Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

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.

_

Latest Visitors

Posted April 14th, 2025 | 4 Comments »

The draft is just over a week away. We now have most of the visit info for the Eagles. Teams are still having prospects come in so we could learn about another player or two, but let’s take a look at what we know.

The two most recent players are safety Malaki Starks from Georgia and LB Kobe King from Penn State.

Starks, 6-1, 197, is one of the top safety prospects in the draft. He would be good value at 32. The question is whether Starks lasts that long. He isn’t a great athlete or huge playmaker, but he is a smart, versatile, productive player. He led UGA in tackles last season. He picked off 6 passes in his career. Starks can play in the slot, in the box or back deep. He might remind you of CJGJ.

Starks has a strong reputation in terms of intangibles. He is a team leader. The coaches rave about him holding his teammates and himself accountable. Is there a coach in eastern PA who kinda likes the word accountability?

The Eagles don’t tend to value safety in the first round. Go read this piece by Jimmy Bama for his thoughts. So why bring Starks in for a visit? Howie Roseman has admitted in the past that teams will occasionally bring in a player they don’t have interest in so that they can throw a curve ball to other teams. All 32 teams keep up with who goes where.

The more likely possibility in this case is that the Eagles don’t see Starks as just a safety. He gives them a player they can move around if needed. If one of the CBs got hurt, they could move Cooper DeJean outside and then put Starks in the slot.

As for King, he was the MLB for Penn State for the past two seasons. He was a team captain. King had a chance to stay in school, but opted to leave early. That surprised me. He was a tough, productive run defender, but struggled mightily in coverage. King is 6-1, 236, which is good size for a MLB these days. Dane Brugler rates him as a 4th round prospect. I think of King more as a 5th rounder. He tested okay at his Pro Day, but I don’t think you see that athleticism on the field on a consistent basis.

With Nakobe Dean likely to miss the start of the season, the Eagles need depth at LB. Zack Baun will start. Jeremiah Trotter Jr has the inside track to be the other starter as of now. King would offer depth and could play on STs.

*****

One thing to keep in mind with visitors is that they aren’t all first round prospects and key targets. These are players the Eagles have a question about. Maybe a medical issue. Maybe a character issue. They could want to talk to the player about a position change. Eagles scouts have been working on this class since last May. There aren’t a lot of unknowns at this point.

*****

This is very cool.

*****

Really good stuff here from Zach.

Don’t be afraid to take chances.

But also be smart enough to know what risks are worth taking. Taking chances just to be bold and different is a good way to get fired. Sometimes the consensus makes good sense. If you have Abdul Carter as the #4 edge rusher, you’re probably stupid. If you prefer Colston Loveland over Tyler Warren, there is an argument to be made for that.

Be bold.

Don’t be stupid.

_