Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Offseason Overview

Posted March 23rd, 2026 | 2 Comments »

I think most fans have been underwhelmed by the Eagles offseason. They haven’t made any splashy moves. They’ve signed guys on a bunch of one-year deals. At the same time the team has seen several starters leave for big money and some role players go as well.

I actually think Howie Roseman has done a good job of managing the offseason, especially when you think of resources as well as players. I’m not alone in that.

Let’s start by talking about resources. Howie entered free agency with mid-level cap space. By re-signing Dallas Goedert and structuring contracts carefully, the Eagles now have about $38M in cap space. That gives them the flexibility to pursue a big deal if there is anyone they like (Jonathan Greenard?). It also can help them with the AJ Brown situation.

The Eagles lost Jaelan Phillips in free agency. He went for more money than anyone expected. The Eagles will now receive a third round comp pick next year for losing him. That will help in what is projected to be a stacked draft class.

Howie took a player the Eagles didn’t want and traded him to move up in the draft. At best, Sydney Brown was going to be a STer and backup.

That’s not a substanial return, but you get something out of a player you might have cut. You move up to the middle of the fourth round. There is value in that. The draft isn’t great at the top, but rounds 2 through 4 look pretty good, especially where the Eagles need help.

By signing QB Andy Dalton the Eagles now have the flexibility to trade Tanner McKee if they get the right offer. The Eagles reportedly are asking for a second rounder. That could be in 2027. They might be willing to take a third this year. We’ll see if anything develops.

Howie has improved the team’s cap space. He’s helped both the 2026 and 2027 draft picks, with the potential to add more. That’s a good job.

Now let’s talk players. Signing Riq Woolen could be a great move if he plays up to his talent. He fits the Eagles love of speedy corners. And Woolen has great size. He also has great ball skills and is an interesting fit in Vic Fangio’s scheme. If he plays well the Eagles have the best trio of corners in the league. They signed Jonathan Jones to give them depth outside and in the slot. Howie admitted CB depth was an issue last year. That shouldn’t be the case this season.

I think too many people are down on the Arnold Ebikete signing because of Uche/Ojulari. Those guys didn’t pan out, but Ebikete feels different. He’s healthy, versatile and is a player the Eagles have liked since college. The team missed with QBs like Carson Strong and Clayton Thorson, but nailed the McKee pick (sixth round). Every player is different. Every situation is different.

I know clips show the highlights. The point isn’t to focus on the results, but rather the traits and skills. You see an athletic rusher who is also a good run defender and effective when he has to drop into coverage. He’s not in Philly to replace Jaelan Phillips, but rather to add to the edge rusher group. The Eagles are still going to add another edge rusher.

TE is in much better shape. Bringing back DG at $7M was a no-brainer. He’s still a good receiver. Johny Mundt gives the Eagles their best blocking TE in a while. Howie told us he had to re-think the position and he lived up to his word. Grant Calcaterra and Stone Smartt will compete for a role. Both are athletic, receiving types. Smartt is better on STs and that could give him an edge.

RB Dameon Pierce is a good value signing. He has experience and talent. He is here to compete for a roster spot and offer insurance in case of injury. I think he would be an ideal practice squad candidate.

Safety is an interesting position. Drew Mukuba is back for Year 2. I think people forget how things went for him last season. Mukuba was erratic early on, which Fangio pointed out. He made some big plays and gave up some big plays. As the year went on, he got better, as did the defense. The Eagles were high on him in the draft. This is a guy they really wanted.

The team brought back Marcus Epps to likely be the other starter. He played well in his four starts last year. He won’t be given the job. Michael Carter could be competing with him for the role. Epps is the better hitter/tackler. Carter is better in man coverage. The team is also likely to take a safety in the middle rounds of the draft. The good news is that you can find starters there. Craig Woodson was a fourth round pick by the Pats last year. He started 15 games for a team that made the Super Bowl. Sean Considine…oops, that’s a bad example.

The Eagles were able to re-sign Braden Mann. He is a good punter and very good holder. They added JT Gray to replace Sydney Brown as a backup safety and key STer.

WR is still a mystery position. AJ Brown seems to want a trade. The Eagles are trying to make that happen, but only if they get the right price. They signed Hollywood Brown to be the #3 receiver and replace Jahan Dotson. Johnny Wilson will be back from injury and helps as a role player. There will be a move or two to come. The Eagles could still add a free agent. I think they are likely to take a receiver in the draft. It could be in the first round or on Day 3. This is a deep group of receivers so you don’t have to reach.

The final position to cover is the OL. This must be addressed in the draft. There aren’t good OL available via free agency. The starting line for 2026 is set, barring injury setbacks. With age and injury concerns the team must add at least one high end player for the future. Vega Ioane is the OG they could take early. There are several OTs who could make it to 23. If the Eagles go OT early, I still think they could find a good OG in the middle rounds. There is still the possibility of bringing back Fred Johnson, but he would be a band-aid. The Eagles need to add guys that can develop into future starters.

This hasn’t been the sexiest or most exciting offseason, but Howie Roseman has done a good job of dealing with complicated situations and making the most of them. The Eagles have the financial resources to still make a big move if the right one comes available. They have the draft resources to fill some of the key holes that remain. There is still a lot of work to be done.

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Draft Talk

Posted March 22nd, 2026 | 3 Comments »

This is going to be an important draft for the Eagles. With so many high priced stars in the lineup there is a real need to find cheap talent. They will need some of these picks to be ready to contribute right away.

One of the keys remains the AJ Brown situation. If he is going to be dealt, the team needs to add WR. The top options left in free agency are Jauan Jennings, Stefon Diggs and Deebo Samuel. Not exactly ideal choices.

Jennings isn’t speedy and doesn’t create much separation. He does have good size and is a physical player. He’s an outstanding blocker and should have a good feel for the new scheme. He makes some sense, but only if the price is right. It seems like he and his agent want more money than anyone is willing to pay. Diggs is coming off a really productive season. He is 33 and has some legal issues that could result in a suspension. As for Deebo, he’s just slow. He averaged just 10.1 yards per reception last season. Part of that is due to the way Washington used him, but that is still a bad number.

If the Eagles sign a free agent to start alongside DeVonta Smith, they don’t need to take a WR early. They can take someone in the third or fourth round, where there will still be some good options. If they don’t add a WR before the draft, they may feel the need to get a receiver in the first or second round. Omar Cooper from Indiana is the player that makes the most sense. He has a medium build at 6-0, 199. He ran 4.42 at the Combine so he’s got good speed. He can play in the slot or outside. Cooper has really good hands (see the end of the Penn State game…ugh). He’s tough to tackle and has good RAC ability. The big question is whether he gets to pick 23.

Cooper isn’t dynamic, but would be a good fit in the new offense.

If the Eagles prefer a bigger receiver, Denzel Boston from Washington could make sense. He’s 6-4, 210. He isn’t a speed guy. Didn’t run at the Combine or his Pro
Day, likely because he knew he’d post a 4.60 or something in that range. The lack of top speed isn’t a huge concern because of his size and the way he plays.

You can see he’s able to get open and create separation with quickness and good route-running. He has great hands and makes some impressive catches. He would be a good replacement for AJ in terms of size and the ability to make contested catches. He would also be a good red zone threat.

There is a wild card to consider. Jordyn Tyson from Arizona State was projected to go Top 15, possibly in the Top 10. He had a great season and his tape is very impressive. The problem with Tyson is that he’s got an injury history to factor in. Compounding matters, Tyson didn’t work out at the Combine or his Pro Day. He said he’s still dealing with a hamstring injury that goes back a while. This is causing teams to wonder if he’s worth taking early. The talent is there, but can you rely on him? No idea what Howie thinks of Tyson, but if he’s available at 23 you at least need to have a discussion about him.

This is a good receiver class so there will be good options in the second and even the third round. I’d be shocked if the team didn’t take a WR in the first four rounds.

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30 Visits

OG Vega Ioane – Penn State
OT Drew Shelton- Penn State
WR Omar Cooper – Indiana

ED Dani Dennis-Sutton – Penn State
S Jalen Kilgore – South Carolina

Ioane is a special player so it is no surprise the Eagles have interest in him. It is doubtful he falls to 23. Daniel Jeremiah said recently that the GMs he’s talking to in the 15 to 20 range would love to trade back. Howie could swing a deal if that’s a player he really covets.

Dani Dennis-Sutton is the visit that got me excited. If the Eagles want an edge rusher with size to replace Jaelan Phillips, DDS is your guy. He is 6-6, 256 and an explosive athlete. He can line up outside or over the guard. He can drop into coverage. I think DDS would be a great fit in this scheme. He is considered a second or third round prospect. I would have no problem with the Eagles grabbing him in the second.

I would love to see that guy wearing midnight green.

I won’t get into all the Combine meetings. It can be hard to tell how important they are. Here are some misc notes on meetings and player interest.

OT Kadyn Proctor from Alabama said the Eagles showed a lot of interest in him when he met them at the Combine. Players can be a bad source of information, but it does make sense. He has special potential. Procotor is 6-7, 352. He moved around like a dancing bear at the Combine. He got in good shape and was really impressive. His game tape is inconsistent, but he’s got the potential to be a dominant OL. I could easily see Howie coveting him.

Guys that big aren’t supposed to move like that.

The Eagles had a zoom meeting with CB Keith Abney from Arizona State. He is likely to be a second round pick. Abney is a good corner who excels at breaking on the ball. He had 5 INTs and 21 PDs over the past two seasons. He would be a good fit in Vic Fangio’s scheme.

Oklahoma WR Deion Burks met with the team at the Combine. He said they had a great conversation and that he met several people from the organization. I don’t know if that qualifies as anything special, but figured I would mention it.

Not all meetings are created equal.

Hausmann has an interesting story. He was diagnosed as bipolar during his senior year. He didn’t always follow the routine his doctors had laid out and that led to a wild couple of months. He quit the UM football team. He flew to Uganda wanting to help his home country. He came back shortly after that and decided that joining the air force was a good idea. He was traveling to Oregon to pursue that idea and got into a car accident. His parents were finally told about his bipolar disorder. Between them and the doctors they were able to finally get him to deal with the situation. He’s now been following a good routine for about 3 months and wants to play in the NFL.

Hausman has legit talent. He is a tough, physical LB. He is a good tackler. He takes good angles to the ball and has some real pop when he hits. He was a team captain at Michigan (after transferring from Nebraska). If you want a physical LB with leadership skills to replace Nakobe Dean, Hausmann would make a lot of sense. Teams just have to decide if they are comfortable with his situation. Here is a long story breaking down everything. Very interesting and highly frustrating. Hopefully the young man is able to have a pro career and good life.

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