1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

Can someone explain to me exactly what it means to create an environment where Smith can reach another level?

This is the part of the offseason where random wishcasting feels like a switch that can just get flipped into reality.

The last OC didn't want his WRs to be open, so the new one is just going to flip the "scheme open" switch. The same QB that threw the ball 5 yards oob every time Smith had a step downfield and who did not hit him in stride is suddenly going to turn him into a 1,500 yard receiver while AJ still gets his targets.

I have watched Shanahan and McVey consistently attack defenses in the 10-15 yard range with wide open receivers. If Mannion can scheme anything similar then both WRs should be very productive.

On 2/28/2026 at 3:48 PM, RememberTheKoy said:

I don't have an Emmitt Smith jersey. I do have a Cowboys TO jersey. Or at least I did. Can't seem to find it last time I looked.

Is it a goal of yours to be the world's biggest chode? If it is, you are really far ahead of quota!

46 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

EJ Smith if the Eagles sign Phillips, then Nolan Smith is probably gone after his contract ends.

I'd be on board with this.

38 minutes ago, NOTW said:

They are not at all similar in terms of the contract.

5 hours ago, RememberTheKoy said:

Post combine I would set the trade odds at 45% he is traded and 55% he stays. I definitely think the Eagles would like to move on from this headache but I also don't think Howie is going to dump him for a 2nd round pick like the Bills did with Diggs. My guess is other teams are circling like vultures hoping to get him cheap like that and I'm not sure anyone is going to blink and give up a first.

Not sure I'd be good with Phillips costing you Nolan. Nolan is young, is a leader, flashed potential in 2024. Was hampered by the tricep all 2025. Maybe he's just a situational pass rusher, but also Phillips isn't Myles Garrett either. I think he's important to keep, but not if he's going to cost you elsewhere. He just didn't produce enough here to warrant that.

2 hours ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Lets say Eagles keep AJ Brown afterall. If the Eagles actually create an environment for Smith to reach a next level while still having Barkley and the run game a big part of the offense, how much complaining will Brown do every week being third fiddle?

My thoughts exactly. They need to get the run game back to a respectable place. It's time to feature Devonta and get him more targets. The TE's (whoever they are) should be pretty involved this new offense. NONE of this sets up for AJ Brown to be happy and not dog it all over the field and cause problems in 2025. I don't want Howie to dump him for a 2nd but they REALLY need to move on from this headache. The last thing we need is a 33 year old first time play caller dealing with a disgruntled AJ whining for the ball all of the time.

4 minutes ago, Sack that QB said:

Not sure I'd be good with Phillips costing you Nolan. Nolan is young, is a leader, flashed potential in 2024. Was hampered by the tricep all 2025. Maybe he's just a situational pass rusher, but also Phillips isn't Myles Garrett either. I think he's important to keep, but not if he's going to cost you elsewhere. He just didn't produce enough here to warrant that.

You only keep Nolan because of the cheaper $$, right?

Phillips is - JMO - a much better player. But he's going to cost more. A lot more.

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

Can someone explain to me exactly what it means to create an environment where Smith can reach another level?

This is the part of the offseason where random wishcasting feels like a switch that can just get flipped into reality.

The last OC didn't want his WRs to be open, so the new one is just going to flip the "scheme open" switch. The same QB that threw the ball 5 yards oob every time Smith had a step downfield and who did not hit him in stride is suddenly going to turn him into a 1,500 yard receiver while AJ still gets his targets.

I mean part of the issue may be Jalen in this offense. I think the idea is that Mannion will more effectively utilize motion to get Smith a head start against defenders. The offense will have a more varied route tree. Smith is going to be running routes like Jaxon Smith Njigba or Amon St. Brown in the offense. He should have more targets by design.

2 minutes ago, LacesOut said:

You only keep Nolan because of the cheaper $$, right?

Phillips is - JMO - a much better player. But he's going to cost more. A lot more.

Phillips is definitely a better player. The question is could you use the money it would cost to keep Phillips on a better player than Phillips and then address Edge elsewhere. They have a big need at Edge though. My feeling is that paying Phillips 20m+ over multiple years is not a contract that would age well.

Lol coming here from Facebook to ask folks from Philadelphia - how do you listen to WIP, if if at all? Do they ever talk to actual players or have them on? I want Spike Eskin and Aj Brown in the same room together.

47 minutes ago, greendestiny27 said:

Ridiculous and simply untrue, he and Smith are very tight and he's genuinely happy for his success.

Except we saw DeVonta off to a career best start this past season and AJ was not happy at all, even though they were winning.

Can't keep everyone. Essentially choosing between Phillips and Smith makes sense. There is really no way of knowing what Smith will be in 2026 and what it will cost down the road to re-sign him. If they can get Phillips done for a number that they are ok with I would go with the bird in the hand approach. That being said, if Phillips is going to cost 24-26 million per like some rumors have indicated I would wish him well and let him walk.

1 minute ago, RememberTheKoy said:

While all of this stuff is fun and mostly makes sense, since when was Matthew Berry (Fantasy football guy and writer of Crocodile Dundee in LA) some NFL Insider?

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

Can someone explain to me exactly what it means to create an environment where Smith can reach another level?

This is the part of the offseason where random wishcasting feels like a switch that can just get flipped into reality.

The last OC didn't want his WRs to be open, so the new one is just going to flip the "scheme open" switch. The same QB that threw the ball 5 yards oob every time Smith had a step downfield and who did not hit him in stride is suddenly going to turn him into a 1,500 yard receiver while AJ still gets his targets.

More targets, bigger role, and an offense more suited to use him to his strengths. This isn't exactly complicated but for some reason you are making it that.

Nolan Smith has played 3 seasons for the Eagles and has been good for one of them. He's been worse than Jaelen Phillips in the pros and has a big injury history too.

The best argument for Smith over Phillips is leadership.

1 minute ago, RLC said:

Nolan Smith has played 3 seasons for the Eagles and has been good for one of them. He's been worse than Jaelen Phillips in the pros and has a big injury history too.

The best argument for Smith over Phillips is leadership.

I would say upside, but the problem is his upside is probably to be as good as Phillips. The Eagles do also value re-signing their own but Phillips has been in the building for a few months so they know the player, person, etc pretty well as opposed to hoping an outsider will be a fit. If we are looking at this in a vacuum I think it's a pretty easy choice with Phillips but how much he is going to cost is huge. I know some people who have covered the team said they might be able to structure his deal to basically be a two year deal that they can get out of if need be to re-sign guys like Carter, Quinyon, and Coop.

1 hour ago, Sack that QB said:

EJ Smith if the Eagles sign Phillips, then Nolan Smith is probably gone after his contract ends.

I think he should be. I've been meaning to watch Cashius Howell and decide if Id like to draft him in order to let Smith go when time comes.

12 minutes ago, RLC said:

Nolan Smith has played 3 seasons for the Eagles and has been good for one of them. He's been worse than Jaelen Phillips in the pros and has a big injury history too.

The best argument for Smith over Phillips is leadership.

Not sure the argument for leadership is there either. Phillips is a gem personality. They're probably at least even there.

Smith wasn't even good for 1 year. He was good for part of 1 year. Thats it.

For the short term, if the price is right, you have Phillips, Smith and Hunt. Any deal with JP will likely be easy to dump after 2 years, which is when Nolan's contract would expire (we will definitely exercise the 5th year option). So if they decide to bring JP back, they can still pivot to Nolan if he comes on in the next 2 seasons.

I'm guessing Howie has a ceiling for JP (maybe around $20mm AAV), and that will determine if he is back.

2 minutes ago, HazletonEagle said:

Not sure the argument for leadership is there either. Phillips is a gem personality. They're probably at least even there.

Smith wasn't even good for 1 year. He was good for part of 1 year. Thats it.

If we extend Phillips I’m all for moving smith jr out of here

We need an "ace” edge rusher pretty badly. We’ve got 3 complementary guys, though Phillips is in a different tier than Smith/Jalyx right now. Still, the idea of paying Phillips what we’re gonna pay him makes me cringe

1 minute ago, Eriv20 said:

If we extend Phillips I’m all for moving smith jr out of here

I'm in no hurry to move him out. Depth is still not good at the position. I just have 0 interest in paying him a 2nd contract at this point.

4 hours ago, e-a-g-l-e-s eagles! said:

Personally rather trade for 2027 draft picks over 2026.

Might need to move up to get one of them supposedly top tier QBs in 2027