Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Howie Talks

Posted March 25th, 2024 | Comments Off on Howie Talks

The owners meetings are taking place in Orlando. Nick Sirianni and Jeffrey Lurie will meet with the media on Tuesday. On Monday, Howie Roseman met with reporters and offered thoughts on a variety of subjects.

The Eagles didn’t just go spend big on a RB. They spent big on a special player. I think that is an important distinction to make. Last year the Eagles paid solid money for a solid starting RB. This time around they went for a star. Howie always talks about trying to find an edge in terms of roster construction. Maybe as other teams are being cautious about paying RBs, the Eagles saw an opportunity to go the other way and get a big time talent. The price wasn’t that high and Barkley didn’t cost any compensation.

There is risk in this move, but also the potential for a home run. Barkley has a special combination of size, speed and athleticism. He could make a good offense great. He is one of the rare players that feels like a threat any time he touches the ball.

The Eagles defense lacked talent and attitude last year. And the coaching wasn’t ideal. CJGJ gives the defense someone who can cover and make plays. He also brings attitude. Some will call it swagger. It was hard for some of last year’s defenders to have swagger. If you don’t have talent, it is to be a confident, aggressive player. CJGJ can have a real impact on this defense.

Huff is a fascinating addition. He’s coming off a 10-sack year and has a lot of potential. But he’s unproven as a starter and there is a question about what the Eagles will do with Haason Reddick. Howie wouldn’t address that topic. He certainly is high on Huff and thinks he can be a key player for the Eagles. It certainly does seem like the Eagles are going to do a lot of rotating with their pass rushers this year. That is a way to bring out the best in Huff.

Speaking of edge rushers…Howie’s most interesting comments might have been about Zack Baun. The Eagles signed him on Day One, just like Saquon and Huff. They targeted all three of the players. That doesn’t mean Baun will be a starter or key player, but he is an interesting option for Vic Fangio. Howie compared him to Andrew Van Ginkel, who played for Fangio last year at Miami. Van Ginkel had an INT, 6 sacks and 19 QB hits for Miami last year. He was able to move around and do different things. Baun has the same versatility so he could be more of a factor than people initially expected.

Rather than talk about only new guys, let’s mention a returning player. James Bradberry had a disastrous season in 2023. The Eagles have publicly acknowledged his struggles, but also have talked about him bouncing back. Because of his contract, cutting Bradberry doesn’t help them. They pay him to play or they pay him to go away. But they will be paying him.

I hated what I saw from Bradberry last year, in terms of results, but also toughness and effort. If you struggle to cover, you better sure as heck tackle and play your butt off. Bradberry didn’t do that.

Maybe having Fangio running the defense will bring out a better version of Bradberry. Maybe having a guy like CJGJ around will bring out a better version of Bradberry. Maybe it will simply be pride that kicks in. The Eagles are keeping Bradberry around for now to see if they get an improved player.

“For now” is the key phrase. If they draft a corner early, they might let go out of Bradberry. Or the Eagles might just cut him at some point this summer. They saw him slip in a big way last year and have an idea of whether there is any real chance of him improving.

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Draft Talk – Visits

Posted March 25th, 2024 | 1 Comment »

The draft is a month away. The all star games are over. The Combine is done. Right now teams are going to Pro Days and lining up Top 30 visits with prospects they are especially interested in. Let’s see who the Eagles have looked at.

TOP 30 VISITS

OG Christian Mahogany – Boston College
OG Cooper Beebe – Kansas State
OG Zack Zinter – Michigan
OG Brandon Coleman – TCU
OT Tyler Guyton – Oklahoma
OT Travis Glover – Georgia State

WR Brenden Rice – USC
WR Ainias Smith – Texas A&M

DL Khristian Boyd – Northern Iowa

Edge Laiatu Latu – UCLA

LB Edgerrin Cooper – Texas A&M

CB Cooper DeJean – Iowa

SPECIAL INTEREST

WR Xavier Worthy – Texas – WR coach at his Pro Day
WR Adonai Mitchell – Texas – WR coach at his Pro Day
WR Jordan Whittington – Texas – WR coach at his Pro Day
WR Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint – Georgia – Met with him at his Pro Day

RB Audric Estime – Notre Dame – RB coach at his Pro Day
RB Kimani Vidal – Troy – Eagles showing interest
RB Cody Schrader – Missouri – Asst OL coach worked him out at his Pro Day

OT Joe Alt – Notre Dame – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day
OT Blake Fisher – Notre Dame – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day
OT Javon Foster – Missouri – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day

Edge Javon Solomon – Troy – Met with him at the Combine (of interest because he’s a small school senior)

LB Jaylon Dillard – Texas – LB coach at his Pro Day
LB Jontrey Hunter – Georgia St – LB coach at his Pro Day
LB Derrick McClendon – Colorado – Eagles reportedly showed interest at Pro Day

CB Terrion Arnold – Alabama – DB coach at his Pro Day
CB Kool-Aid McKinstry – Alabama – DB coach at his Pro Day
CB Ennis Rakestraw – Missouri – DB coach at his Pro Day
CB Kris Abrams-Draine – Missouri – DB coach at his Pro Day
NB Morice Norris – Fresno State – Eagles showing interest

SAF Sione Vaki – Utah – Had coach at his Pro Day
SAF Cole Bishop – Utah – Had coach at his Pro Day
SAF Jaylon Carlies – Missouri – DB coach at his Pro Day
SAF Jaylin Simpson – Auburn – Had coach at his Pro Day

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Let’s start by talking about the Top 30 Visits. You can see a focus on O-linemen. Only one of them, Tyler Guyton, is a first round prospect. So why all the visits? It feels like OL is a position where intelligence and personality are critical factors. The best way to judge that is through a longer visit. You only get a few minutes at the all star games and Combine. Guys spend the whole day when they visit team facilities.

The player I’m most excited about is WR Ainias Smith. He is a mid-round target, but I love his game. He’s 5-9, 190 and has great RAC ability.

DB Cooper DeJean got hurt late in the year and couldn’t work out in Indy. He could be coming to Philly to get checked out medically. DeJean has a ton of potential. He is an athletic playmaker and you can’t get enough of those guys.

It is good to see Edgerrin Cooper on the list. The Eagles must add a good LB prospect this year. Devin White has a one-year deal and Nakobe Dean is still a mystery.

As for Pro Days, Eagles assistant coaches are being more active than last year. That could be because the season ended late last season or it could be that the organization made it a point of emphasis to get coaches on the road this year. Keep in mind that the players listed above are a mix of Day 1, Day 2, Day 3 and even UDFA prospects. Just because you’re interested in a player doesn’t mean you have an early grade on him.

The Eagles are showing interest in multiple CBs who could be in play at pick 22 or close to that spot. The Eagles know that spot must be upgraded, especially with a young talent.

The safeties from Utah are both intriguing. Cole Bishop could very well be a 2nd round player. Sione Vaki isn’t as highly rated, but can play RB as well as safety. He played both spots for Utah and worked out at both spots at his Pro Day.

One player I would expect the Eagles to bring to Philly is LB Payton Wilson from NC State. He will turn 24 this spring and has major injury issues, but Wilson is arguably the most talented LB in the class.

He has a good combination of size and speed. He picked off 3 passes and had 6 sacks this year. He makes hustle plays all over the field and is relentless in pursuit. He’s tough and makes a ton of tackles. Really fascinating prospect because of the risk/reward and the Eagles need for a good LB.

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