Moves and Maybe Moves
Posted: May 8th, 2017 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 162 Comments »Some interesting nuggets out there today.
Source: former Oklahoma DT Charles Walker is signing with the Eagles. Talented dude who gets a shot in Philly.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) May 8, 2017
Very interesting. I wasn’t sure what to make of this kid before the draft. He has serious talent. His highlight moments are good. But he’s been inconsistent and had a slew of injuries, including 3 concussions. He only played 4 games this year. After a concussion vs TCU, he decided to sit out the rest of the season. Concussions aren’t anything to be taken lightly so you can understand his thinking.
Walker has solid size at 6-2, 310. He had some good numbers at the Combine (4.96 in the 40 and 25 reps), but didn’t do as well in the agility tests as I would have anticipated. He certainly looks like an agile big man when you watch the tape.
DT Charles Walker.. Immediately notices his hands usage/eye level.
Can bench press space for himself, but also show awareness vs cuts.. pic.twitter.com/uvhfsJx7Wr
— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) March 29, 2017
Charles Walker (@C_Walk97; #Sooners) 2017 NFL Draft profile #SacksAndStats pic.twitter.com/Q4BgV89gJQ
— DLineVids (@DLineVids) April 21, 2017
Charles Walker can split a double team before you even blink an eye #Oklahoma pic.twitter.com/HEW46lFgDa
— Daniel Parlegreco (@DTPDraftScout) November 17, 2016
Walker is a natural fit in the Eagles scheme. Looks like OU had him playing DE and DT and doing a variety of things (attacking and reading plays). Jim Schwartz will turn him loose and let him attack up the field. Walker had 6 sacks as a Soph. and you know Schwartz loves DL who can get to the QB. From a fit perspective, this can work.
The coaches have to get Walker to play all out, all the time. They also have to hope he stays healthy. The talent is there, but DL with his ability don’t go undrafted unless there are serious questions.
*****
Did you hear this?
Just reported on @gmfb: #Saints star C Max Unger has suffered a foot injury and is expected to miss the start of the 2017 season, source say
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) May 8, 2017
So the Saints might need help at C? Hmmmm…
Their backup C is Jack Allen, a UDFA from last year. I have no idea how he played last summer or what the Saints think of him. For a team that is desperate to get back to winning (3 straight 7-9 seasons), the Saints might feel like they have to make a move.
Little birdie: Eagles and Saints had conversation about trading Kelce for Ingram.
— Kyle Scott (@CrossingBroad) May 8, 2017
https://twitter.com/PatrickMCausey/status/861650416630738945
The Eagles could use a RB. The Saints could use OL help. Wonder if they might work something out.
The Saints signed Adrian Peterson in free agency and drafted Alvin Kamara so they have flexibility with their backfield. Ingram has some size and is coming off his best NFL season so you could easily see where the Eagles would be interested.
I would love an Eagles RB group of Mark Ingram, Darren Sproles, Wendell Smallwood and Donnel Pumphrey. Ingram and Sproles would be a heck of a 1-2 punch. Smallwood showed good potential last year, but we don’t know just how good he can be. Pumphrey would have his rookie season to adjust to the league and the coaches could mix him in slowly. The coaches could be very situational with a solid group of runners.
RT ChatSports: Mark Ingram finds the end zone and strikes the #Heisman pose! #WhoDat #Saints50 #TBvsNO pic.twitter.com/uDb4XB0ARd
— Seahawks Fan (@centurylinkfiel) December 24, 2016
This move would seem to make sense for both sides.
We’ll see what happens.
_
why would they trade for kelce if unger will come back during the season?
Because they don’t want both Brees and their playoff hopes dead at the hands of an UDFA by the time he returns.
Yeah idk, if unger is coming back at week 6, they will have two very expensive centers.
i think they may want whiz.. he can play OG too, so he can do other things, kelce is just a C.
so whiz and a 4th for ingram? id do it
Not giving up draft picks for a mediocre RB on a veteran contract.
he isnt mediocre, hes a legit RB. great fit for our offense. exactly what we need
Similar cap hit to Kelce, but a litttle less. Only 2 yr left on contract. Expires before Wentz up for a new deal. And we have three 4ths next year…
As we’ve seen with the lying ass 76ers; foot injuries sometimes take longer to heal than the team indicates. Maybe Unger is done for the year, but they don’t want to let other teams know for leverage reasons.
well their actions will prove whats going on, if they need a starting C for an entire year, thell make a trade for one, if not, they wont.
i see them wanting whiz more than kelce as of right now, since if unger comes back whiz can fill in at other positions, kelce cant do that.
You seem to be entirely discounting the fact that they have an AGING HOF quality QB and 6 games might very well be close to 50% of what they have left in him – and therefore any franchise window for significant success in the next 10 years.
That’s a HUG different frame of mind from say how our team is constructed right now.
saints said they expect unger back real soon
C wont make or break them this year
Got you. Always trust teams when they report injury timelines. They are consistently truthful an accurate.
(warning, the above statement may or may not contain sarcasm)
Saints said Cooks won’t be traded too.
C could ABSOLUTELY make or break them this year. For you to say otherwise with confidence right now is a joke.
Dontari Poe, Gerald McCoy, and Star Lotulelei will all get to face the Saints interior oline 2x next year.
No worries, per Charlie, the Saints have that covered.
Yeah, though to be honest… I’m not sure if Kelce is the right man for that job either. Love the guy, but that’s like a who’s who list of murderous big body DTs.
cooks situation didnt involve filling a position because of injury
but hey I HOPE eagles can get ingram.
The Saints don’t need other positions filled. They’ve got a ton of resources tied up in their G’s.
yeah but makes more sense than having kelce and unger coming back and having them both
Sounds like a lot of Walker’s issues were related to clinical depression. They appear to be thinking that some of the concussion symptoms were related to that as well. He’s on meds now and says that he’s doing much better. I LOVE this move. Depression can be devastating but once it’s treated he could be a monster again.
Hopefully he’s willing to engage with the unbelievable level of medical care available to him as an NFL football player and play to his ability level. I’m sure most college “medical” staffs aren’t up to par for treating depression, but I’m not interested in any Shawn Andrews type excuses when that level of treatment is available for Walker as an NFL player.
I think you have it a bit backwards. The concussions themselves can CREATE or greatly exacerbate clinical depression, not the other way around.
I’m very excited for this guy to and would love for him to pan out for us. But as a human being, I’d probably rather he never plays football again. Especially with a kid.
Anxiety and depression usually go hand in hand- he’ll have an advocate on the team in Brooks if he so chooses to utilize it.
Without hesitation.
Far better RBs than Smallwood have never been able to get off the bench here. He needs to stay there.
Uh…?
No, he needs to progress and develop.
I want Ingram, Hill, Hyde, Asiata, whoever …just as much as the next guy.
But why the Smallwood hate? He has potential and needs to learn and develop… but why the hate?
I don’t understand the hate either. I thought he looked pretty good last year. A bell cow RB? I don’t think so. Worthless NFL talent? Hardly.
Mike always needs a whipping boy on the team, maybe he’s homing in on Wendell, that abomination who disgraces the uniform every time he steps on the field.
Are Media Mike and TumTum alter egos?
No 🙁
I figured as much. Who was Cho talking about? Is your name Mike?
Media Mike
Figured
He meant Media Mike. Though my distaste for Smallwood cant compare to his for Barner.
I’m still at a loss how I got lumped into that out of the blue however. I start enough of my own junk……and I happen to think Smallwood is solid enough to be in rotation with some other guys to see how he develops.
Hanging out with the wrong crowd.
MM is a pretty distinct character 🙂
Indeed. Ha. Anyone who’s real life is being Kenjon Barner, and his online persona is a Kenjon Barner hater, is um… well you said it right… mmm distinct.
Huh?
Et tu Kenjon?
That would be something else. Keyzer Soze level.
Well played. Good reference.
It would have been Byron Marshall but now he’s labelled as a WR.
False. Marshall was never kept on the roster over better players in his position group, so he doesn’t make himself into a target.
Current persons of interest are; Gerry, Kelce, Kendricks, Barbre, Jaylin Watkins, DGB, Agholor, and Vinny Curry.
Watch list – Ertz, Sturgis, and J Matt.
Who’s Mike?
Keep my name out Cho mouth; what have I said about Smallwood? And the comment that started the Smallwood debate was from Tumtum.
The Asiata part was a joke right?
Nope. If no Blount, or the others I listed, I’d rather him than Clement.
I can say I would probably rather have Smallwood than Asiata. Not endorsing Smallwood with that statement either.
I’d rather have both.
I hope so. If you need a yard, Asiata can give you a yard. If you need three yards, Asiata can give you a yard.
Exactly.
I just haven’t seen anything that leaves me wanting more.
Fair enough. I have. Not saying he’s spectacular, elite, or anything like that. But I think he has “Buckhatler potential”. And to me, that doesn’t belong on the bench.
I would be estatic with Buckhalter level of play.
I’d love to see this amazing list of RBs who couldn’t get off the bench. How would you know they’re any good? I mean, in the last 10 years of guys who mostly rode the pine, we’re talking about Polk, Brown, and Dion Lewis. Lewis is the only one who has done anything, and it’s clear that NE really treats RBs like a commodity. He may never get another carry.
Since you were able to answer your own question not sure how I am supposed to reply.
Re: Kelce for Ingram trade
The Canal Street Chronicles on SB Nation ain’t buying it:
“Jason Kelce,
Philadelphia Eagles: Goofy Philadelphia sports media types started
speculating on this trade the second Unger’s injury was reported. For
some reason, they – and national observers – think that Mark Ingram, he who matched Dallas Cowboys
rookie sensation Ezekiel Elliot in yards-per-carry last year, is on the
trading block. That bad take is born of ignorance about how the Saints
use their running backs and confusion as to how Ingram can coexist with
Kamara and Adrian Peterson,
but that’s neither here nor there. For what it’s worth, Eagles team
brass had the same notion and approached the Saints about an
Ingram-for-Kelce trade, per Kyle Scott of CrossingBoard.com
(I don’t think it’s worth much). Kelce, 30-years old this December,
had a rough 2016, playing better down the stretch, but he’s not someone
the Saints should exchange any valuable assets for. If the Eagles want a
late-round draft pick or Travaris Cadet, the Saints should pull the trigger.”
Ha, what a laughable article, really. Kelce is a pro bowl center, and in this scenario his age is completely irrelevant. The saints traded up to get Kamara even after they signed Peterson which clearly demonstrates that they are not looking at Ingram as a reliable workhorse, which makes sense since he has been injured pretty much every year of his career except for the last one. In terms of money, Kelce looks cheap compared to Ingram and what RBs are paid around the league. And finally, Travaris Cadet? Seriously? Trading a starting center to a desperate team for Travaris freaking Cadet? What a joke.
While I agree that’s a bit overly dismissive from the Saints folks, I can’t disagree with “Kelce, 30-years old this December,
had a rough 2016, playing better down the stretch, but he’s not someone
the Saints should exchange any valuable assets for.” Kelce really hasn’t played strong football for a full season in quite while and the Saints know we’d rather start Seumalo there. Where I’d disagree with the Saints is that Ingram is a valuable asset, as RBs are NOT valuable and they didn’t bring in Peterson and Kamara to have them sit behind Ingram.
And for the record, I’m content with a wide range of returns for Kelce to get his dead end contract off the books for as little dead money as possible.
Yea. I didnt really mean to prop up Kelce, but he is also not terrible. Lets call him an average center with a lot of experience who is currently perfectly healthy and has at least a few years left. Regardess, I just dont think that Ingram is worth much in a trade. You can pick up RBs everywhere, you can get by with a committee if you dont have a stud, you can sign them cheap (like Peterson on a cheap deal) and you can plug them into the offense without much practice. Centers are different. You need to have a smart one who knows the playbook in and out, who studies tape of the other team and has complete trust and collaboration with your QB. These journalists are delusional if they think that trading one of their committee RBs on a veteran deal is going to net them a starting center PLUS draft capital. Bonkers.
Yes, that’s a bit cheeky from those folks. And the Saints must have really low-balled Nick Mangold for them to even be in the C trade market rather than just signing Mangold.
He might be done though. Was cut by the Jets. I mean.. The Jets. There is probably a reason he is still out there.
That’s certainly a possibility.
And O Linemen are much more valuable than Rbs. Ingram’s had one good year, big deal. This article is insipid
It comes down to supply and demand maybe. Is Ingram more valuable than Kelce in a vaccume? Sure. In this isnstance maybe not.
TBH i would like to have cadet on thia team too. Not sure at the expense of Kelce, but I would learn to live with it.
I’m confused. The Saints run a pass first offense centered around Drew Brees. They ran the ball on only 37% of their offensive snaps last year, which ranked 30th in the league. Their backup last year only received around 8 rushes per game and about 1.5 passes per game. They just paid Adrian Peterson $3.5M guaranteed to presumably be at least a key back in their running back by committee backfield or possibly even the lead back. Then in true win now mode they traded away next years second round pick to select Kamara in the third round. Clearly they plan on getting him touches as well. After averaging about 25 rushing attempts per game over the last few years, they’re paying Ingram $5.35M this year to split around 400 rushes next season (25 per game) with two other backs that they just recently spent significant resources to obtain.
If Peterson gets 8-10 and Kamara gets 4-5, that means they’re happy with paying Mark Ingram as the 9th highest paid running back in the league to carry the ball 10-12 times per game. And, yet apparently we are all ignorant to the magic formula the Saints use in regard to their running backs that makes dumping all these resources into the position despite limited rushing opportunities make sense?
I’m not saying that the Saints are drooling over having an undersized center get bull rushed into their 5’11” QB this season, but for a team that is clearly in win now mode who just lost their starting center and seemingly has a plethora of RBs I don’t think it’s such an ignorant proposition to warrant such condescension from whoever wrote that article.
I’d love for the author to enlighten us all with how the Saints do use their running backs and show us how they all coexist in a way that makes sense with regards to all the resources put into the position recently past just stating that we’re ignorant for not knowing and saying any further explanation is neither here nor there.
Moving Ingram only saves them 3.6 mill. At that price they keep him unless a good offer comes along.
On the one hand, we Eagles fans may be overestimating Kelce’s worth. On the other, like you say, if there is some mystical process by which the Saints deploy their running backs, the likes of which we have neither heard nor seen before, it might be useful to try and explain it. How could we possibly understand how a pass happy coach might deploy a stable of running backs? This sounds so alien that my fingers are having a hard time even typing this response.
TL,DR:
I agree with you that the NOLA author was basically full of shit.
The man makes a good point… the the coaches there have never seemed to love ingram.
Im all over the place with this one!
Haha. Those goofy NOLA sports media types…
It’s not anymore stupid than the people who overrate our players on here. – “We can just give them all of our UDFAs, Kelce, and a conditional 7th for Deandre Hopkins. It’s a good deal because I don’t understand math or value!”
This is like every WIP caller ever, and who proceed to say they don’t understand why Howie doesn’t pull the trigger.
“Our third string player better bring a 4th round pick instead of getting cut or Howie’s a bum!”
I like the dual logic of “Kelce sucks and I want him out of here” and “Howie should trade Kelce for a good player and/or a good draft pick.”
Exactly what I was going to post….always love that illogical duality too.
Our main goal is developing Wentz. Kelce is a better option to help him develop than an unproven and inexperienced Seumalo or proven mediocrity in Wiz. Thats what it boils down to for me. Hold onto Kelce one more season – that helps Wentz, helps Seumalo develop as an OL and gives the Eagles another chance next off-season to dangle Kelce for hopefully better value than now.
I agree. I am not against dealing Kelce if they get good value and they think Seumalo if ready (mentally and physically) to start at center. But, i am fine keeping him for another year. He is by all accounts very good with the mental stuff required for the position and a good veteran presence for Wentz.
I would really like to see Seu lock down a guard spot anyway. Trading Kelce could be the equivilent of JJ Hardy forcing Manny to olay 3rd.
That one guy from Appalachian State is the real deal though!
One moderately useful resource for one moderately useful resource. It really isn’t a lot more complicated than that.
Neither one of these players is going to make the other team suddenly amazing. And neither team really needs the player in question.
“Obviously Peterson and Ingram will be battling for the fullback spot like how dumb can you iggles fans be” – Aints fans
I mean…. this seems so much more logical.
Charles Walker Path to the Pros
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bGXepXZHZ0I
Sounds like we need to help get his family a nice place in the area.
There’s some affordable property in Kensington….
Beach front property in Arizona is worth more than all of Kensington combined.
In all seriousness, if I had $100k to invest, I’d buy as much property as possible in Kensington. Hold on to for 10 years until the developers get that far up, and profit. Considering houses can be had for like $6k down there…
Yup, most of my family works in real estate and they’ve been saying the same thing when it started being gentrified. Some crazy group has been vandalizing the gentrified spots so Kensington is still Kensington at this point.
Way too early to cash out on that one anyway. Property value can only go up there.
If you did the same in SE DC 5-10 years ago you would have gotten 5x your money without ever touching the place.
Oh, I’m aware. That’s more or less where I’m hoping to eventually live, or was, until I saw the price tag.
There are still some reasonable spots im told. Come out by the water near Annapolis. We can enjoy Eagles games and beautiful sunsets at a Bayside bar
Great video. Seems like a high upside player if he can put things together.
Yeah, these are the ideal guys on which to roll the dice: high upside, solid character, some personal baggage to overcome.
Failure isnt an option. I love it.
couldn’t the Saints just sign Nick Mangold who is a free agent? That would be a better stop gap move than trading for Kelce.
that would make more sense, also has the size they like. They tend to have big guys in the interior, can’t have the interior bend much when you have a short QB.
Gibson went to the same High School as the Kelce brothers.
http://www.pennlive.com/philadelphiaeagles/index.ssf/2017/05/how_philadelphia_eagles_shelto.html#incart_river_index
Love to see a Kelce for Ingram trade but it doesn’t make much sense from the Saints’ perspective. Really addresses a need and comes in to take Mathews role.
Ingram really is perfect for the Mathews role: exceptionally physically gifted 1st round running back who rarely plays an entire season.
I took some flack for my take on their RB situation. Not even seeking a ‘bell cow’ or that upset that they didn’t trade up to draft Cook.
It is just that the current group is underwhelming and even a downgrade from last season when they had real issues due to injury.
If they are going to use Smallwood and Sproles carrying the ball on a regular basis, hard not to see one (if not both) of them getting hurt at some point.
If you Mathews and Ingram together, you might get a healthy RB!
but can he fumble in key situations?
Probably better and more durable than RM at that.
This is a tough read on Jaylon Smith.
http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/sports/profootballdoc/sd-sp-pfd-jaylon-smith-cowboys-nerve-update-minicamp-20170509-story.html
It sucks that he might never be the same, but I do find a small shred of joy that that he will never play for the Cowboys. At least the kid will be getting all that sweet,sweet guaranteed money for his trouble.
Agreed- his professional career was over before it began.
He makes a good case for not playing in bowl games for your school; same with Butt from Michigan, though it seems like he’ll make a full recovery. But as we saw from our own Eagles experience (Ingram from Florida) not everyone recovers from ACL injuries.
I believe Smith had a massive insurance policy covering loss of income due to injury- at least he’ll be able to collect on that asset. He literally lost millions in one fraction of a second.
Agree that college football, the universities and the ncaa suck for this very reason .. whatever whoever in academia thinks “but at least he had his education ” shud have their face punched in …. oooooh who’s going to do that tough guy on an intranet net chat ??
He does have Notre Dame written on his degree- that holds value. Add in the money he received from the insurance and his contract with Dallas, and he should live a comfortable life going forward.
Not sure that unfinished degree in “Film, Arts, and Theatre” is gonna do a ton
Why not? Who doesn’t love movies?
I think with willos mcgahee it was insurance 5M or contract… once he accepted nfl money the insurance money not paid.
I hope he gets both but i don’t think so.
If I remember correctly, it was based on loss of draft value; that is, if he fell out of the first round, he got “X” amount of dollars. Second round, more “X” amount of dollars…….. and so on.
Found this from ESPN–
Smith would be able to collect up to the full $5 million, which is tax free because he paid for his own policy with taxed money, and still play.
If he didn’t fall far enough to collect the full $5 million, Smith would be able to get the difference, up to $5 million, if he could never play again. Under the policy, Smith would get four regular-season games to try to play before he would have to make the call as to whether he felt he was fit to continue.
Insurers who cover these players rely on the players wanting to play.
Last year, Oregon’s Ifo Ekpre-Olomu collected his full $3 million in loss-of-value insurance. A projected first-round draft pick, Olomu fell to the seventh round after sustaining a knee injury. It was the largest loss-of-value policy ever collected.
Smith could collect more than that if he slips into the bottom half of the second round.
http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/15388893/2016-nfl-draft-prospect-jaylon-smith-collect-5-million-insurance-policy
And an updated article from CBS Sports just a few months ago– http://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/jaylon-smiths-insurance-payout-could-lead-to-more-players-skipping-bowl-games/
The relatively new loss of value policy protects a player if his draft stock plummets due to injury. Smith tore his ACL and MCL and suffered nerve damage in the 2016 Fiesta Bowl against Ohio State.
The devastating injury probably cost him millions due to a first-round projection. Some projected his first contract would be worth $20 million.
Smith was the third player taken in the second round — No. 34 overall — by the Dallas Cowboys in the 2016 draft. In December, he was put on season-ending injured reserve, missing his first NFL season.
Smith’s insurance policy states if he did not receive an NFL offer that was at least $7.2 million for four years, he would be covered for loss of draft value. His current contract with the Cowboys is for four years, $6.495 million.
The difference equals his $705,000 payout.
WOW ..thats,once again, good schit in the comments section !#
Upvote again
Apparently if you wait til after midnight to sign LaGarrett Blount he won’t count against your compensatory picks if you only sigń him to a 1yr deal
..
Is INGRAM that much better than Blount that we should trade for Ingram instead of making a modest one year commitment to Blount?
.
Just the fact that Blount is capable in short yardage and that Bellichik trusted him enough to pick up the blitz and block for Brady makes him enough of a band aid for me
Any chance Saints end up cutting Ingram?
I believe you need to quantify “modest” in your Blount contract figure – then multiply it x2. Then repeat. And again. And again… At this point, you’re still below the # Blount wants.
Pro Football Talk reports the Saints expect C Max Unger (foot surgery) to return during the preseason.
Unger underwent foot surgery over the weekend. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported Unger is doubtful for Week 1, but the Saints are apparently more optimistic. If New Orleans does expect him back during training camp, they are unlikely to seek out a short-term replacement option via trade
I read that as “trade talks are heating up. The Saints need to create a fake lack of interest in the trade”.
Hope so.
i think kempski said it pretty well:
Tommy have you ever been on 97.5 Fanatic?
I pray to god he doesn’t do it. He’s smart, balanced, thoughtful, and careful with his comments.
….meh wouldn’t mind hearing a segment
We’d all love more Tommy podcasts in general – especially with Kempski.
But wanting to hear Tommy on 97.5 is like wanting to have a meal cooked by Jose Garces – in a McDonalds.
Speaking of (maybe more) moves.
Once a time of the year I am making my move to the White Island. Ibiza in Spain that is.
And this time I am also getting hitched.
So bring on the moves, my dear Eagles fellas
Viva La Ibiza!!!
Congrats.
Congratulations. Enjoy!
Good luck, GE. Happy for you and the (soon to be) Mrs. Hopefully she enjoys a good, dark beer with you every once in a while!
Congraz! (and don’t forget to pack your toothbrush)
Congrats! Have a great time!
Cheers mate.
Congratulations! Safe travels, safe ibiza’ing.
Cheers bud. Let’s have a beer once I’ll be back.
is it a he
Nice!
If the FO cannot find a RB for the right asking price, is it beyond reason that they hang onto Matthews for one more season?
Please no!
We would have to cut him (he’s due $5m in salary this year) and re-sign him to a more manageable contract.
He’s not the worst option in the world, but I seriously doubt he will be an effective player with his neck injury.
It’s time for him to focus on family life and career after football… like yesterday.
Hopefully he doesn’t fumble the opportunity to do so…………
I believe that he is literally way to injured to play football – for any team. Period.
Can’t we find the Rams doctor that put Case Keenum on the field after being decapitated to “clear” Mathews for a cut?
I think the Saints either wait on Unger or go with Mangold.
However, to the people saying that Kelce isn’t worth a straight trade for Ingram, I think you’re dead wrong. A starting C on a good salary vs. a 27 year old RB with injury issues and 3mm. Kelce’s and Ingram’s deals are actually really similar. The team would be on the hook for a medium base salary that they can cut whenever they really want to.
In addition, it’s a seller’s market right now. You probably also didn’t think Bradford was worth a 1st round pick.
If only Kelce was a high first round pick coasting on his reputation from college who never proved to be anything more than an average player in the NFL…….Hey, maybe we should offer Chance Warmack to the Saints.
AND Nelson Agholar AND Marcus Smith, what a bargain. The Eagles’ generosity knows no bounds
Throw in Ryan Mathews too while you’re at it.
Sounds like Unger could be back August. Think Saints will just wait it out now.
Yup. It fills a clear and immediate need this year for a player who isn’t a part of the Eagles’ future (Kelce).
I wouldn’t mind Kelce going either. He is still athletic but not what he once was along with very mixed play the past 2 years. Too many games where he has just gotten manhandled.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=55ba8BUzt3E
Graham cracked the top 100 players list this year. Also a short montage of Cowgirl QBs getting hit.
The more I watch of Pumphrey, the more I like what I see. His game tape vs Cal is just fantastic. That cutback TD at the end looks like Barry Freaking Sanders. The guy has elite feet and elite acceleration to the corner.
https://youtu.be/fH6HoGQVn_I
The only knock people have on him his is size. Was he 2 inches taller and 20 pounds heavier, everybody would talk about him as a 1st rounder
I agree most of the fear is related to durability as a function of size, but I love watching him play as well. But some of us would tell you that there aren’t any first round RBs as a rule.
http://www.bleedinggreennation.com/2017/5/4/15546406/does-size-matter-a-running-back-analysis
There is no correlation between size and durability. I mean Ryan Mathews is 220 and injured all the time. Eddie Lacy is 270 and cant stay healthy.
That’s a really shitty analysis of the data. When you limit your study to only NFL players, you need to understand that there’s going to be an obvious size floor. I’d buy that there’s no real difference in injury between a 200lb guy and a 260lb guy, but there’s nobody in the league playing at 140 because they’d die. It’s a legit concern that these tiny prospects will be injured.
Desean Jackson was 5’10 and 169 at the combine, Pumphrey was 5’8 and 176.
I havnt seen a single person suggest Desean was too light to return punts or take hits by safeties and its not like he is been more injured than “insert name of WR over 200 pounds who cant stay healthy”
You’re looking at statistical outliers. Jackson and Sproles are the only ones of their size. Instead of asking why they’re the only ones their size in the league, you’re assuming that because those two are healthy, every undersized runt could make it on an NFL field. That’s terrible logic. Whatever makes Sproles stays healthy is unique to him. Jackson, I wouldn’t exactly call an ironman.
There are plenty other smaller players in the NFL who survives.
TY Hilton is 5’9 and 183, Antonie Brown is 5’10, Danny Woodhead is 5’8. Dion Lewis is 5’7 193. Rodney McLeod is 183 pounds and plays safety.
There is a ton of guys in the NFL just around 5’8 and 190 give an take.
Pumphrey is pretty similar size to tons of other small NFL players (people are just lazy with the comparisions).
Yes, but then there’s the other 90% of the players in the NFL.
Why should I look at QBs, TEs, FBs, OL, DL or LB?`
He plays RB, so lets compare him to RBs or WRs.
For real dude? I actually under exaggerated.
Sproles is shorter than 99% of all RBs ever tested at the combine, and weighs less than 96%
Pumphrey is shorter than 92% of all RBs ever tested at the combine, and weighs less than 99%
https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/donnel-pumphrey
https://www.mockdraftable.com/player/darren-sproles
But that’s not even the point. You’re saying “There’s lots of players that are small!” is untrue, sure, but it’s still ignoring why there are so few of them playing in the NFL compared to at every other level. It’s because they’d die if they ever took a hit from an NFL linebacker or safety.
..really just the 20 pounds would do.
He’s fun. I’m looking forward to seeing how they use him.