18 minutes ago, just relax said:

I think so. It’s worth remembering that they traded down three times before drafting him so they weren’t in a rush to make that pick. I believe they had by then collected a third and a fourth in 2025. As I said, no rush.

Good point

16 minutes ago, Texas Eagle said:

Do you think the Eagles still gamble with Hunt in R3 if they didn't get two blue chip players in R1 + R2?

Interesting question.  Let me put it this way... having landed two of their very top prospects with the top 2 picks, freed them up to take a bit more risk with pick number 3.  And we saw them really roll the dice... trade back, trade back, trade back... and then pick a project.  But, the payoff of that gamble is spread over all the picks acquired with those trade backs, not just Hunt.  So, they mitigated the risk a bit, but absolutely, I think they felt that they could take that chance because of what they already had in the bag.  (A bird in the hand beats two in the bush.)   

 

Also, it seems as though Hunt might have been the target the entire time for the 3rd round, which is why it was so important for them to trade with a team that would take 50 and 53 to get a trade up to land the top target (Dejean) while also getting a 3rd round pick in this draft, rather than any other trade option out there.  Sounds like Hunt was the target for the 3rd round pick all along.  And Howie really rolled the dice with the trade backs leaving him sit there.  And it seems it worked out the way they hoped it would.   Whether or not it was a good move remains to be seen, but the PROCESS couldn't have been better.  The EVALUATION part remains to be seen.  The one thing that we can't argue against Howie about is how he maneuvers during the draft and how he targets players.   Very very few times has he been sniped.  And he seems to be able to forecast often where his targets are going to go off the board.   The moves after Dejean was selected really makes things obvious that he couldn't have timed the move for Dejean at a better time.  Not a single pick in those 4 CBs in a row was owned by the original team.  Eagles jumped up with Washington.  Saints immediately jumped up with Green Bay.  The next pick was part of the Minnesota trade up in Round 1... but the next pick was Arizona trading back with Atlanta.   So, it seemed there were 3 teams desperately trying to move up into that area for CBs... and one sitting and lurking for one.  

17 minutes ago, McMVP said:

Agreed…I rarely listen to sports radio anymore.  I’m mainly listening to books on tape or music in the car.

That being said, SiriusXM NFL radio is still worth a listen. Particularly the show Moving the Chains w/ Jim Miller and Pat Kirwan.  I think they bring a unique insight.  They at least are certainly not after click-bait topics.  They focus much more on roster building and cap management than any show out there.  

You might be right.  But, I'm old school.   I don't pay for radio.

Why would the Eagles start DeJean on the outside, they have Slay, Mitchell and Ringo, none of whom are likely to play inside. So little PT unless there are injuries.

It makes more sense to start DeJean inside, then move him outside if the need arises and someone like Ricks can't handle it.

13 minutes ago, GoEagles614 said:

I’m eager to see the difference in Mitchell and Terrion Arnold in a few years. Could it be Reagor v Jefferson 2.0? Same with Cooper vs Kool-Aid. 

Possible, I guess.   Except for a couple things.   

Reagor was widely projected as a second round pick going into the draft.   Reagor was talked about as some kind of uber athlete, super speedster leading up to the Combine, and then dramatically disappointed in his 40 time.  (He had boasted about trying to set the all-time record, iirc, or at least running a 4.3 that year.  He came up around a 4.4, I think.)   And Reagor did very little to show versatility as a receiver.

By comparison, Mitchell was looked at as a guy playing weaker competition, then went to the Senior Bowl and showed out against the top talent in the draft (Marvin Harrison, Jr. excepted).  Mitchell also went to the Combine and showed out as a tremendous athlete confirming what was seen on the field. 

And then there's the mental side, which is likely the most important difference, Mitchell showed his competitive edge and drive to succeed with how he conducted himself at Senior Bowl practices.  He showed he wasn't there to coast, but there to grind.   Reagor never had that kind of internal push.  He was a coaster, not a grinder.  Mitchell wants to be the best, Reagor always came across as aloof and contented.  

 

 

Not to mention, Jefferson was widely acknowledged by just about everyone as the better prospect going into the draft, and Reagor was widely discussed as being a reach, even at the time.   While a lot of people didn't have Jefferson as highly rated as I had him, he was no lower than the #4 WR in that draft by nearly everyone, while Reagor bounced around in a variety of places between 5 and about 10.  Higgins, Aiyuk, even Hamler were higher rated by a lot of different folks that year.  The Eagles just screwed up big time, by looking for specific traits in the WR rather than looking for a good WR.   They wanted a fast guy, and frankly, drafted a guy who's speed was highly overrated.  Ironically, Jefferson ran faster at the Combine than Reagor.

6 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Why would the Eagles start DeJean on the outside, they have Slay, Mitchell and Ringo, none of whom are likely to play inside. So little PT unless there are injuries.

It makes more sense to start DeJean inside, then move him outside if the need arises and someone like Ricks can't handle it.

On the ESPN report other than the scout quote it was all stuff we've heard and the DeJean stuff just seemed like a guess.

4 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Why would the Eagles start DeJean on the outside, they have Slay, Mitchell and Ringo, none of whom are likely to play inside. So little PT unless there are injuries.

It makes more sense to start DeJean inside, then move him outside if the need arises and someone like Ricks can't handle it.

It might be because they plan to bring Mitchell along a little slower, as he's the more raw prospect and might need a little bit more time to learn the intricacies of the position at the NFL level.  Remembering back, it was Sheldon Brown, not Lito Sheppard that got on the field first back in 2002.  Granted, that was because they needed a nickel and Sheppard wasn't that guy... but I think its worth noting Mitchell's raw talent is what got him drafted in the first round, not his technique.

And people continually talk up Ringo... Pure projection.   

 

And... I'd tell Slay he needs to WIN the job.  It's not his right now.  He was one of the first players to bail on this team last year when things got rough, if not the first.   He's not a starter Day 1 to me.  He needs to show that his play (not his contract) warrants that position.   And, if he doesn't like it, and he wants to pout... I'd show him the door.

28 minutes ago, GoEagles614 said:

I’m eager to see the difference in Mitchell and Terrion Arnold in a few years. Could it be Reagor v Jefferson 2.0? Same with Cooper vs Kool-Aid. 

Even if both Mitchell and DeJean bust, it's not the same. 

Reagor was considered a reach at the time the pick was made.

 

3 minutes ago, RLC said:

Even if both Mitchell and DeJean bust, it's not the same. 

Reagor was considered a reach at the time the pick was made.

Precisely.

16 hours ago, Utebird said:

4.8 forty 😳 Yikes, if he were 260 like his dad maybe not as big a flag but hes 228.

Small and slow isnt generally what teams look for in nfl players...

What I got out of the 2 sets of numbers is that Trotter got hurt at the combine.  At the combine he ran the 3 cone and the shuttle and got hurt (hamstring) somewhere there.   Didn't do pro day,  because still hurt.  Then ran on April 9.   The numbers on April 9 weren't so good.   Most notably,  he ran the 3 cone and the shuttle again,  after doing those at the combine,  and those numbers were not as good in April.   My guess is that Trotter was not 100% in April,  causing him to put up numbers that were not as good as they would have been at the combine if he was 100%.   So,  yeah,  that April 40 time was kinda bad.  And I don't think that he would have put up a great 40 time if he was 100%.  But I don't think his normal 40 time was as bad as 4.80.  I would guess somewhere in the 4.6 something range.

 

Combine
Coming off Feb 2024 Hamstring
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.40
3-Cone Drill: 7.13
No 40s-Full Workout-Choice

April 9

40 Yrd Dash: 4.82
20 Yrd Dash: 2.81
10 Yrd Dash: 1.64
20 Yrd Shuttle: 4.50
3-Cone Drill: 7.33
40 Time Range: 4.81-4.82/Projected: 4.64/**+.18

9 minutes ago, RLC said:

Even if both Mitchell and DeJean bust, it's not the same. 

Reagor was considered a reach at the time the pick was made.

Exactly I heard a clip where ESP said Howie better be right because he went with small school guy but I don't Howie is any less on the hook if he takes Arnold who most rated as #2 behind Mitchell. Either way he'll get praise or blame depending how it goes

5 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

It might be because they plan to bring Mitchell along a little slower, as he's the more raw prospect and might need a little bit more time to learn the intricacies of the position at the NFL level.  Remembering back, it was Sheldon Brown, not Lito Sheppard that got on the field first back in 2002.  Granted, that was because they needed a nickel and Sheppard wasn't that guy... but I think its worth noting Mitchell's raw talent is what got him drafted in the first round, not his technique.

And people continually talk up Ringo... Pure projection.   

 

And... I'd tell Slay he needs to WIN the job.  It's not his right now.  He was one of the first players to bail on this team last year when things got rough, if not the first.   He's not a starter Day 1 to me.  He needs to show that his play (not his contract) warrants that position.   And, if he doesn't like it, and he wants to pout... I'd show him the door.

Ringo isn't pure projection, he was the best CB of the stable of rookies and second year guys last season, flashed real talent.

He needs more polish but the raw athleticism and size are there. Started for both Georgia championship teams. He lacks the fluid hips to stay with quick, agile WRs in man, but that's less of a problem in the Eagles scheme.

"Overall, Ringo struggles to stay in phase because of undeveloped technique and awareness, but he is a freaky and competitive athlete with the size/speed blend that NFL defensive coordinators covet."

Which is exactly what we saw. How much he can progress the next two seasons is an open question, but this is probably Slay's last season.

 

39 minutes ago, GoEagles614 said:

I’m eager to see the difference in Mitchell and Terrion Arnold in a few years. Could it be Reagor v Jefferson 2.0? Same with Cooper vs Kool-Aid. 

More likely scheme dependent. Mitchell is better suited to Eagles scheme with lots of off coverage where his size and speed will make it hard to beat him deep, might not be as effective in a man scheme on an island (see Ringo).

DeJean would be a good but not great boundary corner, but could be All Pro at safety where he can use instincts and ball skills to wreck havoc.

14 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Precisely.

You were the flag bearer for Justin Jefferson at 21 overall!

6 minutes ago, austinfan said:

More likely scheme dependent. Mitchell is better suited to Eagles scheme with lots of off coverage where his size and speed will make it hard to beat him deep, might not be as effective in a man scheme on an island (see Ringo).

DeJean would be a good but not great boundary corner, but could be All Pro at safety where he can use instincts and ball skills to wreck havoc.

I could see CGJ and DeJ alternating based on the slot match up (quicks and bigs respectively).

 

41 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Ringo isn't pure projection, he was the best CB of the stable of rookies and second year guys last season, flashed real talent.

He needs more polish but the raw athleticism and size are there. Started for both Georgia championship teams. He lacks the fluid hips to stay with quick, agile WRs in man, but that's less of a problem in the Eagles scheme.

"Overall, Ringo struggles to stay in phase because of undeveloped technique and awareness, but he is a freaky and competitive athlete with the size/speed blend that NFL defensive coordinators covet."

Which is exactly what we saw. How much he can progress the next two seasons is an open question, but this is probably Slay's last season.

  Holding Ringo up as the tallest midget in the circus is high praise.   The stable of rookies and second year guys is a group of JAGs.  Ringo is as much projection as Mitchell and Dejean.  He didn't flash much, and on a defense that was as bad as this one was, he struggled to get on the field.   That's a concern.   

I'm not writing him off, but as I said before the draft... I'm not basing any roster decisions on his presence, just as I wouldn't base any draft decisions on his presence.  So, if I'm a coach who believes that Dejean can play outside CB in the NFL, I'm not going to slow his progression down because of Ringo.   If Ringo shows he's better than Dejean, then I might consider moving Dejean inside.   But, as of right now... I want to see Mitchell and Dejean and Ringo at outside CB.   Let them battle for the position.    And I think that Dejean can handle moving to the slot on the fly, if he's not a starting outside CB this year.   He likely needs to be on the field, but I have the belief that he can.  

 

Ringo was a 4th round pick, for a reason.  Mitchell was a first round pick, for a reason.   Dejean was a 2nd round pick, for a reason.   Those reasons continue to matter, until any or all of them prove what they are or are not on the field in the NFL.   Ringo's snaps almost all came in the last 5 games.  That's good.  Shows he progressed... maybe.  But, the entire defense was an absolute disgrace during that time.  That's bad.  So, maybe he was tossed out there because they had tried everyone else.  And, the defense didn't improve when he entered... it was very much the same, if not worse by that point in the year.  I'm not blaming him, but at the same time, I'm not going to count on him, or move the chess pieces around because of his presence.   Basically, the entire group on defense is in a 'prove it' position in my eyes.  DL, LB, DBs, it doesn't matter.  They all need to prove their worth and earn their stripes.  Nothing should be handed to any of them.  ANY.

 

Let's also remember, the coaches that were high on Ringo are no longer here.  He has to earn his stripes, as all of them should.

45 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Why would the Eagles start DeJean on the outside, they have Slay, Mitchell and Ringo, none of whom are likely to play inside. So little PT unless there are injuries.

It makes more sense to start DeJean inside, then move him outside if the need arises and someone like Ricks can't handle it.

If DeJean starts on outside, who is the nickel? Maddox/Hall/McPherson? CJ would then stay at safety. That all makes me think that DeJean playing outside is just speculation because it really limits the versatility in the secondary. Being able to move DeJean and CJ around is a luxury we haven't had in a long time.

2 hours ago, pgcd3 said:

Great haul. Howie showed restraint. Great forecasting as DeJean was first of 4 straight corners. Likely start DeJean on outside. Good at everything. Not sure he's elite but high floor.  Fangio loves Hunt. Wilson has major ability.

 

Mitchell and Slay will start at outside CB, DeJean would start at nickel.  Gardner-Johnson and Blankenship at safety.  

If either Slay or Mitchell misses time with injury, move DeJean to boundary CB and Maddox slots in at nickel CB (if Maddox makes the roster).

This assumes Bradberry is not on the team Week 1.

I’m not following why Ringo can play outside and Dejean can’t - they are both very similar physically including the perceived stiffness. Dejean went earlier as he is a playmaker displaying better instincts in coverage. Ringo is still very young, so he could certainly improve and compete (but I don’t see why he’s necessarily ahead).

15 minutes ago, RLC said:

You were the flag bearer for Justin Jefferson at 21 overall!

I still use that flag to wipe away the tears when I see JJ highlights.  That's not to say that I am sad that we have Devonta Smith... just that we shouldn't have had to use that pick on him, and could have gotten a different player there.   Oh well.  Water under the bridge now, carrying away my tears.

4 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

I’m not following why Ringo can play outside and Dejean can’t - they are both very similar physically including the perceived stiffness. Dejean went earlier as he is a playmaker displaying better instincts in coverage. Ringo is still very young, so he could certainly improve and compete (but I don’t see why he’s necessarily ahead).

Because he played at UGA, and Dejean played at Iowa.     SEC bias.    But, you are exactly right.  Neither should be 'ahead' right now.   Both are very young, coming in with brand new coaches.   Each should get their opportunity.

1 hour ago, Texas Eagle said:

Do you think the Eagles still gamble with Hunt in R3 if they didn't get two blue chip players in R1 + R2?

They didn't have a 3rd round pick without the trade up for DeJean.  If they didn't make the trade up for DeJean my guess is they would have drafted Amigadjie at 50 or 53 and then traded back out of the other 2nd round pick to get future picks and a 3rd round pick.  I think Hunt still would have been an option in that scenario.