Smart Moves
Posted: April 7th, 2021 | Author: Tommy Lawlor | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | 7 Comments »The Eagles have not had much cap space this offseason, forcing them to be very careful shoppers. After letting the market settle down, they made a pair of smart moves on Wednesday.
#Eagles are signing former #Vikings LB Eric Wilson, sources say. One-year deal worth up to $3.25 million. Wilson heads to Philly after registering 122 tackles and three INTs for Minnesota last year.
— Mike Garafolo (@MikeGarafolo) April 7, 2021
Eagles are re-signing RB Jordan Howard to a one-year deal, per source.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) April 7, 2021
Let’s start with Wilson. The 6-1, 230 LB started 10 games over his first three years. He didn’t do anything special, but showed some promise. An injury opened a starting spot last year and Wilson started 15 games and had the best year of his career. Wilson led the team in tackles and TFLs. He finished second in INTs and QB hits. Wilson made a lot of plays.
The tape shows a solid player, but nothing special. There is a reason a 26-year old LB coming off a career year doesn’t have much of a market. He doesn’t have great size or speed. He’s not special in any way. His tackling can be a bit sloppy. There are times when he reaches rather than aggressively wrapping up.
While he isn’t Seth Joyner or Byron Evans, Wilson is a good addition to the Eagles. He fits in terms of age and price. Wilson is versatile. He can play up on the LOS, in the middle or out in space. He will know the scheme or at least parts of it.
He also can help young players like Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley develop. Wilson made the Vikings as a UDFA. He began as a STs player, then got mixed in as a starter when needed and finally started a full season last year. This is a guy who earned everything as he made his way up the NFL ladder. And he did that as part of a good defense.
I think the Eagles will play Wilson at WLB.
SAM Alex Singleton … Genard Avery
MLB T.J. Edwards ….. Shaun Bradley
WLB Eric Wilson ……. Davion Taylor
As you can see in these clips, Wilson does have talent.
https://twitter.com/BenFennell_NFL/status/1379921497876275200
Eric Wilson holds the coverage skills the #Eagles have desperately been needing at linebacker. pic.twitter.com/ADjUI646cK
— Word On The Birds (@WordOnTheBirds) April 7, 2021
Eric Wilson does more than just provide good linebacker play pic.twitter.com/mfG2FLnObs
— Philly Nation (@Philly__Nation) April 7, 2021
As you can see in the last clip, Wilson also helps on STs. Wilson gives the Eagles enough capable players that they can draft a LB if they want to, but aren’t forced to make a move. They can still see what happens with Edwards, Taylor and Bradley.
If Wilson has another strong year, the Eagles can sign him to an extension and look at him as a long term answer. If he’s just so-so, they can walk away next offseason. This isn’t an exciting move, but it is smart.
*****
As for Howard, there is nothing remotely exciting about his return. I still do see some logic in it.
I can see plenty of people rolling their eyes at Howie bringing back another player. That’s been a weakness of his in recent years. There is a difference. Howard won’t turn 27 until November. This is very different than bringing back Jason Peters, DeSean Jackson, Vinny Curry, Corey Graham, Darren Sproles, etc. Those guys were all in their 30’s.
Howard is here purely as a role player. He and Miles Sanders formed a good duo back in 2019 so bringing him back to be part of RB by committee is something I can live with. The RB class in the draft isn’t compelling and the Eagles don’t have much money to spend. They will add a RB in the draft or as a UDFA and see if he pans out. Howard is an insurance policy for that.
Howard had a bizarre season in 2020. He had 28 carries for 33 yards, which is awful, but scored 4 TDs. The Dolphins basically used him as a short-yardage sledgehammer. He’ll have the chance to do that with the Eagles, but will have a chance to do more as well. The team has a new offensive scheme, but you can bet Jeff Stoutland will still be using many of the same run plays that helped Howard get off to a strong start in 2019.
As I said with Wilson, the age and price are right. Howard is also a scheme fit.
When you’re shopping on a limited budget, you don’t look for steak. You load up on turkey pot pies and Hot Pockets. Just make sure you have enough money left over for some PBR.
*****
The #49ers have signed QB Nate Sudfeld, formerly of the #Eagles, to a one-year deal.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 7, 2021
Good for him. I hope Sudfeld finds a home there. His Eagles career was just odd. The team either had too much confidence in him or none at all. Very bizarre.
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