those fears were given credence when Taylor only managed to see the field for 32 snaps in his rookie year. With the emergence of Alex Singleton last year and the addition of former Viking Eric Wilson, not many outside of the organization gave much thought to the Eagles 3rd round pick.

Early on into training camp, Taylor has seen an increase in playtime under new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon. With the work he put in during his 2nd offseason, Taylor has impressed the Eagles coaching staff enough to give him a majority of starting reps in camp. Gannon has stated that Taylor looks “A lot more comfortable” during camp. With his athleticism and untapped potential, it will be interesting to see if Gannon and the Eagles staff can have a real player in Davion Taylor moving forward.

Jordan Mailata

The battle for left tackle was one of the biggest storylines heading into Eagles training camp. On one side you have Andre Dillard, a player the Eagles liked enough to trade up for to take in the 1st round of the 2019 NFL Draft. Dillard has not played much, struggling in limited reps in the 2019 season, and missing all of 2020 with an injury. His foe is a man very few expected to be in this position. 

Jordan Mailata wasn’t a highly touted prospect like Dillard. He didn’t anchor the left side of a line in college football like Dillard at Washington State. Mailata was a rugby player who decided to convert to offensive tackle. A true physical specimen, Mailata was intriguing enough for the Eagles to take a shot on him in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. It was a cool story for camp, the former rugby player attempting to make a roster in the NFL”¦ but it became clear that Mailata could play. The growth Mailata took over two years on the Eagles after never playing a snap of organized football before was nothing short of a miracle, a miracle culminating in solid play in replacement of Jason Peters in the 2020 season. A cool story was starting to become a cool reality, only if he could earn his starting spot. 

Early on in training camp, Mailata has pretty easily been the better player of the two. Against one of the best pass-rushing defenses in the league, Mailata has been able to hold his own, using his impressive size and mobility to neutralize guys such as Josh Sweat and Derek Barnett. Dillard on the other hand has struggled as a whole through four days of training camp. With the gap starting to widen with every practice, will Mailata do enough to earn the starting nod despite the two players’ respective draft positions?

Derek Barnett and Josh Sweat

It’s a bit of a cop out to list both players, but the two defensive ends have both boosted their stocks so far in training camp. Philly fans have been waiting a while for the Derek Barnett breakout, and while it hasn’t necessarily come on the statsheet yet, the former first-round pick from Tennessee has become a very solid overall defensive end. 

He’s trying to thwart off rising edge rusher Josh Sweat, a former fourth-round pick with a knack for getting into the backfield. The talent has always been there for Sweat, a former top college recruit, but staying healthy enough to show it has been the problem for the former Florida State Seminole. After a very good season that saw Sweat get to the quarterback more times than Barnett despite starting fewer games, a good camp could earn Sweat the starting spot.
So who’s outperformed the other to earn the starting spot in training camp? Honestly, neither! Both Sweat and Barnett have performed well in camp, giving the Eagles offensive tackles all that they can handle. ESPN Eagles Beat Reporter Tim McManus reported that defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon views both as starters. It appears that opposing teams will have to worry about a high-quality pass rusher on every single down when they play Philadelphia this season.

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By: Jake Rajala

The Philadelphia Eagles are strongly considering acquiring Houston Texans star dusted, controversial Deshaun Watson. According to Howard Eskin, who is a sports reporter in Philadelphia, he believes there is a 90% chance Philly reels in the elite Texans QB. There is clearly an ascending belief around Eagles nation that the fit makes too much sense and a deal will most likely be put in place for Nick Sirianni to snag his targeted QB. 

In terms of Watson’s outlook, the QB who is under lots of uncertainty believes there is a “good chance” he suits up in 2021. If a deal is established between Eagles nation and Watson, then Watson proceeds to play in 2021, the question begs to ask: What would the Eagles team look like next season under the new signal-caller? 

The former Eagles team led by Doug Pederson finished dead last in the NFC East a year ago. If Watson is in the building with the new leader Nick Sirianni, it would be at least a three to five game winning difference in 2021. With a generational talent like himself, it is enjoyable and possible to imagine a deep playoff run, but it really would put themselves with a fine, noticeable, yet not an unearthly improvement.

They should boast an extraordinarily strong chance of claiming at least 7 to 9 wins with Watson under the helm. It may not be a superior juggernaut team in the NFC, but they would at least be able to compete for the East title down to the wire. The Washington Football Team under Ryan Fitzpatrick at QB appear as the clear favorites to capture NFC East prominence for the second year in a row, but Watson’s mobility against the fiery Washington pass rush rotation in a head-to-head matchup (Eagles play Washington Week 15 and Week 17) is sure to be a serious a clear x-factor.

The Eagles and Washington are clearly different teams, under new coaching staffs, with a new attitude, but the Eagles did put up a serious fight against Washington in Week 17 of last season. Even with the unpopular benching of Jalen Hurts, the Eagles lost to the WFT by a score of 20-14. The Eagles would have slightly different tweaks around the roster, but a sizable improvement at QB. Meanwhile, the Washington team will still have an average ranked QB in Fitzmagic with largely the same team.

Throughout the season, If the Eagles defense plays average at least, it should be enough for Watson to get enough victories with his utmost prominent playmaking ability himself. Some may question why Watson could carry the hopeful Eagles if he could not bring the Texans to playoff royalty with an MVP-like season, he flexed in 2020. Well, the Texans defense didn’t just do a poor job at complementing Watson, they did a flat-out horrific job. The Eagles total defense was 19^th in the total YPG allowed, while the Texans defensive unit was 30^th in the league. The Texans just gave up three fewer yards than the 32^nd ranked Lions defense that played Aaron Rodgers twice a season.

It is also important to note that the Texans had two teams in their own division that made the playoffs: Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. The Texans flashed a combined 0-4 record against those opponents. In the East, there was not a true playoff-like talent, but rather a team that won the “least” NFL division with six wins. The rule that every division must send a team to the playoff dance is certainly questionable, especially during NFL seasons like last year.

On the horizon, Watson has been working relentlessly this offseason, as the former Clemson star has a massive chip on his shoulder. If he heads up north, he should have very strong weaponry to utilize. The Eagles currently possess the top TE duo in the league (Zach Ertz, Dallas Goedert), a young talented wideout in Jalen Reagor, and all of this explosion will be taking place behind an offensive line led by the well reputable Lane Johnson, a unit that could be stout if it can stay healthy. Expect Watson to show another elite season of play with a more talented supporting cast, amid a weaker division.

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