My how times and views have changed.

A potential Eagles dynasty fades away from a repeat mistake made by Siriani by promoting an inexperienced coach to be the next OC. At 8-3 I could be wrong but I just don't see this team getting far in the playoffs with such an inept offensive concept, an injury plagued line, and a clearly spent RB. To compound the issues the team is highly undisciplined committing the same mistakes week after week, and a HC that keeps making bone-headed decisions especially late in games. The only chance they have is to shut down injured players, they have to. But this is about 2026.

Eagles are bounced by Seattle in the first round of the play-offs securing the 22nd pick again for the 2nd time in three years, and that's ok sometimes it takes one step back to take two steps forward.

This off-season I believe they FO gives Siriani another year, but on a very short leash. KP is fired and Howie will take charge of finding a new OC someone completely outside of Siriani's coaching tree. Howie pulls a rabbit out of his hat and opts to brings back a familiar name in Jon Gruden. He gets the added title of assistant HC with the intent that if Siriani can't get it together and continues allowing players to play reckless and undisciplined then Jon will take over. Jon like Kellen brings an advanced offensive concept that is QB friendly derived from an older concept of the west-coast offense that I believe will become effective again with where the league is going. What is old is new again! And like Fangio Jon holds his players and staff accountable, a player commits a stupid its the last time they do, which is a clear problem now. I also hope they go hard after a new special teams coach with a proven track record, I'd be thrilled with Bubba Ventrone, he too like Gruden would bring proven results and accountability.

Retirement:

1. Brandon Graham Edge - Coming out of retirement to help stabilize the front seven to win another Lombardi will cement Brandon as an eagle legend for all time.

Trade!

1. Tanner McKee QB - I'm convinced coach Moore will have a top 3 pick and he'll decide to rebuild his team vs reaching on QB and decides to trade back acquiring draft capital, in this case Cleveland. Kellen knows our backup McCoy and feels safer using higher picks to fill other needs. Saints offer #35 & #40(CLE trade)

Re-Signings:

1. Jordan Davis NT/DT - Jordan has really come into this season wanting to show he can be a force inside and seems to have learned that by being in top shape his value only continues to skyrocket. Jordan will be on his fifth year option and an extension will actually lower his 2026 cap hit. 4 years 60 million extension.

2. Jaelen Phillips DE/Edge - Jaelen has been an upgrade to the pass rush and he plays with intensity and IMO worth the 3rd Howie gave up for him. He was impressive in his first two games but completely neutralized by the Cowboys line and before that game I was leaning towards a multi year deal, but now I'm leaning towards a prove it deal. 1 year 14 million

3. Dallas Goedert TE - Dallas is having a career year and is always clutch when needed most and I don't see him regressing in any way due to his age. His presence forces DC's to have to account for him and Hurts has confidence in him and there's nobody available for less worth a damn. 1 year 9 million.

4. Reed Blakenship SS - The leader of the secondary and someone who Vic trusts to get others in the right positions, he'll never be a top rated safety stat wise but Reed is vastly important. The secondary fell apart against Dallas when he got injured proving the importance of quality safeties in Vic's system. 1 year 5 million.

5. Brandon Mann P - He's been solid with the occasional boomer. 2 years 3.5 million

Cut/Let walk:

1. Nakobe Dean ILB - Dean the "hall monitor" has come back very strong and has clear leadership of the field. Problem is he's FA, Campbell is the future, and is going to get a high value deal. 3rd round comp pick

2. Jahan Dotson WR - A very good receiver that will test the market ultimately finding a much better deal than Howie is willing to give. 5th round comp pick

3. Josh Uche Edge - Started off pretty well and is decent on special teams but isn't worth bringing back. 7th round comp pick

4. Azeez Ojulari Edge - Athletic beast but he just cant' stay healthy. 7th round comp pick

Free Agency:

1. Alontae Taylor CB - Finding another serviceable corner to start opposite of Mitchell has been a nightmare and this year I can't imagine Howie just hoping that someone in house will step up we all saw how that worked out with Ringo. Alontae certainly is not an elite corner or anything close to being one, but he's far and away better than anything the defense has now the drop off is that huge after Mitchell. 2 years 14 million

2. Alijah Vera-Tucker OL - Howie loves reclamation projects especially former 1st round picks that's coming off their rookie contract and Alijah checks all three. After seeing how thin the depth was entering the season and the impact that had there's zero chance Howie doesn't obtain at least one veteran on a cheap deal. Alijah has the versatility to play inside or out and will get a fair chance to earn a starting gig. 1 year 3 million

3. Kenny Pickett QB - The Eagles bring a veteran QB that knows the team, system, and culture. 1 year 1.5 million

Draft:

1.(#22) Caleb Lomu OT - Lane was the fixture on the right for over a decade and it will more than likely require significant investments to replace. Caleb has rare athletic testing numbers that jump off the chart moves with the fluidity of a tight end despite his size, creating match-up nightmares for defensive coordinators in space. A stud in pass protection he has natural kick slide technique that catches most rushers off guard neutralizing both bull and speed rushes, giving his QB plenty of comfort. Delivers a jarring initial punch which stuns rushers with well-timed hand placement that disrupts their momentum and establishes early leverage. Shows advanced processing speed and football IQ consistently recognizes stunts and blitzes pre-snap and adjusts protection responsibilities accordingly. Displays exceptional recovery ability when initially beaten showcases the lateral quickness and body control to redirect and mirror even after losing initial positioning. Creates impressive vertical movement in run blocking uses wide base and lower body drive to generate consistent push at point of attack. A true bookend tackle with legitimate franchise caliber upside who still requires developmental runway to reach his ceiling. Caleb is a bit under-sized at 6'6 305 lbs., but he has the frame and time to add substantial functional mass which can easily support another 15-20 lbs.

Trade! Houston needs O-line help badly and offer #47 & #109 for #37

2.(#40) Brandon Cisse CB - Coverage outside of Mitchell and DeJean has been a joke with numerous big plays allowed especially when they face speedy receivers, it's one of two glaring weakness on a strong defense. Brandon at 6'0", 190 lbs, with functional length, he's an exceedingly explosive, springy, and nimble mover with propulsive hip sink and elite short area energy. He's quick to react, with swarming lateral explosive range, and inspiring route vision in off-man and zone. Going further, he flashes high-level coordination as a catch point play-maker, and he's competitive in support. Possessing rare athletic abilities he's one of the most fluid corners I've ever seen. Cisse just makes it look so easy with his natural ability, with speed that I expect to be in the low 4.3's and his ability to stick to receivers is second to none in this class. He has been one of the least targeted corners in the league and for good reason. Opponent have completed only seven passes on 23 attempts in his direction. He has one interception, four breakups, a forced fumble, and he’s thrown himself into run support like a veteran CB. His 40.7% reception rate allowed is the lowest on South Carolina’s roster. An added bonus is that Brandon will only be 20 years on draft day so by the time he's set to hit the final year of his rookie deal he should just be starting to enter his prime and I'm excited to see what his untapped potential ends up looking like.

2.(#47) Dillon Thieneman S - Safety is the queen on Fangio's chess board and it's vital for his scheme to have a stud to truly deploy it, for the second year in a row they use a 2nd to address it. Dillon has rare athletic profile with elite speed at 207 pounds translates to explosive closing burst when breaking on underneath routes or crashing downhill against the run. Elite diagnostic abilities paired with film-room obsession consistently puts himself in perfect position before plays develop and rarely gets manipulated by quarterback eye discipline. Violent tackler with outstanding technique who brings bad intentions rips through ball carriers with explosive hip rotation and consistently drives through contact point with proper leverage. Displays exceptional ball tracking and hand-eye coordination in coverage, showing natural receiver like ability to adjust to the ball and high point contestable throws. Remarkable processing speed allows him to trigger downhill immediately against screen game and outside runs arrives with vapor trails and nasty intentions when he diagnoses quickly. True alpha mentality on the field who plays with contagious passion and aggression brings the kind of dog you want from a defensive tone-setter. Demonstrated elite football character with obsessive preparation habits first in, last out mentality with legendary workout and film study dedication.

2.(#54) Quincy Rhodes Edge - The pass rush off the edge or lack of has been IMO the second major weakness for the defense and with out Phillips it really showed again against Dallas's stout line. Quincy at 6'6 275 lbs, he boasts tremendous first step explosion and long track acceleration, elite short area twitch and quickness, panic inducing power capacity, and a motor that never rests. Footwork and balance show exceptional control for a 275 lbs. defender, maintaining technique through rush moves, an exceptional spin move has become his signature weapon this fall, already victimizing multiple tackles. Long-arm bull rush maximizes his huge frame advantage, showing up repeatedly on third downs this season, and his closing burst has surprised quarterbacks all season, covering ground with those deceptively quick long strides. Pass rush repertoire continues expanding weekly, mixing club-swims and cross chops with growing confidence since August. Film preparation evident in how he's attacking different tackles, adjusting his approach based on opponent tendencies. Run defense holding steady through five contests, maintaining gap discipline while still hunting big plays. His ability to win with both power and finesse while kicking inside on obvious passing downs gives him the versatility that modern defensive coordinators crave. The former U.S. Army All-American who recorded 11.5 sacks and 34 quarterback hurries as a high school senior has suddenly emerged as the conference's hottest pass rusher.

3.(#66) Nyck Harbor WR - Howie IMO will never pay top dollar for a #3 WR, but he will draft one. Nyck has superman level size-speed combination that simply doesn't exist elsewhere in this class combining a 4.24 forty (est) with a 6'5" 235 lbs. frame that creates nightmarish match-up problems at every level of the field. Demonstrates exceptional vertical receiving ability with the acceleration to stack defenders and the length to make contested catches over smaller defensive backs who can't match his catch radius. Runs angry after the catch, transforming into a freight train with the ball in his hands Shows flashes of dominance as a blocker, particularly when engaged and motivated can completely erase corners from plays and spring explosive runs with his physicality on the perimeter. Displays impressive hand strength at the catch point, rarely allowing defenders to dislodge the ball once he's secured it hands became significantly more reliable this year. Red zone weapon who can physically dominate smaller defenders on slants, fades, and back-shoulder throws possesses the tools to become a touchdown machine at the next level if he develops consistency. Nyck is a unicorn but his lack of production with his athletic profile worries me a bit, but he has a stud to learn from and won't be asked to put up big numbers early. If the Eagles decided to make him a TE and ask him to add 15-20 lbs. he could be their long term solution there, or they could utilize him as an H-back, his upside is just that huge.

3.(#98) Michael Trigg TE - Goedert coming back brings stability and he is a complete TE1 that's still a threat vertically, but with 12 and 13 sets becoming more predominate in the league it's important to find a solid TE2. Michael creates nightmare match-ups with his blend of size and agility that leaves linebackers in the dust and safeties bouncing off him. Displays ankle breaking route running with precise footwork that belies his 6'4 250 lbs. frame, consistently winning at the stem. Flashes circus catch ability with those long arms, snatching balls outside his frame like that one-handed snag against K-State. Shows real juice after the catch, averaging 41 YAC against Kansas State while dragging defenders like sleds. When you watch Trigg work between the numbers, you see a weapon that defensive coordinators can lose sleep over. He's got that deceptive twitch for a bigger body, setting up linebackers with subtle head fakes before breaking them off at the top of his routes. The physical tools suggest he could evolve into a Jordan Reed-type flex weapon who wins from the slot and creates personnel headaches. The Kansas State film showed what happens when he's locked in defenders literally couldn't get him on the ground, and he turned a routine crossing pattern into a 71 yard explosive that flipped the entire game

Trade! Eagles package #122, #137 and Jadeveon Bennett to Ten for #101

4.(#101) Zekee Wheatley S - After watching Brown come in place of Makuba and make the same bone-headed mistakes now for three years it's a necessity to upgrade depth here. Zekee brings some size 6'2 205 lbs along with 4.4 speed to the safety position. Absolutely flies to the football with that 4.4 speed, covering ground like a center fielder tracking down a deep fly ball. Shows natural instincts in zone coverage, reading quarterback eyes and jumping routes with confidence that comes from film study. Sticky in man coverage situations, using his length and hip fluidity to mirror receivers through their breaks effectively. Brings the lumber in run support, grading out exceptionally well when asked to come downhill and fill gaps. Ball production jumps off the tape with five career interceptions and the hands to make difficult catches look routine. Versatile chess piece who lined up at both safety spots and occasionally rolled down to cover the slot receiver. Mental processor who diagnoses plays quickly, rarely getting caught out of position or biting on misdirection concepts. Wheatley has all the tools NFL defensive coordinators covet in today's passing league the speed to erase mistakes, the instincts to create turnovers, and the versatility to handle multiple assignments. His 6'2", 200-pound frame combined with that blazing speed gives him the physical toolkit to match up with the league's new breed of athletic tight ends and slot receivers.

4.(#109) Mateen Ibirogba DT - The starters are already set but depth behind them is a bit thin. Mateen at 6'3", 296 lbs., he's a lightning rod off the snap whose sheer range and quickness can implode blocking schemes, displaying spectacular athletic ability, point-of-attack power and drive. Of the DT prospects in the 2026 NFL Draft, Ibirogba might have the best first-step and the best gap-penetrating explosiveness. Beyond sheer explosion, Ibirogba has shown he can leverage his burst, length, and compact mass into overwhelming power output on bull-rushes and long-arms, and he can also puncture run gaps and use "knee drop” technique to absorb combo blocks. Vic likes to rotate his line often to keep them fresh throughout the game which impacted them early in the season showing clear exhaustion by the fourth quarter. An added bonus is Mateen's versatility moving across the line displaying his ability to attack from multiple positions, he'll probably be best suited backing up Carter at the 3i position. Thus far in 2025, Ibirogba has a strong grade of 82.6. He has an exceptional 15.4% PFF pressure rate on pass-rushing snaps, as well as a respectable 2.4% TFL rate on running downs, with 2 sacks and 3 TFLs in six games.

4.(#120) Zachariah Branch WR - Entering the draft I feel speed with explosive play-making ability will be a focus and after watching the Lions speedy weapons wreck havoc on the defense there's a case to add that dynamic to this offense. Zachariah at 5'10", 180 lbs. boasts game-breaking speed rooted in his high school state titles in the 100m, 200m, and long jump, a trait that translates to his dynamic return ability. Elite punt return production isn't just about speed he demonstrates patience to set up blocks and sudden explosion through seams that translates directly to YAC potential on offense. Lightning-quick acceleration that forces defenders to give generous cushions, creating immediate leverage in his routes that most receivers need perfect technique to achieve. Exhibits rare stop-start ability in his routes that causes defenders to lose their balance; can accelerate from zero to full speed in three steps, making him deadly on comebacks and double moves. Natural vision as a ball-carrier makes him lethal after the catch; processes pursuit angles instantly and shows instinctive ability to find creases that aren't immediately apparent on tape.

7.(#227) Trey Moore Edge - A 6'2", 250-pound outside linebacker and edge rusher that exhibits elite bend and ankle flexion when turning the corner, allowing for consistent pressure on the quarterback. Depth

7.(#246) Brett Norfleet TE - Standing at 6'7" with a wiry 235 lbs. frame creates massive catch radius and makes him a nightmare match-up for defensive backs in the red zone. Depth

Depth Chart:

QB: Hurts, Pickett, McCord

RB: Barkley, Bigsby, Shipley

WR: Brown, Smith, Harbor, Branch, Wilson

TE: Goedert, Trigg, Norfleet

LT: Mailata, Hinton

LG: Dickerson, Keegan

C: Jurgens, Kendall

RG: Steen, Vera-Tucker

RT: Johnson, Lomu, Williams

LDE: Carter, Ibirogba

NT: Davis, Robinson

RDE; Ojomo, Young

WLB: Smith, Hunt, Moore

ILB: Buan, Campbell, Trotter Jr, Mondon Jr.

SLB: Phillips, Rhodes, Johnson

LCB: Mitchell, McWilliams

FS: Makuba, Wheatley, Brown

SS: Blakenship, Thieneman

RCB: Taylor, Cisse, Ringo

NCB: DeJean, Carter II

K: Elliott

P: Mann

KR/PR: Branch

Breakdown:

Offense -

At QB Jalen Hurts is still the captain of the ship and he runs the offense as he wants to and his record proves its success, but some change is needed. Being teamed up with an OC like Chucky who knows how to scheme up a game plan and execute it should only elevate Jalen's game. Gruden's scheme utilizes quick short passes, a lot of play-action deploying multiple formations to confuse defenses. Jon is someone who will reign in Jalen just a bit limiting him calling audibles instead he will ask him to trust the system and that he'll have his weapons schemed open. As far back-ups Pickett comes back and McCord gets another year, but Howie will try to upgrade. This group will be just fine barring any major injuries, and I'm far more comfortable with Pickett back.

Receiver even with rumors of Brown being a trade option his contract makes that very difficult and honestly I could only imagine how dangerous AJ and Smitty would be in Grudens offense. Harbor brings more explosiveness with elite speed and athletic ability, he would be a beast as the big slot option. H-back or even the X receiver one day. Nyck will certainly be an upgrade in blocking sealing running lanes for our backs or creating stronger opportunities for screens. Dovonta would have the freedom to play all over the offense utilizing his big play ability and with Gruden using Smith's precise route running ability with his schemes to get him open the two should be an instant match. Having watched what the Lions speedy weapons and how effective they were only increased my belief that this would really open up the offense showing a real need for such. Branch not only would open new possibilities in the offense but also provide someone that can be a real problem in open space.

Goedert comes back for a couple more years solidifying a position that it is growing in importance in the modern NFL, and with his blocking and receiving prowess he'll still be major factor in this offense. Trigg comes in more as receiving threat that will give DC's headaches with his crisp routes and a wide catch radius, IMO he'll be a strong #2 but never a complete TE. Micheal and Dallas would create mis-matches that would warrant using 12 & 13 personnel like they do. Norfleet comes in as a massive target and surely will be a huge asset in short yardage and goal line situations with his huge wingspan.

Gruden's scheme also requires a power run game which fortunately has two power backs in it. For it to run most effectively it must run equally between Barkley and Bigsby splitting carries and I could imagine seeing a ton of two back formations. Saquon has clearly lost a bit after putting up 2k yards last year, but I blame the offensive line and a terrible scheme and game planning for most of his issues, fix that and I think he's solid for another year or two. Tank on the other hand I believe should start to get more touches and next year he will, his power and vision is top notch and behind a re-vamped line he should dominate.

Now the elephant in the room is the offensive line and how bad it has played this year, and like I said previously I blame injuries and scheme more than individual or collective talent. Howie will be aggressive in addressing the line both through free agency and the draft. With hind-sight being 50/50 he should've drafted Simmons instead of Campbell, but it is what it is. Lane has had issues staying healthy and with him off the field the drop off is massive, to add that both Jurgens and Dickerson have become liabilities due to injuries and being forced to play due to lack of depth. Mailata has been ok which is massive step back from last year, but he's also compensating for Dickerson. Steen has been consistently solid with moments of dominance especially in pass protection. Lomu will be the swing tackle and he'll be used early especially if they continue to use an extra lineman for certain formations, regardless he'll get time to develop gaining strength preparing his time up. Tucker provides good depth, he can easily start on most teams but injuries has really side-lined his career, think Becton v2.0. The starting five should remain the same albeit healthy, but now there will be real young talent chomping to get their chance. Depth and competition win/win!

Defense -

The front three starters remain in place in Carter, Davis, and Ojomo and they should continue to get stronger as a unit. These guys each command two blockers and they collapse the interior of lines constantly while also being aware enough to put those huge arms to deflect passes. The back-ups should offer a better rotation with the addition of Ibirogba to the second line including Robinson and Young. Carter will be in his fourth year and it is crucial for him to play lights out to get that huge deal he's expecting, he'll have a strong supporting cast, but it's time for to grow up and deliver.

Coming off the edge will feature an impressive array of talent starting with Phillips and Smith who each apply good pressure but also are good stopping the run. Backing them up is Hunt now entering his third season to be teamed with Rhodes who forms a formidable rotation especially in obvious passing downs. All four are highly athletic and not only effective in generating pressure but able to drop into coverage disrupting passing lanes and confusing QB's.

Inside it starts with Buan the stud linebacker that came out of nowhere last year to being critical for the defense, he's paired again with Campbell coming off a strong rookie season. Both are game changing big play off ball backers who may end up being the best the Eagles have ever had. Backing them up will be special team aces Trotter Jr, and Mondon Jr. who now will be solid veterans that can be relied upon.

The secondary while extremely strong at CB1(Mitchell) and NB(DeJean) it's weaknesses have been exposed often at CB2 and depth at corner overall that Vic trusts and especially the depth at safety. Mitchell is a stud and a true shut down corner however opposite of him both Jackson and Ringo have proven to be massive liabilities. Howie brings in a solid corner via free agency in Taylor who while not guaranteed a starting spot will get to compete will young stud Cisse, but Taylor probably wins out early but Cisse pushes hard to start by mid-season. Both are upgrades and provide true play-maker potential along side Mitchell. Ringo stays on to see if the light eventually goes on with all that physical talent he has, he will have to show some relevance with McWilliams and the loser of the CB2 competition looking to keep him down on depth chart. At NB DeJean is one of the best in the business and continues to progress while becoming a vocal leader for the defense, behind him is a proven starter in Carter II who can like DeJean can be used everywhere.

Safety has been extremely difficult to figure out, on minute they're allowing 70+ yard TD bombs(Makuba) or a drive ending interception in the end-zone(Blakenship), but after losing both to Dallas the back-ups were clearly out matched. In Vic's scheme safety is more important arguably than corner and it must have two at least very good to elite talent. Makuba before injury did show that he was a play-maker progressively getting better each game, if he comes back 100% healed he should be even better year two becoming very good. Blakenship is the leader of the secondary and someone Fangio clearly leans on, but he's only average and Thieneman is clearly a better prospect and he too will push to start, but Reed will hold him off for now. Wheatley rounds out the bunch and he finally makes Brown expendable being a vastly superior athletic prospect with much higher football IQ.

Special Teams -

Coverage teams have been average to less than average far too often giving favorable field position to opposing teams regardless if they're good kicks or not. The return team isn't anything better, rarely do they sustain blocks to create running lanes for returns and most of the times the opponent is right on them. When the lanes do appear there isn't anyone reliable let alone explosive to return it. Branch would change this immediately having shown with his lightning speed to be an explosive returner who not only would give consistently favorable field position but also be a true home run threat to return it. Cover and return teams get very strong additions in this mock and with the added significant depth and competition across the board that talent should trickle down to improve units.

Kickers remain the same and should still be reliable in clutch situations in Elliott and Mann.

The nucleus of this roster is still young and an off-season to install a competent set of coaches while continuing to address depth with multiple picks.

Happy Thanksgiving!!

Very well thought out mock offseason. I'm not sure if Jon Gruden would leave his current cushy gig at Barstool for an assistant HC/OC role but anything is possible given his passion for the game and teaching. That's probably my one main criticism here.

The free agency signings and draft selections are otherwise on point and fit alongside our needs and team building philosophy.

Definitely need to invest early and often in the OL along with shoring up that CB2 spot, which you addressed in both FA and the draft.

Great job!