Final OTA Day
Posted June 11th, 2025 | 2 Comments »The Eagles are done with OTAs for this year. Next up will be Training Camp. Let’s take a look back at some of the highlights from Tuesday’s practice, which was the final one.
LINKS
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We can talk about Saquon Barkley, Jalen Carter, AJ Brown or anyone else, but the key to this team remains Jalen Hurts. I thought this was an interesting note from Zach Berman.
Overall, I’d say Jalen Hurts had a better offseason program than last year. Granted, we had more practices to observe last spring, but he’s appeared more efficient and decisive in the three sessions we’ve watched. There’s better carry-over with the offensive system, which could be a factor.
“I’ve treated this offseason like I’ve treated every offseason, coming in and trying to learn as much as I can,” Hurts said. “Trying to develop that chemistry with the play-caller. As offensive leadership changes…it’s about depositing time into it. I’ve spent a lot of time. We’ve had some valuable conversations that I think will help us all in the end. And of course, (Kevin Patullo) has already had a mark on the team since (Nick) Sirianni and himself have been here.”
Hurts started slow last season, but played really well down the stretch. If he can get off to a better start, this could be a huge year for him. He knows the offense. He has weapons all over the offense. And Hurts has won a lot of big games. His confidence has to be sky high. Hurts turns 27 in August so he’s in the prime of his career. With 66 starts under his belt, we could see the best version of Hurts in 2025.
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One of the key battles is the starting CB spot opposite of Quinyon Mitchell. Kelee Ringo and Adoree Jackson are competing to see who will win the job. The Eagles would love Ringo to be the guy because he’s younger, bigger and faster. Ringo is a guy you want on the field. But he does have to earn it. Jeff McLane was impressed with him on Tuesday.
Ringo had another solid outing on the outside. He was in coverage on several passes that went his way that ended up incomplete. His best moment came when, draped over Danny Gray, he reached around the receiver and swatted a short pass to the turf. Quarterback Tanner McKee tried to toss a back-shoulder pass to receiver Terrace Marshall in the back corner of the end zone, but Ringo had him bottled up. McKee’s pass also gave Marshall no chance to work back toward the ball.
Ringo has the talent. He is saying all the right things in interviews so maybe he is ready for a breakout season. Good things can happen when ability, experience and opportunity come together at the right time.
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Jimmy Bama has liked what he’s seen from rookie Kyle McCord so far in the practices.
The play of the day was a great diving catch by TE Nick Muse, on a pass from Kyle McCord. Muse lined up on the left side, came all the way across to the right, and made a full-extension grab near the right hash. McCord and Muse actually paired up for three connections on Tuesday. McCord fired a nice ball into the end zone to Muse, with perfect placement where only Muse could get it, with the smaller Andre’ Sam in coverage. McCord has looked good this spring. There’s little question he’s going to make the team.
Of course, if McCord is going to make the team, that would leave Dorian Thompson-Robinson on the outside looking in. DTR had a poor showing in OTAs last week, but he rebounded with a nice day on Tuesday, making several nice throws, and a few plays with his legs. Maybe the Eagles can deal DTR and a 7 for, like, a 6 or something.
McCord does seem like a lock to make the team at this point. That may seem way premature, but he’s shooting for the #3 QB spot. The guy who wins that job has to show the right combination of ability and upside. McCord has thrown the ball well in the OTAs and completed some impressive passes. He has a strong arm and legit NFL ability. He is the kind of guy you want to develop for the future.
As for DTR, he is getting better but still needs to do more to pass McCord. The rookie is cheaper and under team control for four seasons. That makes him valuable. DTR would have to cleanly beat him out. I do think DTR will have more of a chance to shine in camp when pads are on and a running QB can make more plays. Nice idea by Mr Bama about possibly trading DTR later in the summer.
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With Nolan Smith working his way back from injury, Jalyx Hunt was the key pass rusher on the field. And he made his presence felt. Zach noticed.
Jalyx Hunt has been the top edge rusher this spring with Nolan Smith sidelined for team drills. I won’t suggest that you can form a major evaluation on a pass rusher in the spring, but it’s clear that Hunt will have a big role on the team, and you see the energy and chase ability in practice. There was an effective pass rush on Tuesday that would have been a sack — and Hunt forced Jalen Hurts to keep scrambling. He didn’t stop the rush, to which point Lane Johnson got in the way. Vic Fangio said Hunt will see a jump in snaps this season. He’s added size, he said he knows how to play the position better than last year, and he has not lost that small-school zeal that seemed like a hallmark last year.
These aren’t padded practices so anything on the LOS has to be taken with a grain of salt. Still, it is great to hear about Hunt playing fast and showing a non-stop motor. Jimmy also noted that Hunt was replacing BG as the high energy guy on the practice field. Love to hear that.
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Brett Toth was the starting center and had multiple bad snaps. Rookie Drew Kendall should replace him as the top backup at some point this summer. Kendall is more skilled and talented. The coaches love Toth, but he’s just not a good player. Is Kendall our final hope? No, there is another.
Trevor Keegan is getting some snaps at center in individual drills.
— Brooks Kubena (@BKubena) June 10, 2025
Keegan isn’t special physically or athletically so it would really add to his value if he could play multiple positions. Keegan played OT in high school and spent all of his college career at LG. Hopefully he’ll be able to learn center. He certainly has a good professor at Stoutland University.
Tyler Steen is getting the starting reps at RG. That will mean more in August. Still, it is a good sign that he’s the guy they have in that spot for now.
Eagles rookie OT Myles Hinton entered the medical tent.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) June 10, 2025
Hinton has been the #3 RT this spring. Darian Kinnard is working with the backup OL. Jeff Stoutland likes Hinton a lot so let’s hope this is a minor issue that won’t affect Training Camp.
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Sydney Brown and Drew Mukuba continue to battle for the starting safety spot beside Reed Blankenship. Both guys have had good moments. It doesn’t feel like there is a leader at this point. I think the coaches would prefer Mukuba because of his upside and versatility, but the job will have to be earned.
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Good news on the contract front.
The Eagles announce they have signed 1st-round pick Jihaad Campbell to his rookie deal. That means 9 of their 10 draft picks are now under contract. The only one left is 2nd-rounder Drew Mukuba.
— Dave Zangaro (@DZangaroNBCS) June 11, 2025
Campbell was able to do a bit of work on Tuesday. It will be exciting to see what he can do when he’s fully cleared to go in August. He is a talented player and could challenge for a starting role right away. Vic Fangio showed last year that he’s not scared to play rookies. The best guys get on the field. He doesn’t care about the other stuff.
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