Updated Needs

[time2rock]

Updated Needs

Posted: April 11th, 2024 | Author: Tommy Lawlor

Howie Roseman has had a busy offseason, adding impact players, potential starters and good backups to the Eagles roster. The goal is to have most major needs filled as you go into the draft so you can focus on talent and thinking long term.

 

 

One of the big holes the Eagles had was backup TE. Grant Calcaterra and Albert O are talented projects, but you’d be nervous about having them start in key games. Uzomah has started 82 games in his career and has 192 catches. He has excellent size at 6-5, 271. If Calcaterra or Albert beats him out, that’s great. But you like having a proven veteran in the mix. Dallas Goedert is one of the better TEs in the league, but he hasn’t played a full season since his rookie year.

The Eagles could still draft a TE. This just isn’t a strong class so that lessens the likelihood of a good player being available when you pick. The Eagles might have some player they like and take a chance. Or they could go the UDFA route and see if they can find good value.

Now that TE depth has been addressed, let’s take a look at where the Eagles have needs.

OL – Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta are gone. That may not sound like a big deal, but they were reliable backups for several years. Cam Jurgens is slated to take over at center and Tyler Steen is the frontrunnerat RG. That leave Fred Johnson as the backup OT and Matt Hennessy as the backup G/C. We’ll see if Brett Toth can win a roster spot. The team clearly needs an OL or two to help with depth and competition.

WR – DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell are bandaids. Britain Covey has barely played at WR. The Eagles could use a young, cheap WR to add to the mix. I don’t think they should spend a pick before the third round. We’ll see if the team feels differently.

RB – Saquon Barkley and Kenny Gainwell are a good 1-2 punch. The Eagles need someone to add depth. I think this will be a late round type of pick.

DL – Fletcher Cox retired. Milton Williams will take his spot in the starting lineup. That means the team needs someone to fill Williams role as a key backup. Moro Ojomo could be that guy. He was a late pick last year and I’d be careful about counting on him to be a key player this year. He showed good flashes, but is still an unproven commodity. I could see the Eagles using a mid-round pick on a DL.

Edge – I don’t think the Eagles need anything for 2024. They could take an edge, knowing that BG and Josh Sweat could be gone next year.

LB – The Eagles need talent here. Nakobe Dean is unproven. Devin White is talented, but brings some questions with him. I don’t think there is an off-ball LB worth pick 22. I do think the team could take a LB as early as the second round. They won’t reach, but do need to find a talented player and not just an athletic project.

SAF – CJGJ, Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown give the Eagles a good trio of safeties. I don’t see them investing an early pick at this position, but could add a safety later on, especially if the player has the potential to play in the slot. Could be a priority UDFA spot. It would help to know if the team projects Mekhi Garner as a S or CB. If they like him at S, the team is in good shape at safety.

CB – The Eagles need a young starter for the future (and maybe present). They have been looking at corners, but also nickels. It is possible the Eagles could spend a pair of picks at this position.

*****

I thought this was interesting.

Howie does love the line of scrimmage. To be fair, you have 5 OL and 3 or 4 DL as starters and you need backups so those are high volume positions. Still, there is no question he likes spending high picks on those spot.

http://igglesblitz.com/2024/04/updated-needs/

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Eagles needs… proceed to list every position. Oh other than QB.

[time2rock]

14 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Eagles needs… proceed to list every position. Oh other than QB.

He basically mentioned priority level of each position.  RB, S, edge were not included as immediate needs other than possibly a late round prospect or priority UDFA.  

[Road to Victory]

5 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Eagles needs… proceed to list every position. Oh other than QB.

I don’t see a ton of needs. Definitely an OL who can play RG and eventually RT. Throw in a CB and LB and they’re good. Maybe add some depth on the DL and they should have a complete team. 

[time2rock]

8 hours ago, Road to Victory said:

I don’t see a ton of needs. Definitely an OL who can play RG and eventually RT. Throw in a CB and LB and they’re good. Maybe add some depth on the DL and they should have a complete team. 

For 2024 OL depth for sure and LB.  CB they could probably get by with who they have - both starters from 2023 are returning (even if Bradberry played like a**) and they have Rodgers coming off suspension that they can add to the mix.  And at nickel they have Maddox returning, they signed Hall, and they also brought back CJGJ who can play slot if needed (although I'd prefer he stick at S).  

But drafting isn't for addressing immediate needs ... we have to look at 2025 and beyond.  We don't have a WR3 on the roster other than a couple placeholders (Campbell, Parker) who are not guaranteed roster spots - a pick there makes a ton of sense.  Need that player to be on a cheap rookie contract considering we now have 2 $100M players at the position.  They also won't have much at edge after 2024 so a pick there to develop also makes sense IMO.  CB it really depends on what they feel about Ringo, Ricks, and Jobe.  On one hand I don't think any should be counted on to be reliable starters but they also need to be given time to further develop and prove themselves one way or another.  

[CouchKing]

I like the analysis of historical picks using a draft value chart. Good stuff.

I like that author Tommy Lawler went through a whole bunch of positions, not 100%.

With retiring Cox and Kelce, we need to replenish and plan for succession of aging guys like Lane and BG.

Definitely a need for a premium player at CB. 

First three picks could go EDGE, DL, CB. Or CB, DL, LB.  Or...OT, DL, CB.  Obviously depends who's there.

Howie does not prioritize LB, S, or RB. 

Not enough picks to fix everything. Howie needs to patch things up with more free agents.

Bottom of the draft, all I hope for is depth, special teamers, projects, scouting gems / red star players.

Maybe an alternative scat back, return man. Maybe a backup TE.

Plenty of UDFA and more free agents after the draft.

[Road to Victory]

14 hours ago, time2rock said:

For 2024 OL depth for sure and LB.  CB they could probably get by with who they have - both starters from 2023 are returning (even if Bradberry played like a**) and they have Rodgers coming off suspension that they can add to the mix.  And at nickel they have Maddox returning, they signed Hall, and they also brought back CJGJ who can play slot if needed (although I'd prefer he stick at S).  

But drafting isn't for addressing immediate needs ... we have to look at 2025 and beyond.  We don't have a WR3 on the roster other than a couple placeholders (Campbell, Parker) who are not guaranteed roster spots - a pick there makes a ton of sense.  Need that player to be on a cheap rookie contract considering we now have 2 $100M players at the position.  They also won't have much at edge after 2024 so a pick there to develop also makes sense IMO.  CB it really depends on what they feel about Ringo, Ricks, and Jobe.  On one hand I don't think any should be counted on to be reliable starters but they also need to be given time to further develop and prove themselves one way or another.  

At this point, WR3 is a luxury. We have Brown and Smith locked up plus a good TE and a top RB. I’m not sure how much a WR3 would even see the ball. I’d love to upgrade the position but it’s not a huge need. 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

On 4/18/2024 at 4:30 AM, Road to Victory said:

I don’t see a ton of needs. Definitely an OL who can play RG and eventually RT. Throw in a CB and LB and they’re good. Maybe add some depth on the DL and they should have a complete team. 

I think they need OT who can play RG. They need CB, LB and S plus they need a DE. And they need depth at DT too. Oh and WR #3 too. Plus they could use a young TE. Now obviously can’t do all of that in one draft but that’s where this team is at.