12 minutes ago, Outlaw said:

I literally can not wait to see him in Eagles green. It’s going to be a lonnnng summer. 

Agreed. There will be a Steen vs Hennessy "camp battle” but I expect to see Steen starting week 1…with a short leash for him with Hennessy waiting in the wings. 

It was Penix’s mom. 

 

28 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

Or a washout bust

I don’t think playing ability is his issue is the point.

It’s just injury problems. That happens — it’s the NFL.

I understand any skepticism about Becton, but this is not a Chance Warmack situation. Becton has actually played well at times in his career. Warmack was just a bad player.

Even with all his warts, this is a major upgrade. We were a snap away from starting Fred Johnson. 

Unless Lane decides to retire next offseason, Becton probably won’t be in position to be our RT of the future. I suspect he’ll end up rehabilitating his image enough and getting a shot elsewhere. I wonder if he had other interested teams, but those teams drafted OTs and moved on. The timeline would make sense. 

11 minutes ago, kiwieagle said:

Yeah, it’s the plan B after the board fell the way it did.
 

They probably never thought they’d be able to grab both Quinyon and Dejean. The price of that was probably not being able to spend a high pick on an OL. 

Any good GM will have fall back contingencies

3 minutes ago, TEW said:

I don’t think playing ability is his issue is the point.

It’s just injury problems. That happens — it’s the NFL.

I thinks also diet/conditioning…thats a discipline issue

2 minutes ago, TEW said:

I don’t think playing ability is his issue is the point.

It’s just injury problems. That happens — it’s the NFL.

It’s beyond that. He’s battled weight issues too. He was 400 pounds while rehabbing his knee. 

3 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

I thinks also diet/conditioning…thats a discipline issue

Are you basing this on anything (honest question — I don’t know about the guy’s personality) or is this more speculation based on his size?

Advice for Becton...

This paragraph was hilarious from Schefter. It’s like he felt embarrassed to carry water for the agent and had to remain somewhat honest in his reporting. 

"Back at his natural position, where he delivered highlight-film blocks as a rookie, Becton flashed his immense potential for long stretches in 2023. In the end, he committed 12 penalties (second most in the NFL) and allowed 12.5 sacks, according to Next Gen Stats, but he was satisfied because he accomplished his No. 1 goal, which was to stay healthy.”

42 minutes ago, Appalachian_Eagle said:

Hey JR, I don’t post much but I’d just like to say, I really enjoy reading your breakdowns of the OL. That being said, I think everyone is overlooking a current RT on our roster that is only 24 years old. I’m a huge Kentucky Wildcat fan and have followed the team for a long time. Darian Kinnard was an excellent player for us. He was 2X first team SEC, consensus first team all American in 2021, Jacobs blocking award winner 2021, and 1 of 3 power 5 tackles that graded an 85 or higher in run and pass blocking. His junior year everyone was saying he would get drafted in the 1st or 2nd round. He came back his senior year and still performed at a high level but his draft stock dropped a little and he was taken in the 5th round. Haven’t followed his pro career much. Care to give some insight on him and see what you think? The guy is still young and maybe Stoutland can unlock his potential, cause the guy can definitely play.

I posted on him a little while back. I called him ponderous IIRC. Not quick enough for tackle. Plays high. Bad arm placement. I watched about twenty snaps and he could have been called for holding on ten of them. Might make a decent guard. Regardless, he desperately needs coaching, and he’s come to the right place. If he’s here Stoutland must think he’s worth coaching up. I don’t know who the Kentucky OL coach is but he did Kinnard no favors.

Sorry I can’t be more optimistic.

Just looked at our cap numbers for next year and 2026 and we can’t afford our draft picks to not perform. Also really really need Hurts to play well.

Dead last in cap space in 2027 and 2nd to last in 2026.

9 minutes ago, just relax said:

I posted on him a little while back. I called him ponderous IIRC. Not quick enough for tackle. Plays high. Bad arm placement. I watched about twenty snaps and he could have been called for holding on ten of them. Might make a decent guard. Regardless, he desperately needs coaching, and he’s come to the right place. If he’s here Stoutland must think he’s worth coaching up. I don’t know who the Kentucky OL coach is but he did Kinnard no favors.

Sorry I can’t be more optimistic.

John Schlarman was the OL coach until he passed away in 2020. He was credited with forming the big blue wall, as Kentuckys offensive lines were usually really good while he was there. Maybe his passing had something to do with his regression with the new coaching. Either way, I would like to see what Stoutland can do with him. In your opinion, are these issues that can be fixed with coaching? Or would a position change do him justice due to his limitations?

18 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Just looked at our cap numbers for next year and 2026 and we can’t afford our draft picks to not perform. Also really really need Hurts to play well.

Dead last in cap space in 2027 and 2nd to last in 2026.

Super Bowl or rust...

It will be interesting to see if DeJean has a shorter path to the starting lineup than Mitchell does.  DeJean could have an inside track to the starting nickel CB role over Maddox, who was brought back on the cheap and usually has one foot in the trainer’s room.  Mitchell can hopefully beat out Bradberry for the boundary CB opposite Slay, but Toledo is a long way from the NFL.

I heard a few commentators talk about how Iowa players are coached up to step into the NFL right away.

 

 

1 hour ago, Texas Eagle said:

Just looked at our cap numbers for next year and 2026 and we can’t afford our draft picks to not perform. Also really really need Hurts to play well.

Dead last in cap space in 2027 and 2nd to last in 2026.

Howie has made his bets and re-signed almost all the core for the next few years which people doubted he could do. But those bets come with a price for sure.  You need your big ticket guys to produce

but they are also last in cap space because they have locked in their guys. Other teams simply don’t have that many stars locked in yet

3 hours ago, just relax said:

If the Becton signing was in the works before or during the draft it explains a lot about the Eagles strategy. All my ****ing and moaning about lack of depth at tackle was just noise and stupidity.

You don't think Howie is finished, do you? I'm sure there's plan B, plan C . . .

He has 2025 5ths and 7ths available as trading chips come August (when a rookie looks good and that expensive vet . . . )

3 hours ago, greendestiny27 said:

Feels like we are losing a lot and not getting new guys in the front office 

Lurie doesn't skimp when it comes to paying scouts and personnel directors.

So if they're not leaving for a promotion (good sign) then they've probably are leaving b/c it's time to go.

2 minutes ago, austinfan said:

You don't think Howie is finished, do you? I'm sure there's plan B, plan C . . .

He has 2025 5ths and 7ths available as trading chips come August (when a rookie looks good and that expensive vet . . . )

I think Becton was plan B if they didn’t draft an OT in rd 1. But the quick signing shows they recognized plan B was a possibility. I’d bet we see Howie try to flip a young CB for a LB at some point in camp. Maybe even a guard still

25 minutes ago, NOTW said:

 

 

He's not wrong, but I don't know that I like this schtick any more than his others. 

2018: Started all 13 games at offensive tackle ... scored on a one-yard touchdown run on the first play of the fourth quarter against Indiana State.

 

standout on the basketball court as a center


364 pound Mekhi Becton.  

someone like that can be size weapon, blocking TE or just somewhere on the field,  Defensive Line.  Or just somewhere on the field.  Off ball LB who typically blizes.  5.10 40 is good for the super giant size.

1 hour ago, Alphagrand said:

It will be interesting to see if DeJean has a shorter path to the starting lineup than Mitchell does.  DeJean could have an inside track to the starting nickel CB role over Maddox, who was brought back on the cheap and usually has one foot in the trainer’s room.  Mitchell can hopefully beat out Bradberry for the boundary CB opposite Slay, but Toledo is a long way from the NFL.

I heard a few commentators talk about how Iowa players are coached up to step into the NFL right away.

The belief about DeJean was that he could play multiple positions.   If DeJean is going to be better at a position Mitchell can't play,  I'd think DeJean could get on the field quicker.  Mitchell, long term should in theory be better at a position that is more expensive. 

2 hours ago, Texas Eagle said:

Just looked at our cap numbers for next year and 2026 and we can’t afford our draft picks to not perform. Also really really need Hurts to play well.

Dead last in cap space in 2027 and 2nd to last in 2026.

We're in the window right now. There is literally zero excuse for this offense to not be top 3 this season, and if the defense can be just average then there's no reason to not make it to the Super Bowl in this conference. 

If SF gives Purdy a mega contract this season, they probably fall off a cliff and next season becomes out best shot unless Detroit stays hot

3 hours ago, TEW said:

I don’t think playing ability is his issue is the point.

It’s just injury problems. That happens — it’s the NFL.

It’s both health and needing to be coached up. The tools are all there and he has flashed a ton but also not been consistent. He gave up a ton of sacks last year. 
 

But there isn’t a better place for all that talent to be realised than Stout U.

55 minutes ago, Random Reglar said:

364 pound Mekhi Becton.  

Off ball LB who typically blizes.  5.10 40 is good for the super giant size.

While we are at it, why not just have him play press corner with all that strength