Offseason Talk

The Senior Bowl was played on Saturday. You can bet the Eagles will be picking at least a couple of players from that game.

The Senior Bowl has been pretty good to the Eagles. Carson Wentz and Lane Johnson were Top 5 picks from the game. Brandon Graham was an early first rounder.

Not everyone was a star. UDFA Corey Clement was a Senior Bowl player. Mid-rounder Rasul Douglas was down in Mobile. Late-rounder Jalen Mills was too. Nick Foles and Jordan Matthews are Senior Bowl alumni picked by the Eagles who then left and came back to the team.

I’ll mention a few players who stood out today that might be of interest.

Delaware safety Nasir Adderley impressed the heck out of me. He can hit, tackle and cover. He’s physical. He also plays with suddenness. Hesitation kills DBs. Adderley makes up his mind and attacks, whether that is flying down to play the run or moving back to help in coverage.

https://twitter.com/MHeaneyJr/status/1089290073365991424

Miami S Jaquan Johnson also impressed me. He is a good tackler. He is aggressive in coverage. The Eagles like DBs who will take chances to make plays.

Great play in the backfield by #Killian HS (FL) & #Miami #Hurricanes alum DB Jaquan Johnson (@AuthenticMade_Q) in the #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/7K1iMyo2rS

— Sleeper Athletes (@SleeperAth1etes) January 26, 2019

Malcolm Jenkins isn’t getting any younger. Rodney McLeod could be a cap casualty. Corey Graham is done in the NFL. The Eagles need help at safety.

As Howie Roseman noted, this could be a historically good DL draft. One player who stood out today was Western Illinois DT Khalen Saunders. He is a terrific athlete and natural pass rusher. The Eagles usually covet those types of players.

Khalen Saunders with the club/swim for the sack pic.twitter.com/KiwYPdhJlt

— Ty Wurth (@lostyhighway) January 26, 2019

There is also a feel good story with Saunders.

While Khalen Saunders delivers at Senior Bowl practice, his fiancee delivers their daughter https://t.co/3vP9IrMjJ4

— Les Bowen (@LesBowen) January 23, 2019

*****

Chris Long is open to returning to the Eagles.

Chris Long: "I'd like to play football in 2019. I thought I had a really strong year and felt good physically. I know I'm an older guy, but I don't think I've missed a practice over the last two years… I had a good year rushing the passer… the itch is still there."

— 94WIP Afternoons (@AfternoonsWIP) January 25, 2019

Chris Long on Philly: "This is the closest I've felt to home in a long time. I really do love this city. Football aside, it's a great place."

— 94WIP Afternoons (@AfternoonsWIP) January 25, 2019

The Eagles need some youth on the DL, but bringing back Long would make sense at the right price. He is a strong leader and good personality in the locker room.

*****

There is a feeling in the Tampa media that the Bucs could cut DE Vinny Curry and/or DT Beau Allen.

Hmm.

The Bucs are expected to play more of a 3-4 under Todd Bowles. That could make both guys expendable. If so, the Eagles could talk to one or both about coming back to add depth to the DL. While both players loved their time in Philly, price would be an issue. While neither player had a good season, they aren’t likely to come crawling back to the Eagles for peanuts. They’d want reasonable money.

Keep an eye on this.

*****

Good stuff here from Franimal and Joe Douglas.

.@SeniorBowl practices are in the books. So what comes next in the pre-draft process?#Eagles Vice President of Player Personnel Joe Douglas joins @fduffy3 to talk about what's to come. #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/Nb1RyzGdMc

— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) January 26, 2019

*****

Sorry for disappearing the past few days. My mom passed away early on Wednesday morning. There was a lot to do with planning the funeral and dealing with other assorted issues. There was also a lot of time spent with friends and family.

Thank you all for the nice things you’ve said and done for me this past week. I’m eternally grateful.

You are a special group of people.

_