Eagles 2024-2025 Season

[Docs]

its not unusual to take a flier on a former first rounder after their contract is up, especially since Becton and White signed one year prove it deals (and I am and was a fan of both of those signings). I just thought it was different that they have 3 guys still playing on their first contract from the 2022 first round - which ironically was a draft that they went into with 3 first round picks (traded one for Brown & flipped another into 2023).

[LegoDoom]

It's rational. You're obtaining players who showed enough in college to be high draft picks, at a huge discount.
So they don't have to live up to their draft slot to make it a good deal, but the upside may be there.

I know it makes sense, but this wasn't a huge discount.

[Austinfan]

Equivalent to an end of the 3rd rd comp pick, around #100.
That's not a high value pick.
Dotson isn't a failed 1st rd pick clinging to a roster spot, more one who didn't play up to his draft slot but is still a solid player.

[LegoDoom]

Equivalent to an end of the 3rd rd comp pick, around #100.
That's not a high value pick.
Dotson isn't a failed 1st rd pick clinging to a roster spot, more one who didn't play up to his draft slot but is still a solid player.

Terry McLaurin was a 3rd round player and put up double Doctson's yards while playing on the same team. 3rd round picks have a lot of value. Milton Williams was a 3rd round pick and I think this might be his breakout year (hopefully). I also don't think the Eagles are going to be gaining any comp picks because of the FA signings, so the Eagles won't have a 3rd round pick next year?

Former 1st round picks are exciting because they obviously have talent. I am not sure Doctson has turned talent into production in the NFL.

[dicemen99]

Equivalent to an end of the 3rd rd comp pick, around #100.
That's not a high value pick.
Dotson isn't a failed 1st rd pick clinging to a roster spot, more one who didn't play up to his draft slot but is still a solid player.

Terry McLaurin was a 3rd round player and put up double Doctson's yards while playing on the same team. 3rd round picks have a lot of value. Milton Williams was a 3rd round pick and I think this might be his breakout year (hopefully). I also don't think the Eagles are going to be gaining any comp picks because of the FA signings, so the Eagles won't have a 3rd round pick next year?

The Eagles had two 3rds next year. Now they still have one.

[LegoDoom]

Yep. I missed that.

[LegoDoom]

Honestly, I hope he plays so well the Eagles won't be able to afford him in free agency!!

I don't think paying him in FA is a factor here.

I am not positive, but I think the 5th year option is still available after a trade. If he performs well, then it's 3 years of control. If he doesn't, then it's a 3rd round pick for at least a year of mediocrity.

[bkeich]

Shady to the Eagles HOF

[phillychuck]

53 man roster thinking:

Locks(45):

Specialists(3): Lovato, Elliot, Mann

QB(3): Hurts, Pickett, McKee
RB(3): Barkley, Gainwell, Shipley
TE(2): Goedert, Calcaterra
WR(5): AJ.Brown, D.Smith, Dotson, Covey, Wilson
OL(8): Mailata, Dickerson, Jergens, Becton,L.Johnson, Steen, F.Johnson, Keegan

DT(4): Carter, Davis, Williams, Ojomo
Edge(5): Huff, Sweat, Graham, Hunt, N.Smith
LB(4): White, Baun, Dean, Trotter
CB(5): Slay, Mitchell, DeJean, Rogers, Ringo
S(3): CJGJ, Blankenship, Maddox

On the Bubble(13): (Can take 8)

TE: Jenkins
WR: A.Smith
OL: McMahon, Toth
DT: Tuipulotu, Booker
Edge: P.Johnson
LB: Van Sumeren, B.Smith, Burks
CD: Jobe, Ricks
S: McCollum

I would not take: B.Smith, Jenkins, Ricks, Burks, Jobe

PUP List: S.Brown

[billgtrman]

Maybe we can pick up a serviceable TE when the other teams cut their players. But I mostly agree with your picks.

[Docs]

I think special teams play will be considered for some of the backups - two of the guys you are cutting are two of the best special teams players

[LegoDoom]

I'm sure Nolan Smith will make the team, but I am not sure he should.

[phillychuck]

Jobe is a great gunner--if you want him for special teams you can sign him to the practice squad and elevate him a few times (and then promote him if guys go down. Same for Smith. Burks may not get through to the practice squad. If the Eagles want him they will have to cut someone else, probably Toth. P.Johnson, McCollum, VanSumeren, and Jobe are all excellent special teams players. As are S.Brown and Covey, of course. I expect DeJean will play on teams, at least early in the year. We really should have a lot of athletic and fast guys on the cover and return teams. Ringo is supposed to be a good gunner, too.

[dicemen99]

My 53

QB (3) - Hurts, Pickett, McKee
RB (3) - Barkley, Gainwell, Shipley
WR (6) Brown, D. Smith, Dotson, Covey, A. Smith, Wilson
TE (2) - Goedert, Calcaterra
OL (9) - Maileta, Dickerson, Juergen, Becton, L. Johnson, F. Johnson, B. Toth, D. McMahon, D. Kinnard
DT (6) - Carter, Davis, Williams, Ojomo, Tui, Booker
DE (6) - Sweat, Huff, Graham, Hunt, Smith, Johnson
LB (5) - White, Dean, Baun, Trotter, Van Summeren
CB (6) - Slay, Mitchell, Rodgers, Ringo, DeJean, Ricks
S (4) - CGJ, Blankenship, Maddox, Bradberry
Spec (3) - Elliot, Mann, Lovato

IR (Season) - Keegan
IR (Designated to return) - Steen
PUP - S. Brown

Eagles will pick up a third TE after waiver cuts and cut Toth with an agreement to sign him to the PS (he is not subject to waivers) and activate him first game (1 of 2).

Initial Practice Squad
QB (1) - Grier (goes when Toth is resigned)
RB (2) - Davis-Price, Milton
WR (2) - Campbell, Ngata
OL (2) - Dankwah, Vakalahi (exempt)
TE (1) - TBD or Jenkins
DL (2) - Mustipher, Hall
LB (2) - Burks, Smith
CB (2) - Jobe, Nickerson
S (3) - McCollom, Sams, Sterns

[bkeich]

Good list.

I can’t imagine even bothering to sign Grier to the PS. He showed less than nothing, if they wanted a QB there are surely better options out there, particularly as a PS / development guy.

I certainly expect Jenkins has earned a clear PS spot, and maybe even a roster spot. He has really been our most reliable receiver of any all 3 games.

McCollum might also be tough to sneak on to the PS. He might get a roster spot on another team if we cut him, he has stood out.

Ricks on the other hand has almost certainly played his way off the roster. He looked great last preseason, but this year he looked lost and was an easy completion when he was on the field. He might still rate a PS spot, but I think he might just be a “he got hot last year and we were fooled” story. I can’t help but also remember his obvious immaturity last preseason as he picked up one taunting penalty and should have had another. Every good play he made could have been negated as he did stupid things after the play.

[dicemen99]

Grier is just holding the spot and then will be added to the staff in some capacity.

Howie will hold onto Ricks trying to extract a 7th round for him when teams realize they are not going to cut him. It probably won't work and he'll end up getting cut when they add somebody after cut down.

McCollum could make it if they move on from Bradberry. I just don't think they are ready to do that yet. Otherwise, I think he would already be gone. They might be trying to extract late day 3 capital for him as well.

[phillychuck]

My final 53:

Offense (23)
QB (3): Hurts, Pickett, McKee
RB (3): Saquon, Gainwell, Shipley
WR (5): AJ, DeVonte, Dotson, Covey, Wilson (Ainias Smith on IR)
TE (3): Goddert, Calcaterra, Jenkins
OL (9): Mailata, Dickerson, Jurgens, Becton, Johnson, F Johnson, Steen, McMahon, Gates (I think they like Toth a lot but since he’s a vested veteran he wouldn’t be subject to waivers and could go straight to the PS; Keegan to IR)

Defense (27)
Edge (6): Huff, Sweat, BG, Smith, Hunt, P Johnson
DT (6): Carter, Davis, Williams, Ojomo, Tuipulotu, Booker
LB (6): White, Dean, Baun, Trotter, VanSumeren, Burks
CB (5): Slay, Mitchell, Ringo, Rodgers, DeJean
DS (4): CJGJ, Blankenship, Maddox, McCollum (Brown to PUP)

Specialists (3)
Elliot, Lovato, Mann

[xogfog]

I'll take a crack at the practice squad:

QB Grier, RB Davis-Price, WR Ross, WR Ngata, TE Stoll, OT Dankwah, OL Kinnard, OL Hennessy, OG Gates, DE Okwara, DE T. Jackson, DT Mustipher, LB B. Smith, CB Jobe, CB Ricks, S Sam, OT Vakalahi (International)

[Docs]

i feel like hicks will be claimed and that the eagles will attempt to trade a few guys for 7s if they are not planned for the 53. I could see a few guys getting claimed off of this roster.

[Purduke]

I think Gates makes the roster -- I'd rather have him as backup center than McMahon this season. I also thought he looked pretty good at guard. Kinnard to me is a roster lock. Hennessey I think gets picked up by somebody -- he had to be (with Ainias) my top camp disappointment. I don't know if the plan was to try him at LT when he was signed -- or if it arose when they decided to try Becton at RG and it worked. But he just looked lost on the outside -- especially the left side.

I see no reason to bother with Grier (he was also a bit of a disappointment to me) unless he's willing to become one of these "new wave" kick returners. He seemed to have a zip on his fastball and was pretty decisive when he took off. Seems to me that is the new skillset you should be looking for with the rules changes, but it doesn't seem to me the Eagles have figured out what they want to do there.

If you compare 2023 season to this preseason, last year there were 9 KO returns 40+ yards; this preseason 18. So about from 0.5 to 6.0 on a "game season" basis - 12 fold increase. similar to 30+ returns, which is basically a KO win. Up from 31 to 51 -- so a jump from 1.8 to 17.0 -- so call it a 10 fold increase. I think there is something to be "discovered" here. Wish I had confidence Nick & Co were more in the "explorer" mode.

One last thought in that vein. Didn't Sirianni tell us last off season that he was going to rethink his preseason participation philosophy? Given that the Eagles didn't look ready physically to play Game 1 (or 2) the last two season? Personally I don't like it -- I'm a success breeds success type guy.

** Edit: I said Hennessey would get signed somewhere. I meant the OG we signed from Cinncy - Max Schmeling. Too many names crowded into the old AMD these days.