Talent Search

We’ve talked a lot recently about the Eagles coaching search. New head coach Nick Siriannni is building up his staff. Those coaches will need some talent to work with. The best place to find it is at the Senior Bowl, where I am this week.

This is my ninth Senior Bowl and it is very different than any of the others. The hotel I’m in normally is completely sold out. This year it isn’t even 20 percent full. Some teams have sent scouts down, but not all from what I’ve seen. It looked to me like there were maybe 200 people watching practice on Tuesday. Normally that total would be substantially higher.

The practices are filmed so that teams can study every rep they want thoroughly. The missing element will be watching the players interact with each other and of course meeting with and interviewing them.

I posted my practice notes over at ScoutsNotebook.

One of the issues I have is not knowing the Eagles needs. Some are obvious (DB), while others are much more complicated (for example OL, LB).

The Eagles have one good corner right now in Darius Slay and he’s older. I hope they move Avonte Maddox to the slot or FS. Does the team bring back Jalen Mills? Do you project K’Vonn Wallace to start? No matter how you slice it, they need DBs.

OL could be set if Jason Kelce is coming back.

LT – Jordan Mailata / Andre Dillard
LG – Isaac Seumalo
OC – Jason Kelce
RG – Brandon Brooks / Nate Herbig
RT – Lane Johnson / Jack Driscoll

You always want to add young talent up front, but the team might be happy with that group heading into 2021.

I’m sure most fans would say LB is a position of need. Maybe not.

SAM – Alex Singleton
MLB – T.J. Edwards / Shaun Bradley / Joe Bachie
WLB – ??? / Davion Taylor / Rashad Smith

They need someone at WLB, but I’m guessing they would sign a cheap vet rather than counting on a rookie with so many other young guys there.

The counter to this is that the Eagles don’t have any impact LBs. They mostly have functional players (Singleton did look good in 2020). The new coaches may want more talent at the position and might prefer loading up with picks to try to find an impact player.

I’m watching Senior Bowl practices and trying to keep an eye on everyone because I don’t know what the team truly needs or wants.

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The standout position in Day 1 was slot receivers. Greg Ward should not be out house shopping this offseason.

We don’t know what the coaches will do with the current receivers in terms of where they play. Could Fulgham go to the slot as a bigger body? Would they want Jalen Reagor in there?

If the Eagles get Ja’Marr Chase, Devonta Smith or Jaylen Waddle at pick 6, that will have a huge impact on what happens after that. Should the Eagles go in a different direction, they could add an explosive slot guy in the 2nd or 3rd round.

D’Wayne Eskridge is a player I love. He has tremendous RAC ability. He might remind you of a non-insane Antonio Brown. Eskridge looked great on Tuesday. He looks like a stud.

Shi Smith, Cade Johnson, Demetric Felton and Amari Rodgers all had very good days. These guys can get open, make the catch and then make things happen when the ball is in their hands.

As fun as it is to pull for an overachiever like Ward, he has no juice. No defender is worried when the ball is in his hands. He isn’t very elusive. He doesn’t have much burst or top end speed. He brings little to the return game.

The Eagles must upgrade there with a new player or by moving someone else to that role. Slot receiver needs to be more than a guy who catches the ball and gets tackled. You can live with that if he’s your replacement because the starter got hurt, but you don’t want him as the primary guy at that spot.

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I haven’t fallen in love with any corners. Tre Brown impressed me the most on Tuesday, but I won’t say he blew me away. I remember watching Tre’Davious White here a few years back and just knowing he was a stud. We’ll have to wait and see if anyone here plays like that.

You never see picks in 1-on-1's

Oklahoma CB Tre Brown got a pick in 1-on-1's pic.twitter.com/2zQwrGQ1n8

— PFF Draft (@PFF_College) January 27, 2021

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The worst part about the lack of people down here is the lack of good rumors. I’d love to hear all the Carson Wentz gossip in a normal year.

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