3 minutes ago, eaglestime34 said:

I understand and agree with you. The way it was worded it was those players replacing sweat and Williams.

To the original point, we lost 2 players in their prime who got top of the market deals that we couldn’t afford… yeah, a downgrade was unavoidable - but it’s not like the cupboard is bare and that are younger guys can’t improve (like Milton did between years 3 and 4…).

2 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

To the original point, we lost 2 players in their prime who got top of the market deals that we couldn’t afford… yeah, a downgrade was unavoidable - but it’s not like the cupboard is bare and that are younger guys can’t improve (like Milton did between years 3 and 4…).

And they have a number of vets on one year deals and a few reclamation projects. One will contribute. Along with as you mentioned younger guys taking the next step.

I want to see if the Eagles still add a safety after the comp deadline expires or if they just let Brown and Mukuba battle it out.

18 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

To the original point, we lost 2 players in their prime who got top of the market deals that we couldn’t afford… yeah, a downgrade was unavoidable - but it’s not like the cupboard is bare and that are younger guys can’t improve (like Milton did between years 3 and 4…).

Recall that sweat had little interest last offseason…i have doubts if he can produce elsewhere. Fangio and carter byproduct? Maybe

Milton definitely a stud coming into his prime but could not pay close to that number

15 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

I want to see if the Eagles still add a safety after the comp deadline expires or if they just let Brown and Mukuba battle it out.

Mukuba will be the starting FS next to

reed

Dont count out the toledo udfa. I think Brown can be disposed of, honestly

2 hours ago, Waiting4Someday said:

They seem to have more faith than I expected in Ringo. I mean Adoree is a good backup plan in 2025, but it doesn’t seem like they wanted to close the door on Kelee in 2026 with a premium pick (I guess any pick really).

Ringo is going to be a really good player. People are sleeping on him. You can’t teach his size, length, speed or athleticism and you can’t teach his willingness to get physical. The only ding on his traits is maybe a little stiff in the hips, but that was at barely 20 years old. He’s had 2 years to work on footwork and transitioning. We play almost exclusively zone coverage. And he has a history of making clutch plays in the biggest games.

I’m really excited to see him start and I think that while Mitchell’s play is quiet in the sense that he doesn’t get targeted a lot, Ringo is going to be loud the way that DeJean’s game is loud — he’s going to jump off the screen making big tackles and PBUs forcing 4th down.

1 minute ago, TEW said:

Ringo is going to be a really good player. People are sleeping on him. You can’t teach his size, length, speed or athleticism and you can’t teach his willingness to get physical. The only ding on his traits is maybe a little stiff in the hips, but that was at barely 20 years old. He’s had 2 years to work on footwork and transitioning. We play almost exclusively zone coverage. And he has a history of making clutch plays in the biggest games.

I’m really excited to see him start and I think that while Mitchell’s play is quiet in the sense that he doesn’t get targeted a lot, Ringo is going to be loud the way that DeJean’s game is loud — he’s going to jump off the screen making big tackles and PBUs forcing 4th down.

I’ve liked the little I’ve seen - but the doubt is based on him being buried on the roster until now (albeit due to some very good veteran competition). Obviously, I hope you’re right, and he’ll get his shot.

3 minutes ago, TEW said:

Ringo is going to be a really good player. People are sleeping on him. You can’t teach his size, length, speed or athleticism and you can’t teach his willingness to get physical. The only ding on his traits is maybe a little stiff in the hips, but that was at barely 20 years old. He’s had 2 years to work on footwork and transitioning. We play almost exclusively zone coverage. And he has a history of making clutch plays in the biggest games.

I’m really excited to see him start and I think that while Mitchell’s play is quiet in the sense that he doesn’t get targeted a lot, Ringo is going to be loud the way that DeJean’s game is loud — he’s going to jump off the screen making big tackles and PBUs forcing 4th down.

If that is true, my friend, then look out because Vic is assembling an elite back seven that can cover.

7 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

Mukuba will be the starting FS next to

reed

Dont count out the toledo udfa. I think Brown can be disposed of, honestly

There’s competition at both safety spots because I don’t see us paying Reed the middle class contract he deserves in 2026 (so who will be the heir apparent?).

4 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

There’s competition at both safety spots because I don’t see us paying Reed the middle class contract he deserves in 2026.

Even if they're planning on letting him walk I doubt there's much of a competition at his spot. Unless Brown became a superstar this offseason somehow

14 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

Mukuba will be the starting FS next to

reed

Dont count out the toledo udfa. I think Brown can be disposed of, honestly

I think he'll win the job. I'm not convinced they don't add some more competition. Sydney Brown might just suck, we don't know. If he does, it's Mukuba and not a lot else. I could see them wanting an Adoree Jackson type guy for the safety group just as reliable depth you know can play if needed.

9 minutes ago, TEW said:

Ringo is going to be a really good player. People are sleeping on him. You can’t teach his size, length, speed or athleticism and you can’t teach his willingness to get physical. The only ding on his traits is maybe a little stiff in the hips, but that was at barely 20 years old. He’s had 2 years to work on footwork and transitioning. We play almost exclusively zone coverage. And he has a history of making clutch plays in the biggest games.

I’m really excited to see him start and I think that while Mitchell’s play is quiet in the sense that he doesn’t get targeted a lot, Ringo is going to be loud the way that DeJean’s game is loud — he’s going to jump off the screen making big tackles and PBUs forcing 4th down.

I liked Ringo a lot, but thought his instincts with his back to the ball were not great. He's had his time to develop, now he needs the shot. But if he doesn't show much improvement there you can't wait forever while he's giving up deep completions and costing the team. The funny thing is I always thought he was better facing the action. More in a potential safety role but he never got a look there. If he does fail at outside CB maybe Vic tries it.

3 minutes ago, DEagle7 said:

Even if they're planning on letting him walk I doubt there's much of a competition at his spot. Unless Brown became a superstar this offseason somehow

If Sydney can play with just an average IQ, it will make a huge difference - it might be unattainable.

42 minutes ago, Waiting4Someday said:

To the original point, we lost 2 players in their prime who got top of the market deals that we couldn’t afford… yeah, a downgrade was unavoidable - but it’s not like the cupboard is bare and that are younger guys can’t improve (like Milton did between years 3 and 4…).

I don't disagree with that.

5 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

I think he'll win the job. I'm not convinced they don't add some more competition. Sydney Brown might just suck, we don't know. If he does, it's Mukuba and not a lot else. I could see them wanting an Adoree Jackson type guy for the safety group just as reliable depth you know can play if needed.

I think between Muluba, Brown, Cine and Toledo S they’ll see what they have before they go the vet route

39 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

I want to see if the Eagles still add a safety after the comp deadline expires or if they just let Brown and Mukuba battle it out.

Absolutely. If nothing else they still need some depth there. If Brown or Ghost gets hurt they don't have much at all behind them. I have the same concerns at CB.

3 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

I think between Muluba, Brown, Cine and Toledo S they’ll see what they have before they go the vet route

Maybe. Someone like Blackmon could be cut on a one year deal like LB last year, though. I'd feel better with them addressing it now with some vets who could contribute available vs digging through trash in August. That's just me. I feel the same at CB. AS Jr. isn't a player I think the world of, but I'd feel better with some depth.

What happened to the Gabriel Taylor signing? Did we back off after signing the Toledo S?

3 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Maybe. Someone like Blackmon could be cut on a one year deal like LB last year, though. I'd feel better with them addressing it now with some vets who could contribute available vs digging through trash in August. That's just me. I feel the same at CB. AS Jr. isn't a player I think the world of, but I'd feel better with some depth.

I agree with that on OCB. I think Ringo, Jackson and Ricks isn’t inspiring and slot guys moving out is iffy

I think the Eagles/Howie made the best of a really bad hand in this draft. Screw all the talk of depth...you think a player with Milton Williams' measurables (And while he did not put it all together, he was far from a slouch in college)...goes in round 3 of this draft? He probably sneaks into round 1. You think a Kelee Ringo from UGA goes in round 4?

It was a crap draft AND the Eagles were (joyously) saddled with the #32 pick. So, no criticism here, but we all do need to re-align our expectations. We aren't going to look back on this as some fantastic draft class 10 years from now. Just not happening. The reasonable expectation here is one really good starter and a couple long term backups who make it into the lineup as replacement level starters with some projects that don't work out. If we get that, then Howie made the best of it this year. Any less is a disappointment and any more is a resounding success and surprise.

With that said...

1. Campbell. Here's our exciting pick. The downside here is utilization. I am confident that we were, in fact, OK (and then some) at off ball LB. We'd have been fine with Dean and fine with Trot Jr. in the meantime. I'll be disappointed in the value if he's just a good off ball LB who is a younger, healthier, rookie deal replacement for Nakobe Dean, who was already a young player in the fold. But that's a pretty solid floor for a player who could be so much more than that for our defense. I really want to see him do some damage as an edge. That's where the special upside comes in.

2. Mukuba. Here's the replacement level starter. I see him as the next in line of the post Dawk era serviceable but not-that-good safety draft picks...Nate Allen, Kvon Wallace, CJ Gaddis, Earl Wolff...all sort of centerfield types, decent but unspectacular athletes...similar and different in their own way. I do like that his fluidity is more in line with a CB than safety and that instincts are more strength than weakness...so maybe they get lucky. But I suspect he's the kind of guy who will hang for a while as a backup and then just quietly get upgraded after he gets a shot in the lineup.

4. Ty Robinson. I bet he'll be popular here. I feel like the floor is a popular, effective rotational DT...and the ceiling is an OK starting DT that the Eagles upgrade after a season or two of starting. But he's going to bolster that rotation quickly.

5. Mcwilliams. Here's your rare mid/late round Howie need pick. He has minimal upside. Older player with solid refinement. They needed CB depth, they drafted CB depth. Nothing wrong with that in round 5. He'll be a better, more viable and athletic version of Jobe/Ricks/etc.

5. Mondon. Would be more excited about this guy if we weren't suddenly flush with off ball LBs. This is a BPA selection with starter upside.

6. Kendall. Another need-ish pick that is off-type for Stoutland. Low upside, high polish...need depth, draft depth. Nothing wrong with that in round 6.

6. Mccord. QB factory. I'm sure they'd love to trade Mckee in the next year or 2 and groom Mccord for that role.

6/6: Hinton / Williams. Give the people what they want. The two draft picks everyone was waiting for. If the Eagles really thought either of these guys would be that special, they wouldn't have waited this long. But the same can be said for Mailata. They are a long way off, but everyone will have fun waiting for their progress under Stoutland. Would be amazing if their progress could eliminate the need to burn a 1 on an OT in the next 2 years. (Interestingly, even with Mailata, we burned a 1 on Dillard while he was developing).

6. Powell-Ryland. Probably headed straight for the PS with the sheer numbers we have at edge. No way he's in the top 5 of them.

Nothing inspiring...inspiring wasn't possible. But they made the most of it.

15 hours ago, BigEFly said:

I am really hoping that we get @just relax to advise of his evaluations of Kendall, Hinton, Williams and Pierce.

Hinton desperately needs a redshirt year. He was in the Michigan weight program but only for a year. Stout has to rebuild him. His technique is all over the place. Sometimes it looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing.

I posted this earlier. Below is a representation of our defense after the bye last season. We can take a few steps back and still be best in the league.

31 minutes ago, TEW said:

Ringo is going to be a really good player. People are sleeping on him. You can’t teach his size, length, speed or athleticism and you can’t teach his willingness to get physical. The only ding on his traits is maybe a little stiff in the hips, but that was at barely 20 years old. He’s had 2 years to work on footwork and transitioning. We play almost exclusively zone coverage. And he has a history of making clutch plays in the biggest games.

I’m really excited to see him start and I think that while Mitchell’s play is quiet in the sense that he doesn’t get targeted a lot, Ringo is going to be loud the way that DeJean’s game is loud — he’s going to jump off the screen making big tackles and PBUs forcing 4th down.

I think the Eagles are pencilling Ringo in for that job. If they didn't trust him, they'd have approached the offseason differently at CB. Adoree Jackson is the competition and insurance here (82 NFL starts)...but I think they'd have gone for better insurance if they didn't expect Ringo to take the job and run with it.

Why are people still talking about signing a vet safety? They didn't invest a 2nd round pick in Andrew Mukuba and a very early 3rd round pick in Sydney Brown two years ago to not go young at the position. I was in favor of signing Justin Simmons until the draft happened. Now it would be pointless and block a young player the invest a decent draft pick in. The same thing goes for CB. For some reason I think a lot of people are missing the point that they are transforming the defense with youth, speed, and versatile guys who in some cases don't fit into a traditional football "position." Enjoy it and stop worrying about signing mid level at best veteran free agents.

3 minutes ago, just relax said:

Hinton desperately needs a redshirt year. He was in the Michigan weight program but only for a year. Stout has to rebuild him. His technique is all over the place. Sometimes it looks like he doesn’t know what he’s doing.

But if he did know what he's doing he wouldnt be here. Got to embrace the uphill climb.