7 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

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.

I agree with your overall point but did you really just compare Mukuba to scrubs like Wallace, Gaddis, and Wolff? That is laughably bad.

5 minutes ago, pgcd3 said:

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

Totally. I could be wrong, but I think their depth last year was a major factor in winning. I bet a few young guys will take the next steps, but a few vet signings could go a long way. I'm sure Howie will be on top of that. This makes me think how lucky we are as Eagles fans. We are talking about depth and a few spots, while most fans of other teams are worried about a ton. Our only concern on offense, assuming they don't trade DG is a guard who stepped in and played well in the NFCCG. We are so lucky.

Mukuba / Brown competition at safety will be a battle of contrasts.

Brown is densely built, explosive, feels undisciplined and maybe a little stiff.

Mukuba is fluid, more instinctive, very light, less athletic....more refined player by report but also the rookie.

Will be interesting.

2 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

I agree with your overall point but did you really just compare Mukuba to scrubs like Wallace, Gaddis, and Wolff? That is laughably bad.

Why? They weren't called scrubs when we drafted them.

I'm excited to see how Mukuba fits in here. Finding the starter opposite Blankenship may be the best thing to watch in camp / preseason. Since nobody else is talking about him, I just want to remind people McCollum is also in the mix for a roster spot. This is an important offseason for Tristin. Last year, he was the primary replacement for Reed whenever he had to come out. He had some moments (like breaking up that 4th down pass late in the game vs Baltimore), but also some struggles. With the competition we have added and Brown healthy, McCollum needs to show continued improvement. The coaching staff likes him. Before the draft, I thought they might give Tristin the first look opposite Reed, but that probably will go to Mukuba. Now I feel McCullum will just be Reed's primary backup and they will let Makuba battle it out with Brown for CJGJ's role.

Edge - Smith, Hunt, Ojulari, Uche, Huff (Campbell)

DT - Carter, Davis, Ojomo, Robinson, Booker

ILB - Baun, Campbell, Dean (when healthy), Trotter Jr., Mondon Jr.

S - Blankenship, Mukuba, Brown, McCollum, Brown

CB - Mitchell, Dejean, Ringo, Jackson, Ricks, McWilliams

Depth is NOT an issue for the defense. Like I said a couple of posts ago. Enjoy the young, fast, and versatile defense they are building and stop wanting to sign mid level at best veteran FA's post draft because it's pointless.

9 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.

I was at college with his dad in the eighties. If you recall, he was picked fourth overall in 1983 by the Broncos and then was traded to the Colts for Elway. Right afterwards you could see him happily driving around campus in his new car, a Saab.

The more I dig into the players they drafted, the more impressed I am with their character. Not only did they draft talented guys, but they seem to have a mindset they are looking for down. They seem hard-working and well-respected by their teammates, "dogs" who will bring it, and guys who are easy to root for. That could be as big of a factor as anything as to why their picks have gone so well the last few years.

3 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Why? They weren't called scrubs when we drafted them.

BS. They were day three picks who were brought in as dart throws/depth. Wallace was the highest drafted and had the best pedigree and he was primarily a box safety at Clemson who was known to have struggles as a coverage guy. Mukuba is a FAR better prospect than any of them and the expectation is and should be much higher for him.

I think Mukuba starts day 1 because Brown just isn't it.

8 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Mukuba / Brown competition at safety will be a battle of contrasts.

Brown is densely built, explosive, feels undisciplined and maybe a little stiff.

Mukuba is fluid, more instinctive, very light, less athletic....more refined player by report but also the rookie.

Will be interesting.

Mukuba is very similar to CJGJ, I think that’ll have a big impact on which to play.

I do not like the idea of Reed+Sydney back there

Just now, Aerolithe_Lion said:

Mukuba is very similar to CJGJ, I think that’ll have a big impact on which to play.

I do not like the idea of Reed+Sydney back there

Brown is pretty much a box safety only which is becoming a dying breed in the NFL and not a "position" that Vic wants in this defense. I wouldn't be surprised if this is his last year on the team.

12 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Why? They weren't called scrubs when we drafted them.

Mukuba did play at Clemson, aren’t we supposed to overreact in the other direction… 👀😃

51 minutes ago, Miami said:

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

I mean, obviously he has to show it on the field. But he was a monster and key player on what was probably the greatest college defense of all time. He’s still younger than about half the guys who got drafted this year.

Everyone knew he was raw coming out of college and that you wouldn’t get much out of him early.

But I’m confident. The DB coach always mentions him first when asked about who is looking good in practice. His tackling already shows up on special teams and in the little he’s played in coverage, he’s been solid.

If the Eagles had concerns, no doubt they would have done something to bring in legitimate competition. Instead they let the two guys ahead of go and passed on drafting any real competition for him. That tells me all I need to know.

16 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

The more I dig into the players they drafted, the more impressed I am with their character. Not only did they draft talented guys, but they seem to have a mindset they are looking for down. They seem hard-working and well-respected by their teammates, "dogs" who will bring it, and guys who are easy to root for. That could be as big of a factor as anything as to why their picks have gone so well the last few years.

They are done drafting "doesnt love football” types

3 hours ago, ToastJenkins said:

I hate that they had such a good draft

Drop carter and alexander next to lawrence? Thats a dangerous d line

Their offense is still anemic. And idk what their back 7 looks like, but we've seen what it looks like to have a great front 4 and a terrible back 7. Doesn't matter if you have 4 Reggie whites if the QB gets the ball out in under 1.5 seconds

3 hours ago, Wentz_Era said:

AJ is pretty ding prone

Despite knowing he’s going to survive still hold our breathe when Devonta takes a hit.

Dotson is the only name on that list that inspires any sort of confidence. I’d say he’s a lock personally. Unless they add a vet to the WR room.

Agreed, unless they add a vet.

32 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

I was at college with his dad in the eighties. If you recall, he was picked fourth overall in 1983 by the Broncos and then was traded to the Colts for Elway. Right afterwards you could see him happily driving around campus in his new car, a Saab.

Mental time capsule unlocked… Saabs were very flashy in the 80s.

16 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

They are done drafting "doesnt love football” types

Yep. I'm not sure if that kid from UCF will make the team, but I love that the first thing he said to Nick was, "You all don't know what you just did". Jimmy K thinks he makes the team. We'll see, but that is a great attitude.

Just now, Diehardfan said:

Yep. I'm not sure if that kid from UCF will make the team, but I love that the first thing he said to Nick was, "You all don't know what you just did". Jimmy K thinks he makes the team. We'll see, but that is a great attitude.

Howie will fight you before giving up on a 5th round pick in year 1.

48 minutes ago, greendestiny27 said:

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.

The good news is we play zone. That’s going to limit the amount of time he’s going to need to flip his hips and run down field. It also maximizes the amount of time he sits back and can break on the ball like you prefer.

I think he’s an instant, significant upgrade against the run and in tackling over Slay. I think he’s a better overall fit as far as skill set for the defense as well.

Obviously you can’t just pencil him in as a world beater and instant star. He has to prove it. But there comes a point where young players have to actually play to improve. That point is now for Ringo, and I’m excited to see what he can do. I have no doubt that if he had stayed in school and came out in this draft he would have been the first corner off the board. We got him in the 4th two years ago because of how raw he was. He's been coached up, so now it’s time for him to play.

5 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

Yep. I'm not sure if that kid from UCF will make the team, but I love that the first thing he said to Nick was, "You all don't know what you just did". Jimmy K thinks he makes the team. We'll see, but that is a great attitude.

I think he makes the team easy. Takes the maddox spot

1 hour 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 (so who will be the heir apparent?).

That's where maybe Cine factors in. Despite his 4.3 he always looked like a closer to the line of scrimmage type of safety to me.

50 minutes ago, T-1000 said:

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.

Depth and competition. There's nothing wrong with making such a signing. It would be akin to them signing Devante Parker for the WRs last season. It's just depth.

52 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

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.

Exactly. If they weren’t confident they’d have done something to bring in more significant competition.

Everyone wants the young, raw, super high upside draft picks, then they act shocked when it takes a 20 year old on a loaded roster 2 years to get a chance to start.

No doubt there will be some mistakes along the way, but his upside is just tremendous and he’s had 2 years of NFL coaching to get up to speed. Time to let the kid get serious snaps.