Offense vs Defense

Posted: March 21st, 2021 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off on Offense vs Defense

The offseason is less than a week old. The Eagles re-signed DT Hassan Ridgeway, added safety Andrew Adams from Tampa and then signed Anthony Harris, the star safety from the Vikings. Defense, defense and defense.

Does that mean the team will focus on the offense in the upcoming draft?

Not necessarily.

Think about the depth chart right now.

QB Jalen Hurts
RB Miles Sanders
WR Jalen Reagor
WR Travis Fulgham
WR Greg Ward
TE Dallas Goedert
LT Jordan Mailata
LG Isaac Seumalo
C Jason Kelce
RG Brandon Brooks
RT Lane Johnson

That group is better than you might think. If the OL can stay healthy and Hurts can take a step forward, the offense could be solid. More is needed to be sure, but that group has potential.

The defense isn’t nearly as set.

DE Derek Barnett
DT Javon Hargrave
DT Fletcher Cox
DE Brandon Graham
WB Davion Taylor ?????
MB T.J. Edwards
SB Alex Singleton
SS K’Von Wallace / Andrew Adams
FS Anthony Harris
CB Darius Slay
CB ????????
NB Avonte Maddox

You can see that there are still holes at WLB and CB. The new coaches may find out Taylor is the answer at WLB, but they sure can’t know that based on 2020. He’s still a mystery.

Craig James might be the projected starter at the other corner spot. That’s not good enough.

Beyond that, there is a need for depth at a few spots.

Put simply, the offense was in better shape so the defense got the free agent solutions. I don’t know that the Eagles will have a specific agenda going into the draft. This team needs young talent all over.

I’ve mentioned this before, but it bears repeating. This is not a one-year fix. They don’t need to fix every issue in this draft, nor could they. Be patient. Think long term.

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Speaking of defensive free agents…CB Adoree Jackson is supposed to meet with the Eagles tomorrow. He’s talking to the Giants tonight.

Defensive coordinator did a great job last year with Xavier Rhodes as a reclamation project. The Eagles can sell that idea to Jackson. They aren’t likely to get him based purely on money.

Eagles players are doing their part to get Jackson to come to Philly.

https://twitter.com/bigplay24slay/status/1373663441555230723

Before you get too excited about the “I love Philly” comment, that is from a long time ago.

Jackson isn’t a great player or anything like that, but he is a young corner with 41 career starts and he’s still got upside. He is exactly the kind of player a rebuilding team should want to take a chance on. If you whiff, so be it. The risk is worth it.

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Matt Alkire wrote a piece on some draft prospects that are under the radar. No Ja’Marr Chase or Justin Fields talk. These are mid-round guys.

OL D’Ante Smith would make some sense for the Eagles. He can play LT, RT and OG. The Eagles love versatile blockers and Smith could be a critical backup. He could also be a future starter. He’s got legit talent.

Matt’s take:

What do you do with him? I don’t think the long term answer is left tackle for this kid, but I’d give him a shot on the right side and just work on his feet day and night while cross training him at guard. Two reasons I’m training those feet. One, because he needs them in pass pro at tackle and two, I need him to pull and be more fluid on the move for me as a guard when and if he ends up there.

Good player.

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