4 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Is there ANY scenario where Rodgers, Mitchell, Ringo and DeJean instill enough confidence that Slay could be moved? I know there are huge cap implications and he's a veteran presence this team needs. 

I think best case scenario is they just decide to go heavy at CB. It gives them more flexibility down the road when Slay isn't on the roster. I'd rather have an extra CB for a year instead of trying to find one when the time comes.

Slay seems more like a goofball than a veteran presence. Lane and BG are those guys. 

 

27 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

Then why trade up for DeJean when you already took a CB in rd 1?

Because they had targeted him as a first round talent that was available in Round 2.   Because they viewed him as an unique talent that can fit multiple roles in a system built on the hybridization of the nickel/safety position.  

Howie is always on the look out for OL players.  We saw that again later in the draft as he went out and brought in multiple OL.   But, the value wasn't right for those OL in Round 2, whereas it was very right for DeJean.  Watching the behind the scenes stuff, it was pretty clear that he was the guy they were focused on throughout the entire 2nd round.  And since you can never truly have enough good DBs... taking one in Round 1 shouldn't stop you in Round 2, especially when your DBs are almost all exclusively aged or still just 'potential' guys that may or may not pan out.   

The draft is about acquiring talent, not about filling roster needs. That's what free agency and trades are for. Mitchell/DeJean were clear BPA at both spots, so they jumped. Even if you prefer Arnold, then CB is still BPA. 

In 2025, neither Bradberry nor Slay is on the roster. We'll finally have younger, faster DBs with cost-controlled contracts as Bradberry/Slay's dead cap hits the books.

32 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Is there ANY scenario where Rodgers, Mitchell, Ringo and DeJean instill enough confidence that Slay could be moved? I know there are huge cap implications and he's a veteran presence this team needs. 

I think best case scenario is they just decide to go heavy at CB. It gives them more flexibility down the road when Slay isn't on the roster. I'd rather have an extra CB for a year instead of trying to find one when the time comes.

Don't think so. Slay will be here and likely gone next season. And then they figure it out with Mitchell, DeJean, Rodgers, Ringo.

30 minutes ago, RLC said:

The draft is about acquiring talent, not about filling roster needs. That's what free agency and trades are for. Mitchell/DeJean were clear BPA at both spots, so they jumped. Even if you prefer Arnold, then CB is still BPA. 

In 2025, neither Bradberry nor Slay is on the roster. We'll finally have younger, faster DBs with cost-controlled contracts as Bradberry/Slay's dead cap hits the books.

I'd argue that every GM drafts for both need and BPA.  They all have their highest rated talent on the board and they all know what positions they need.  It's just a question of where to toggle the compromise.

As secretive as the Eagles often are, Howie is pretty open about his draft approach.  If they have a highly rated BPA at a certain point in the draft, at a position of need, Howie will try to trade up for them rather than wait.  For any team, if they stand pat and have their BPA at a position of need, it's a done deal.  And if the clear BPA is just totally unnecessary on your roster, you trade back.

Howie generally moves about the draft so that the BPA is their position of need.  It's not exactly a revelation.  Everyone more or less does it.

The original response was about a post that said maybe Howie felt they already had young talent at DB so they felt ok going with OT in rd 1.  I don't think that was the case.  I think Howie values OT and would have gone that direction but I don't think he felt they had enough young talent at DB.  And sure they loved DeSean but that's also because they didn't think they had talent for that role.  I didn't think some good OTA reports about Rodgers or Ringo should be fooling anyone.

1 minute ago, pgcd3 said:

The original response was about a post that said maybe Howie felt they already had young talent at DB so they felt ok going with OT in rd 1.  I don't think that was the case.  I think Howie values OT and would have gone that direction but I don't think he felt they had enough young talent at DB.  And sure they loved DeSean but that's also because they didn't think they had talent for that role.  I didn't think some good OTA reports about Rodgers or Ringo should be fooling anyone.

Rodgers has demonstrated he’s a good KR in the NFL; he’s never played 50% of the snaps as a DB.  I’d be rather surprised if he’s a starter for the Eagles in 2024.  
 

The starting secondary should be Slay, Mitchell outside, with CJGJ and Blankenship at safety, while DeJean should be able to beat out Maddox at NCB — but TBD.  The rest of the DBs are only backups until proven otherwise 

17 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

I'd argue that every GM drafts for both need and BPA. 

Most times BPA and need don't match. That's one of the many reasons why drafting is hard. 

11 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

The original response was about a post that said maybe Howie felt they already had young talent at DB so they felt ok going with OT in rd 1.  I don't think that was the case.  I think Howie values OT and would have gone that direction but I don't think he felt they had enough young talent at DB.  And sure they loved DeSean but that's also because they didn't think they had talent for that role.  I didn't think some good OTA reports about Rodgers or Ringo should be fooling anyone.

If that was the case I don't think it was the sole reason. I mentioned I think it could've been one of the reasons. The others obviously being that they highly value OT as one of the two most important positions on a team and they wanted Lane's successor. But the main point is I do wonder if the Eagles internally projected Rodgers and Ringo to be better than a lot of people did on the outside. Maybe they don't, but I'm throwing the possibility out there. Lurie did single out Rodgers to speak very highly of him recently, so I have a feeling they really like him. And they did surrender a 2024 3rd to get Ringo last year.

3 hours ago, BigEFly said:

Becton has been a bit of a bust so far in his career, which is why he was available and for a pretty low cost to be a back up OL.  He’s basically replacing Driscoll at this point.  I believe that both Becton and Hennessy took deals hoping to resurrect their careers under Stout.   Frankly, I hope we don’t get to see any of the back ups needing to play.  

His bustiness is due to injuries. If healthy he has a world of talent.

If, brother. If

 

Worse than ESP. Not close

On 5/31/2024 at 1:52 PM, LeanMeanGM said:

That's an out of left field signing 

Flamed out in WWE. Weird body type for NFL conversion, but we saw Stephen Neal pull off elite wrestling/no college football to NFL back in the day. 3T is the only logical fit.

31 minutes ago, Saltpeter said:

 

Worse than ESP. Not close

Lurie called Belichick to ask his opinion whether Nick was ready for the dual role of HC/GM.  
 

It might be inevitable at this point 

33 minutes ago, Saltpeter said:

 

Worse than ESP. Not close

He is a contemptible human being. Yes, I met him once and wanted to burn my clothes afterwards.

ESP is an attention **** takesman but at least he's not a jerk. I've been told by multiple people that Marcus Hayes is extremely pompous and arrogant. Doesn't make him a bad guy, but does make him a dbag.

And yes, the guy who was one of the best DTs in the NFL as a rookie at a position that typically takes 3 years to blossom "might be a bust"

Even using hyperbole that's laughable.

Jalen Carter a bust? 

5 hours ago, bpac55 said:

Is there ANY scenario where Rodgers, Mitchell, Ringo and DeJean instill enough confidence that Slay could be moved? I know there are huge cap implications and he's a veteran presence this team needs. 

I think best case scenario is they just decide to go heavy at CB. It gives them more flexibility down the road when Slay isn't on the roster. I'd rather have an extra CB for a year instead of trying to find one when the time comes.

 

His dead cap is huge and no way the return would be worth it to justify that.  Just not worth it in a year when the Eagles are absolutely in contention. If he can still play at a high enough level then the Eagles benefit from a veteran on this defense of that caliber plus injuries happen.  Plus injuries happen.  CBs kept should be Slay, Mitchell, DeJean, Rodgers, Ringo, Ricks and Maddox.  As long as they can keep those 7 then no need to trade Slay.  I think the versatility of Maddox and DeJean (probably) to be able to slide back and play some safety will favor the Eagles being able to keep 7 CBs and maybe go lighter at safety. 

2 hours ago, Saltpeter said:

 

Worse than ESP. Not close

He is out of his freaking mind. I can't believe that guy still has a job. Horrible. 

Howie traded Reddick for Huff, a possible 2nd rd pick and about $5M in cap room.

Got a problem with that?

On 5/31/2024 at 1:59 PM, BigEFly said:

Reading isn’t hard, it’s just right up 222 from Lancaster.

I thought it was right up 422 from Pottstown

1 hour ago, austinfan said:

Howie traded Reddick for Huff, a possible 2nd rd pick and about $5M in cap room.

Got a problem with that?

If Huff flops we sure do

1 hour ago, austinfan said:

Howie traded Reddick for Huff, a possible 2nd rd pick and about $5M in cap room.

Got a problem with that?

I like this swap, but there is an argument that this backfires. Reddick is going to be a better player in 2024.

1 hour ago, RLC said:

I like this swap, but there is an argument that this backfires. Reddick is going to be a better player in 2024.

Could be.  Or he could get injured or just not be the same (certainly not wishing for it).  And Huff could bust given more snaps (he was used sparingly after all), or he could get 16 sacks this season.  We won’t know until we know.  I can see both sides of this right now.  

6 hours ago, Saltpeter said:

Flamed out in WWE. Weird body type for NFL conversion, but we saw Stephen Neal pull off elite wrestling/no college football to NFL back in the day. 3T is the only logical fit.

He needs a year to change up his eating, workout routine, and of course learn the position. But an Olympic gold medalist in wrestling…. That’s top notch world class athlete level and then some. Of course you give him a shot 

It was all downhill after this. The definable peak of the 2023 Eagles.