Just now, NCiggles said:

He's an adequate replacement for Phillips last season. I like the depth with Epenesa and Ebiketie vs. Ojulari and Uche last season. If Hunt improves and Nolan just stays healthy, this can be a very good group.

That's where I'm at. Greenard = Phillips (who also didn't get a lot of sacks and had an injury history) at a better price. Hunt seems to have dominated camp, and I think people are sleeping on what a healthy Nolan will be. Ebiketie and Epenesa are way better depth than 2025 or 2024.

2024 was Sweat, Nolan, rookie Hunt. That was it down the stretch.

3 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

I'd argue looking at the sacks number, as opposed to the consistent pressure rate, overstates the "decline."

But I also think Hunt and Smith are poised for big years. Feels like we should have 3 very good edge rushers, and solid depth with Ebiketie and Epenesa. Our edge group is better than last year or 2024 (didn't have good depth and Huff was a zero).

2 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

He's an adequate replacement for Phillips last season. I like the depth with Epenesa and Ebiketie vs. Ojulari and Uche last season. If Hunt improves and Nolan just stays healthy, this can be a very good group.

IMO, I'd say better than 2025 and lesser than 2024, but we'll see. I think more rests on Hunt and Smith who are the homegrown talents than on Greenard. I don't expect Greenard, at this point and given that he is already dinged, to approach the quality of play or contribution that you'd anticipate from a double digit sack guy...whether you want to look at stats or pressure rate. I think a 2025 Phillips-like contribution feels about right.

2 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

That's where I'm at. Greenard = Phillips (who also didn't get a lot of sacks and had an injury history) at a better price. Hunt seems to have dominated camp, and I think people are sleeping on what a healthy Nolan will be. Ebiketie and Epenesa are way better depth than 2025 or 2024.

2024 was Sweat, Nolan, rookie Hunt. That was it down the stretch.

Yes. And Sweat was very up and down his whole career. The issue is that, down the stretch, Sweat and Nolan were playing like all-pros and even rookie Hunt was very effective.

Sort of like having a career .250 hitter just Reggie Jackson one random October. They were ferocious at the edge in the playoffs (and for most of December, IIRC).

14 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

The issue isn't Brown -> Smith at WR1, it's Smith -> ??? at WR2.

17 minutes ago, NOTW said:

AJ Brown was a great receiver and will do well in New England. There were issues that led them to part ways, it is what it is. It's silly to downplay him and rewrite history as if he was a bad receiver or won't be missed at all. They have to replace his production, and they're going to do that with Smitty getting bigger numbers than he's used to, and spreading the ball around to other receivers.

Just now, eagle45 said:

Yes. And Sweat was very up and down his whole career. The issue is that, down the stretch, Sweat and Nolan were playing like all-pros and even rookie Hunt was very effective.

Sort of like having a career .250 hitter just Reggie Jackson one random October. They were ferocious at the edge in the playoffs (and for most of December, IIRC).

Sweat has always gotten his sacks in bunches. The real key in the playoffs was it clicked for Nolan. I really think had he not gotten injured in the SB, he takes a leap last year. I think he will be very good this year, and Hunt will be way better than his 2024 or 2025 version.

This group is inarguably deeper and better week 1 than the 2024 group. And has the potential to be better than even the 2024 playoff run group.

3 hours ago, eagle45 said:

This roster has more holes than we have become accustomed to from recent Eagles rosters. And a roster with holes needs to compensate with numbers. It’s actually harder, not easier, to stash guys that aren’t ready.

I’m curious. Where do you think these holes are? IMO we have no holes in the 24 starters (24 includes NCB and Slot WR). Do you agree with that.

So the holes have to exist around the periphery. Last year at this time we had holes along the LOS on both sides. This year, even with Greenard’s PUP status that is not the case. There are no holes at LB and there were none at LB last year either. We have no holes at RB, and arguably RB is stronger (less of a hole) now than it was 12 months ago.

CB2 was a big hole last year. It is not now.

So that leaves CB 4-6, Safety 3-4, TE 3 and WR 2-6 as the only possible holes. That sounds like dents rather than holes.

Here we go

I wonder with the rapid incline of two and three TE sets if Howie was concerned that he couldn’t risk exposing Jenkins to waivers because teams want any all warm bodies at that spot. Calcaterra and Stowers being hurt (and frankly bad players at this point) doesn’t help.

2 hours ago, vikas83 said:

So we can start signing guys to the PS at 1pm EDT - guys I hope to have back: Weru, Bernard, Wilson, Majors, Williams, Wisnewski, Pierce, Covey, Campbell, James-Newby, Hall.

That is now!

3 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Yes. And Sweat was very up and down his whole career. The issue is that, down the stretch, Sweat and Nolan were playing like all-pros and even rookie Hunt was very effective.

Sort of like having a career .250 hitter just Reggie Jackson one random October. They were ferocious at the edge in the playoffs (and for most of December, IIRC).

Sweat had only 1 sack in the eight games prior to the Super Bowl. Smith had seven over the same period.

Sweat was solid, but nothing near all-pro.

Take it for what it's worth

I missed it... who won the Nasty Nate award this year? My fake prediction money was on Steele.

3 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Take it for what it's worth

We took it an hour ago.

Minute 10 of McAfees voice and looking at Aj Hawks head. Send help.

2024 week 1 roster vs. 2026 53 man roster (not necessarily week 1)

QB: Slight edge to 2024, since somehow I'd take Kenny Pickett over the 2026 versions of McKee and Dalton. But it's small.

RB: Edge to 2026 - give me Bigbsy over Kenny G. 1 and 3 on the depth chart same player

WR: Edge to 2024. AJ Brown is a great player, and he was at his peak 2022-2024. I like the depth at WR behind the top 2 better this year (Lemon, Brown, Cooper and Moore > Dotson, Wilson, Campbell, A. Smith), but obviously worse without AJ

TE: I'll call it a wash. Godert + Mundt + Stowers + Jenkins vs. DG + Grant

OL: 2024 slightly better because fewer health questions, but need to remember Jurgens was an unknown going into 2024. Lane older, Dickerson damaged so edge to 2024. I do like the depth in 2026 (Bell, Kendall, Lampkin) better.

Edge: Give me 2026 by a large margin, looking at week 1. In 2024 Hunt wasn't playing, Smith was coming off a disappointing rookie season, and Sweat was back on a reduced contract. Huff was the supposed stud.

DT: It's a push for me, maybe slight edge to 2026. Carter is older and healthy, should be better than 2024. Davis is obviously better. Ojomo vs. 2024 Milt is a wash.

LB: Big edge to 2026, as we had no clue if Baun was any good before week 1

CB: Edge to 2026, because we didn't know about Q and Coop week 1. Slay > Riq though.

S: Edge to 2024, obviously

\

7 minutes ago, judunno said:

I missed it... who one the Nasty Nate award this year? My fake prediction money was on Steele.

or one of the two Africans

At least we'll play a lot of 11 personnel this year. Think we might see some 21.

2 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

or one of the two Africans

Always PS squad material given the international slot and they've never played football in their lives.

Epenesa can really play. He’s one of those guys who’s such a good all-around player in college that he gets propped up to the 1st-2nd round level, then people say "well if he can give me 6-8 sacks, we’re ok,” then everyone calls him a bust when he doesn’t get a bunch of sacks. He’ll impact games for us in all areas, and an in-game line with Epenesa-Carter-Davis will torture QBs with batted balls. His likely spot in our rotation is the ideal role for him. Win all around.

16 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Take it for what it's worth

It would probably be mid-season, he has to get into game shape, learn the scheme etc.

If they signed him, it would be as a PUP to buy time.

46 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Shouldn't waiver claims be awarded today?

Waivers should have ended at 1PM. Don't know what the delay is

48 minutes ago, vikas83 said:

Shouldn't waiver claims be awarded today?

EDIT: Supposed to be shortly after 1pm today. Surprised nothing has leaked.

It wouldn't be possible for leaks to occur before 1PM since that's when the deadline for claims is. You'd never really know for sure if you're gonna get the guy until the deadline actually happens. It's kinda like Ebay auctions when multiple people place multiple bids in the last ten seconds.

Obviously now (1:25) things could be revealed at any moment.

I think Ertz would be a fine replacement if Goedert were to be injured for any extended time frame. But as a dedicated backup, I'm not sure that's the way I'd play it.