Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Interesting Choices

Posted April 17th, 2025 | 3 Comments »

Howie Roseman has talked about how the team will have to rely on some young players. When you have highly paid stars like Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, AJ Brown, DeVonta Smith, Lane Johnson and Zack Baun, you are going to need some young players to be key contributors. They’re cheap…I mean cost effective.

The Eagles have young players ready to step up at several positions. The draft will help give us an idea which players they really trust, especially the first round.

  • Do the Eagles draft Donovan Jackson/some other OL or do they go with Tyler Steen to be the RG?
  • Do the Eagles draft Malaki Starks or do they go with Sydney Brown at safety?
  • Do the Eagles draft Mason Taylor or do they go with Grant Calcaterra/Harrison Bryant to be the TE? Is there any way they stick with Dallas Goedert?
  • Do the Eagles draft Walter Nolen/Derrick Harmon or do they think Jordan Davis/Moro Ojomo can get the job done at DT?
  • Do the Eagles draft Donovan Ezeiruaku or do they think Jalyx Hunt is ready for a major role at edge rusher?
  • Do the Eagles draft Trey Amos or do they think Kelee Ringo is ready to be a starting CB?

There isn’t any one position the Eagles must address in the first or second round. They can do just about anything. The past few years were a bit different. They needed a WR in 2021 and took DeVonta. They needed a DT in 2023 and took Jalen Carter. They needed CB help last year. They took Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean.

There are holes on the roster, but there are also potential answers for each situation. That means Howie and his staff are free to focus on players more than positions. Who do they really want? Who do they really trust?

Zach Berman and Bo Wulf made a good point on their podcast about the DT position. Milton Williams is gone. The knee-jerk reaction is to say DT is a big need for the Eagles. What if the Eagles think Jordan Davis is ready to play a bigger role? He was a good run defender last year. Maybe he is ready to play more on passing downs. Moro Ojomo is going to be a key player in passing situations, but Davis could play more as well.

It can take DTs a few years to put things together. Some guys are good right away, but others take time. Davis has flashed and been good in some areas. He just hasn’t been the impact player the Eagles hoped for when they took him 13th overall. Maybe giving him more snaps will help to bring out the best in him.

As for Ojomo, he definitely seems like a player ready for a breakout season.

The Eagles do need DT depth, but they don’t have to feel pressured to draft one at 32.

I really struggle with who the Eagles should take at 32. I lean toward an OL. Gray Zabel would make a lot of sense, but I just don’t see him falling all the way to 32. That would leave Josh Conerly or Donovan Jackson. Conerly is the better OT prospect. Jackson has started at LT and LG. He can play inside or outside in the NFL.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a part of me that would love to add to the DL. I just think you can do that outside of the first round and find what you’re looking for.

I’m really curious to see how all of this plays out. One more week to go.

_

Update From Howie

Posted April 15th, 2025 | 2 Comments »

Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni met the media on Tuesday to give a pre-draft press conference. Since the focus of this was the draft, Howie did the vast majority of the talking. I’d love to tell you he offered some great nuggets, but that would be a stretch. Howie is too smart to start spilling the beans with just a week to go.

Here are a few items of interest.

This is interesting. Most people who do a mock draft have an ideal scenario. If Abdul Carter falls to 22, the Eagles can trade a third next year and go get him. Sounds great, but not particularly realistic. The Eagles did not expect Quinyon Mitchell to fall to 22 last year. They were thrilled when that happened. They prepared for scenarios where he would be gone and they would have less appealing choices.

You want to go through those scenarios before draft weekend so you’re prepared. If something good happens, those decisions are much easier to make. You really have to prepare for the tough situations. Howie and his staff do a great job of going through scenarios so they are ready for whatever happens.

***

The Eagles used to obsess on edge rushers. If you’re old enough, you remember Andy Reid and Jim Johnson talking about fastballs. They wanted fresh legs coming off the bench so they would be able to get after the QB all game long. Things have shifted a bit in recent years. QBs are so good at getting rid of the ball quickly that interior pressure has become more valuable.

The Eagles have a good trio of DTs in Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo. They still could go for another one at pick 32. Heck, they could trade up for someone if they feel the player is worth it. The three candidates that make the most sense are Walter Nolen, Kenneth Grant and Derrick Harmon.We haven’t talked much about Harmon, but he is a darn good prospect. He’s a big, athletic, productive interior pass rusher.

If you ask Fran Duffy, he’ll talk about how awesome Walter Nolen is for several hours. And just when you think he’s done, Fran will remember some other nugget that makes a good case for Nolen.

Joking aside, he is a really intriguing prospect. Nolen, not Fran.

*****

Don’t be thrown off by the comments about 32 first round grades. That is true for most teams. There was a time a few years back when the Patriots only had about 80 guys on their entire draft board. Teams get very picky.

This ties back into the earlier point about going through scenarios. Howie and his staff will be prepared for whatever happens.

_