1 hour ago, TEW said:

Totally disagree.

The eagles aren’t that hard to figure out. You know the positions they prioritize and deprioritize. You know the system they use and the types of players they like. You know Howie is most likely to use a small move up to secure a targeted player rather than a massive move up (unless we need a QB). You know the Eagles use their 30 visits for their targets. And you know the holes on the roster.

It’s really not rocket science. 

Yep, they will go OL or DL and move up a few spots to get their guy. If they don’t see a target then they will dump their pick for more draft capital later in the process. Somewhere in the middle to end of day two they will probably grab a DB.

The one wild card this year is that they might look to get a TE that can be the guy after Goedert. 
 

Everything else will be later and roster filling and a hope that an LB picked will be a positive surprise. 

Fangio could theoretically affect how they approach the early rounds. That's the only X-factor for me when it comes to projecting their picks.  He's a very well respected veteran coach so I expect him to have a bit more away when it comes to picking out prospects than someone like Desai. 

That being said...yeah it'll still almost definitely be OL/DL early.

1 hour ago, Iggles_Phan said:

That's the ideal for a RT selection in round 1 this year.

Just drafting a pure RT is going to be highly annoying and typical of this organization in my view. How are you getting better by doing that? Other teams will be drafting impact players to start helping and making their teams better now and in the future, while we sit around staying idle. Plus it could be a Dillard situation, just because you draft a talented replacement player doesn't necaessarily mean he is automatically good years down the line when he finally steps on the field in a FT role. He can still take a couple years to come up to speed after sitting on the bench and by then even if he is good, he will be nearing the end of his rookie contract. And if not, now you will need someone new all over again which would be disastrous.

I just don't like it at all. I would be fine with a combo style player however; Latham, Fautanu, Fuaga, even to a lesser extent Amegadjie, Suamataia. If any of these can slide to RG immediately, which seems like they can, then I would be fine there. When Lane lets the organization know he is looking to retire soon, then you can go ahead and see where the line is at. If your RG is so good that you do not want to move him, just like the other guys we drafted to replace other positions that never happened (Lane, Landon, Isaac, Andrews), then just draft or sign the replacement at that time or the year prior if it makes sense.

Howie is supposedly one of the best GM's in the league, he should be able to handle that. Drafting a pure Lane replacement right now seems like a cop out and lazy move to me. This defense is in the bottom third of the league with age in the secondary and just sub par players and talent. If we had a near complete team, I still wouldn't like it but I'd be much more understanding. With this team in the state that it is with new coordinators, you need to address the major concerns staring you in the face now and in the future. 

26 minutes ago, Freshmilk said:

An OL in the first round this draft would be so disappointing.  We need playmakers on D. Nubin, Bullard, DeJean, Wiggins, Arnold, Mckinstry, Wilson, Cooper, Watson are all players I would prefer over OL with our top 3 picks.

With the Eagles having 3 picks in the top 53 I have no doubt we will be subjected to one OL, but we don't have to draft Lane's replacement  now.  We don't even have to draft his replacement,  we can sign a FA as his replacement when he retires.

Most here agree we lack talent on D…at least in the back 7.  What we don’t know is how much Howie and the coaches agree with that sentiment.  I don’t believe they feel "we’re fine there”, but they probably don’t feel as strongly about it as many fans.  Howie/Sirianni went out and got two top coordinators.  I believe that they believe this is much of the solution.  I’m sure they would always like better players but, again, I’m not convinced they feel we are as talentless on the back end of the D as fans do.  
 

I could be wrong and they trade up for a top CB and then go get a top LB in the 2nd before targeting OT, but it would surprise me.

https://www.nfl.com/news/five-round-2024-nfl-mock-draft-round-1

We trade up to 16 to draft... Graham Barton

7 minutes ago, greendestiny27 said:

Just drafting a pure RT is going to be highly annoying and typical of this organization in my view. How are you getting better by doing that? Other teams will be drafting impact players to start helping and making their teams better now and in the future, while we sit around staying idle. Plus it could be a Dillard situation, just because you draft a talented replacement player doesn't mean he is automatic years down the line when he finally steps on the field in a FT role. You have to wait possibly years to even see what you have, and there's no telling if he will even be that great. He can still take a couple years to come up to speed and by then even if he is good, he will be nearing the end of his rookie contract. And if not, now you will need someone new all over again which would be disastrous.

I just don't like it at all. I would be fine with a combo style player however; Latham, Fautanu, Fuaga, even to a lesser extent Amegadjie, Suamataia. If any of these can slide to RG immediately, which seems like they can, then I would be fine there. When Lane lets the organization know he is looking to retire soon, then you can go ahead and see where the line is at. If your RG is so good that you do not want to move him, just like the other guys we drafted to replace other positions that never happened (Lane, Landon, Isaac, Andrews), then just draft or sign the replacement at that time or the year prior if it makes sense.

Howie is supposedly one of the best GM's in the league, he should be able to handle that. Drafting a pure Lane replacement right now seems like a cop out and lazy move to me. This defense is in the bottom third of the league with age in the secondary and just sub par players and talent. If we had a near complete team, I still wouldn't like it but I'd be much more understanding. With this team in the state that it is with new coordinators, you need to address the major concerns staring you in the face now and in the the future. 

What about Caedan Wallace as a Day 3 pick. Played RT and good fundamentals. Not near as athletic as Lane but can probably play RG. Would be a great depth pick. 

5 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

https://www.nfl.com/news/five-round-2024-nfl-mock-draft-round-1

We trade up to 16 to draft... Graham Barton

I’d actually be OK with him at 22. Not my ideal pick, but he seems to have all-pro upside. 

11 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

https://www.nfl.com/news/five-round-2024-nfl-mock-draft-round-1

We trade up to 16 to draft... Graham Barton

I would storm Novacare.

I like Barton. But trading UP to select a RG at 22 who is not an all-time athlete is just bad process.

If we stay put at 22 and take Barton, I wouldn't love it...but fine. IMO, if Jurgens is our C, we need a big RG next to him. Smaller centers need to be beside bigger guards.

39 minutes ago, Freshmilk said:

An OL in the first round this draft would be so disappointing.  We need playmakers on D. Nubin, Bullard, DeJean, Wiggins, Arnold, Mckinstry, Wilson, Cooper, Watson are all players I would prefer over OL with our top 3 picks.

With the Eagles having 3 picks in the top 53 I have no doubt we will be subjected to one OL, but we don't have to draft Lane's replacement  now.  We don't even have to draft his replacement,  we can sign a FA as his replacement when he retires.

Prepare your disappointment to be fulfilled.

This is a great OT class that lacks playmakers on defense. So right off the bat we are more likely to have an OT as BPA.

We also need a starting RG this year and an heir to Lane Johnson for the future.

The eagles have not signed a free agent to start at OT in 24 years. We draft them to save money on the cap since OT is a very expensive position and rookies have fixed low cost contracts.

1 hour ago, ManuManu said:

Yeah, that’s why I’m not convinced we’re going OT at 22 unless they can play RG. While it’s a deep OT class with a lot of expected first-round picks, the guys expected to be available at 22 aren’t guys who would really go all that much higher in other drafts. Guyton isn’t even a better prospect than former teammate Anton Harrison, who went late 20s last year. Mims is incredibly talented, but he has a whole lot of red flags.

Just looking at recent drafts… Tyler Smith went 24 in 2022 and is a stud guard who will likely kick out to tackle at some point. Christian Darrisaw went 23 in 2021. Dillard busted but went 22 and Tytus Howard 23 in 2019. 

I guess my overarching point is that we don’t have to force a pick this year due to some preconceived notion that this class is so deep we can’t afford to wait on OT. 

Depends on how they evaluate them. I could see Stoutland banging the table for a guy like Mims or Fautanu and telling Howie he will turn either into a star like he did with Mailata.

And to me it isn’t just do they need to take OT this year, but it’s if not, what other position do they take and does it make more sense? CB is the only one that makes obviously more immediate sense. But we’ll see if they add a guy before the draft. But even then if Arnold and Mitchell are long gone, what are the odds a CB at 22 is the highest graded player on their board? And if they trade up, would they really trade up for a non Mitchell or Arnold CB assuming they get taken out of range? 
 

Edge rusher? The same logic used for OT could be used for edge. Won’t play a ton as a rookie.  I just don’t know unless Arnold or Mitchell or someone like Dallas Turner fall, if there will be a player the Eagles love within range they will want to take over an OT. The Eagles MO is to go get specific guys they covet. Standing Pat and just taking the best guy there in the first round really isn’t their style in recent years. So give all the possibilities I think an OT they love being in range and them loving one of them is the most likely scenario but certainly no lock. I could see a scenario where Arnold falls a bit and they trade up to grab him or something.

14 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

https://www.nfl.com/news/five-round-2024-nfl-mock-draft-round-1

We trade up to 16 to draft... Graham Barton

If they like Barton, I think they could trade back and still get him.  I could see Dallas being interested in him at 24 but I think Jerry Jones is going RB in the first round at this point.

18 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

https://www.nfl.com/news/five-round-2024-nfl-mock-draft-round-1

We trade up to 16 to draft... Graham Barton

This would get and deserve a F grade. 

9 minutes ago, RLC said:

I would storm Novacare.

I like Barton. But trading UP to select a RG at 22 who is not an all-time athlete is just bad process.

If we stay put at 22 and take Barton, I wouldn't love it...but fine. IMO, if Jurgens is our C, we need a big RG next to him. Smaller centers need to be beside bigger guards.

We don’t have his jumps, probably for good reason, but he might be an all-time athlete from a movement perspective. 

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

We don’t have his jumps, probably for good reason, but he might be an all-time athlete from a movement perspective. 

I can picture Alec, Julian and the rest of the nerd team drooling over this guy, really hope I'm wrong there. 

I think some people might be underestimating how much Lane likes playing football / being a football player. I don't think he's in a hurry to be done with working out and keeping in shape. Those are things he also enjoys. He's close to turning 34 and I can easily see him playing at 38 years old. When he gets to the point where he really starts considering retirement, he'll probably do the Kelce thing and decide to play a little longer a couple times. 

Just now, greendestiny27 said:

I can picture Alec, Julian and the rest of the nerd team drooling over this guy, really hope I'm wrong there. 

They still need Stout to sign off. If he does, I’m good, presuming our front office actually does the work and isn’t scrambling 24 hours before the draft like they did with Dillard.

The Eagles haven't drafted a pure OG in the first round since Watkins and it went horribly wrong. I really don't think they go OL in round 1 who doesn't have elite OT upside unless for whatever reason they completely soured on Jurgens in the last year and want another center. And I don't think that's happened. And I don't know why they would. They've had success with the model of finding really good OGs elsewhere and not needing to use first rounders on them.

17 minutes ago, RLC said:

I would storm Novacare.

I like Barton. But trading UP to select a RG at 22 who is not an all-time athlete is just bad process.

If we stay put at 22 and take Barton, I wouldn't love it...but fine. IMO, if Jurgens is our C, we need a big RG next to him. Smaller centers need to be beside bigger guards.

He is a pretty damn good athlete fwiw. 

But to trade up for a guard with Arnold, Fuaga, Newton, Fautanu, Latu, Mims, DeJean all on the board would be a choice. 

2 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

The Eagles haven't drafted a pure OG in the first round since Watkins and it went horribly wrong. I really don't think they go OL in round 1 who doesn't have elite OT upside unless for whatever reason they completely soured on Jurgens in the last year and want another center. And I don't think that's happened. And I don't know why they would. They've had success with the model of finding really good OGs elsewhere and not needing to use first rounders on them.

Depends on what f they have a round 1 grade on him. They’re picking at 22, so he might be the only first round grade left on their board, and it would line up at a position of need. 

If he’s in the same tier as a more valuable position, then they’ll go in a different direction. 

1 minute ago, ManuManu said:

Depends on what f they have a round 1 grade on him. They’re picking at 22, so he might be the only first round grade left on their board, and it would line up at a position of need. 

If he’s in the same tier as a more valuable position, then they’ll go in a different direction. 

Well that's the thing I think positional value is something the Eagles really value. It's why they've literally only drafted 4 areas of the team in the first round since 2003. QB, OL, DL, WR. And of the OL not iOL since Watkins. And while CB isn't on that list, I actually think it's a position they value and a lot of it is circumstance. Multiple reporters have said if Horn or Surtain fell to 10 in 2021 they'd be Eagles right now. And if the Eagles didn't trade for AJ Brown that pick would've been McDuffie.

I don't think Howie is going to want to be in the position where an iOL is the best player on their board. I think Howie will look at the draft as a failure if he can't come away with an OT, CB, EDGE. And if for whatever reason it shakes out that way, and they're there at 22 and iOL is best available, I think they trade down.

But that mock has them trading up for Barton. I'd be completely floored if they trade up for a guard. It would be the antithesis of everything the Eagles do and how they care about value.

Trading up for Barton would be a joke. Drafting him at 22 would be questionable. Moving down and drafting him would be fine.

I still think if they go OL in round 1 it will be an OT prospect who can slide inside to G until Lame retires. Specifically Latham and Fuaga seem to fit that bill.

3 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Well that's the thing I think positional value is something the Eagles really value. It's why they've literally only drafted 4 areas of the team in the first round since 2003. QB, OL, DL, WR. And of the OL not iOL since Watkins. And while CB isn't on that list, I actually think it's a position they value and a lot of it is circumstance. Multiple reporters have said if Horn or Surtain fell to 10 in 2021 they'd be Eagles right now. And if the Eagles didn't trade for AJ Brown that pick would've been McDuffie.

I don't think Howie is going to want to be in the position where an iOL is the best player on their board. I think Howie will look at the draft as a failure if he can't come away with an OT, CB, EDGE. And if for whatever reason it shakes out that way, and they're there at 22 and iOL is best available, I think they trade down.

But that mock has them trading up for Barton. I'd be completely floored if they trade up for a guard. It would be the antithesis of everything the Eagles do and how they care about value.

I’d be stunned by a trade up for a guard too.

 

1 hour ago, Freshmilk said:

An OL in the first round this draft would be so disappointing.  We need playmakers on D. Nubin, Bullard, DeJean, Wiggins, Arnold, Mckinstry, Wilson, Cooper, Watson are all players I would prefer over OL with our top 3 picks.

With the Eagles having 3 picks in the top 53 I have no doubt we will be subjected to one OL, but we don't have to draft Lane's replacement  now.  We don't even have to draft his replacement,  we can sign a FA as his replacement when he retires.

Those types rarely come free. You end up spending a fortune on an older player.

a key part of roster/cap balance is the have a few premium positions below market value

1 hour ago, greendestiny27 said:

Just drafting a pure RT is going to be highly annoying and typical of this organization in my view. How are you getting better by doing that? Other teams will be drafting impact players to start helping and making their teams better now and in the future, while we sit around staying idle. Plus it could be a Dillard situation, just because you draft a talented replacement player doesn't necaessarily mean he is automatically good years down the line when he finally steps on the field in a FT role. He can still take a couple years to come up to speed after sitting on the bench and by then even if he is good, he will be nearing the end of his rookie contract. And if not, now you will need someone new all over again which would be disastrous.

I just don't like it at all. I would be fine with a combo style player however; Latham, Fautanu, Fuaga, even to a lesser extent Amegadjie, Suamataia. If any of these can slide to RG immediately, which seems like they can, then I would be fine there. When Lane lets the organization know he is looking to retire soon, then you can go ahead and see where the line is at. If your RG is so good that you do not want to move him, just like the other guys we drafted to replace other positions that never happened (Lane, Landon, Isaac, Andrews), then just draft or sign the replacement at that time or the year prior if it makes sense.

Howie is supposedly one of the best GM's in the league, he should be able to handle that. Drafting a pure Lane replacement right now seems like a cop out and lazy move to me. This defense is in the bottom third of the league with age in the secondary and just sub par players and talent. If we had a near complete team, I still wouldn't like it but I'd be much more understanding. With this team in the state that it is with new coordinators, you need to address the major concerns staring you in the face now and in the future. 

Far too shortsighted