2 hours ago, RememberTheKoy said:

With Howie likely heading towards shedding a lot of weight and accumulating various picks in the draft this offseason it would seem like he is potentially maneuvering for a trade up to #2 or #3 for a QB.  Lotta similar dumping of players in trades that 2016 offseason before they traded up for Wentz. 

WAS moved from #6 to #2 in the 2012 draft for a QB (RG3) — and it costed #6, #39, their 2013 1st round pick, and 2014 1st round pick.

The Jets moved from #6 to #3 in the 2018 draft for a QB (Darnold) — and it costed #6, #37, #49, and a 2nd round pick in 2019.

The Eagles had a far better roster in 2016 than they do now, and there’s no money available to sign any talent in FA for the next two years.  Throwing 4-5 draft picks away just to move up a few spots only gets you a young QB surrounded by nothing — like Darnold was.  Sit at #6 — if you can get a 1st round pick this season for Wentz you can think about using #6 on a QB — but the smarter play is trade back wherever possible, build young talent — then draft the QB when you’re in position to contend.

15 minutes ago, BigEFly said:

Seriously, trade Goedert. Ertz is gone. Rodgers is a UFA.  Perkins is barely worth a roster spot. I do believe we get one TE out of our FA pickups but probably not more. Indy had four. I think we need TEs In Sirianni’s offense. Why trade a true TE in the year we trade Ertz.  Sorry but that seems nonsensical to me.  I mean worse than Howie nonsensical.  

 

I gave my reasons and I don't think it's that crazy.  I don't think it's smart to spend the $50-$60 million it's going to cost to extend DG.  He's missed games every year he's been in the league.  He's a great player but I think he's also replaceable.  You have to look at positions they potentially have to spend on FA coming up in 2022 and beyond.  We are going to need every position on defense and that's not a stretch.  Spending at DE, CB and DT is much smarter than securing a top tight end.

Richard Rodgers filled in adequately when both Ertz and DG were out.  I'd be more than OK with him back on a 1-2 year deal along with a rookie and one of Butler/Jackson as the athletic project.  

In a perfect world, no you don't trade DG.  In a cap hell world where the Eagles are $60 million over the cap with holes all over the roster it's a different story.   

11 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

A lot of people describe Seumalo as one of those steady players you don’t worry about (although I’d argue we have to worry about him more than anyone on the blog has been willing to admit).  
 

With Kelce shifting towards past tense and Seumalo entrenched as whatever it is we want to call him, I think our 3rd IOL might need to be a higher end guy.  Not sure if Driscoll is up for being a 16 game player or for that distinction, ideally he can be.

JR has always stated Seumalo is a solid LG at the least.  While others have trashed him, JR has spoken up for him being solid.  However, not sure if he is Kelce's heir apparent should Kelce decide to retire which he could this off-season.  In that case, IMO, we need draft a C in the first few rounds.  I think Driscoll translates well into an IOL.  There's loads of OL questions to be asked at this point.  They need to make decisions and quick.  I'm really happy that Stoutland is still the OL coach and will trust his decisions on the OL.  After a season where we had the most OL combination is NFL history it would be nice to see a more consistent and solidified OL in 2021, for whoever the QB is.

I know you've been advocating for bookend OTs of Dillard at LT and Mailata at RT and I'm OK with that should it work out that way.  But thanks to Howie, we can't trade Lane for at least another 2 seasons.  I think Brooks will be OK for another 3 seasons at RG after 2 major injuries and 2nd quick rehabilitation, what are the odds he suffers another major injury?  He's an athletic freak and beast.  Even if Lane breaks down, Brooks and Mailata on the right side would be devastating to opposing DLs (step in line to get your ass beat).  Are we really shopping Dillard or can he at least be a solid backup LT?  Question is if Dillard is serious about being a top half starting LT or not.  IMO, I'd prefer to see Mailata beat him out and Lane get back on form, but you can't count on anything these days.  All options must be considered and Mailata has the highest ceiling of the lot. 

19 minutes ago, Green_Guinness said:

JR has always stated Seumalo is a solid LG at the least.  While others have trashed him, JR has spoken up for him being solid.  However, not sure if he is Kelce's heir apparent should Kelce decide to retire which he could this off-season.  In that case, IMO, we need draft a C in the first few rounds.  I think Driscoll translates well into an IOL.  There's loads of OL questions to be asked at this point.  They need to make decisions and quick.  I'm really happy that Stoutland is still the OL coach and will trust his decisions on the OL.  After a season where we had the most OL combination is NFL history it would be nice to see a more consistent and solidified OL in 2021, for whoever the QB is.

I know you've been advocating for bookend OTs of Dillard at LT and Mailata at RT and I'm OK with that should it work out that way.  But thanks to Howie, we can't trade Lane for at least another 2 seasons.  I think Brooks will be OK for another 3 seasons at RG after 2 major injuries and 2nd quick rehabilitation, what are the odds he suffers another major injury?  He's an athletic freak and beast.  Even if Lane breaks down, Brooks and Mailata on the right side would be devastating to opposing DLs (step in line to get your ass beat).  Are we really shopping Dillard or can he at least be a solid backup LT?  Question is if Dillard is serious about being a top half starting LT or not.  IMO, I'd prefer to see Mailata beat him out and Lane get back on form, but you can't count on anything these days.  All options must be considered and Mailata has the highest ceiling of the lot. 

I'm not necessarily sure that Dillard/Mailata LT/RT is going to work.  Dillard had a really bad rookie year (even if mostly spoiled by the RT experience...and what Eagle doesn't have a bad rookie year??), missed all of year 2, and there are obviously the very concerning rumblings about him.  

It's just the best case scenario that gives us a long term solution at both critical positions.  Mailata, despite his freak athleticism, did struggle out of his stance with quick speed rushers.  And that is what got Dillard drafted in round 1.  So if they could somehow settle in as the LT/RT combo, it would be incredible for the future of the team.  

Despite the achilles issue, Brooks is actually the guy I'd trust over Lane to stick around for 2-3 more seasons as the veteran glue between the youngsters.  If we leave the right side of the OL to BOTH Brooks and Lane, then I think we can expect painful OL shuffling early and often immediately in 2021.

But of course, there are contractual issues that make some of that impossible.

 

10 minutes ago, Green_Guinness said:

JR has always stated Seumalo is a solid LG at the least.  While others have trashed him, JR has spoken up for him being solid.  However, not sure if he is Kelce's heir apparent should Kelce decide to retire which he could this off-season.  In that case, IMO, we need draft a C in the first few rounds.  I think Driscoll translates well into an IOL.  There's loads of OL questions to be asked at this point.  They need to make decisions and quick.  I'm really happy that Stoutland is still the OL coach and will trust his decisions on the OL.  After a season where we had the most OL combination is NFL history it would be nice to see a more consistent and solidified OL in 2021, for whoever the QB is.

I know you've been advocating for bookend OTs of Dillard at LT and Mailata at RT and I'm OK with that should it work out that way.  But thanks to Howie, we can't trade Lane for at least another 2 seasons.  I think Brooks will be OK for another 3 seasons at RG after 2 major injuries and 2nd quick rehabilitation, what are the odds he suffers another major injury?  He's an athletic freak and beast.  Even if Lane breaks down, Brooks and Mailata on the right side would be devastating to opposing DLs (step in line to get your ass beat).  Are we really shopping Dillard or can he at least be a solid backup LT?  Question is if Dillard is serious about being a top half starting LT or not.  IMO, I'd prefer to see Mailata beat him out and Lane get back on form, but you can't count on anything these days.  All options must be considered and Mailata has the highest ceiling of the lot. 

I'm not sure the O-line is in that bad of shape.  As bad as 2020 was, one small piece of silver lining is the experience the young O-line got.  Herbig, Driscoll, Opeta. Mailata all played significant snaps and you can't replace live game action.  Even Brett Toth played some.  

 

Also, don't forget about Ross Pierschbacher as a potential center.  He was a very under the radar signing late in the season and I think he has a shot to impress this summer.  

Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson are the aging veterans and we don't know how much longer they can keep it up.  Brooks is a dark horse trade candidate.  

Mailata, Herbig and Driscoll are all under 23.  Could that be your LT, LG and RG for the if they move on from Brooks?  Seumalo is going to be 28 and could be the potential replacement for Kelce.  Best case scenario is Dillard can cross train and be the swing tackle this year.  Toth can stay around to develop.  

Let's see what Jeff Stoutland can do with these guys. 

 

8 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

I'm not necessarily sure that Dillard/Mailata LT/RT is going to work.  Dillard had a really bad rookie year (even if mostly spoiled by the RT experience...and what Eagle doesn't have a bad rookie year??), missed all of year 2, and there are obviously the very concerning rumblings about him.  

It's just the best case scenario that gives us a long term solution at both critical positions.  Mailata, despite his freak athleticism, did struggle out of his stance with quick speed rushers.  And that is what got Dillard drafted in round 1.  So if they could somehow settle in as the LT/RT combo, it would be incredible for the future of the team.  

Despite the achilles issue, Brooks is actually the guy I'd trust over Lane to stick around for 2-3 more seasons as the veteran glue between the youngsters.  If we leave the right side of the OL to BOTH Brooks and Lane, then I think we can expect painful OL shuffling early and often immediately in 2021.

But of course, there are contractual issues that make some of that impossible.

 

Brooks has had both Achilles torn correct?  If so, I feel better about him as strange as that sounds but both is better than 1 just waiting for the other to tear.  If he's healthy, I would be perfectly fine with Brooks here for 3+ more years.  

Dillard doesn't excite me at all but the best case scenario is he pans out, we have our bookend tackles and can move on from Lane as soon as it makes sense salary wise.  That would be huge.  I just don't know at all with him.

3 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

I'm not sure the O-line is in that bad of shape.  As bad as 2020 was, one small piece of silver lining is the experience the young O-line got.  Herbig, Driscoll, Opeta. Mailata all played significant snaps and you can't replace live game action.  Even Brett Toth played some.  

 

Also, don't forget about Ross Pierschbacher as a potential center.  He was a very under the radar signing late in the season and I think he has a shot to impress this summer.  

Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson are the aging veterans and we don't know how much longer they can keep it up.  Brooks is a dark horse trade candidate.  

Mailata, Herbig and Driscoll are all under 23.  Could that be your LT, LG and RG for the if they move on from Brooks?  Seumalo is going to be 28 and could be the potential replacement for Kelce.  Best case scenario is Dillard can cross train and be the swing tackle this year.  Toth can stay around to develop.  

Let's see what Jeff Stoutland can do with these guys. 

 

I thought Juriga was the C they were considering as Kelce's potential replacement.  Though I wouldn't be adverse to adding another C in this draft.  Honestly, I hadn't heard about Pierschbacher until you mentioned him.  I see he is 2nd year C from Alabama and admittedly had no idea he was on the team.  I don't think anyone has ever mentioned him before.  I'm OK with Driscoll moving to IOL and Herbig as a competent backup IOL, but depending what happens across the OL this off-season I think keeping our options open is the way to go.

 

Dillard is sort of all or nothing.  His RT stint was an unmitigated disaster.  He plays with little strength.  
 

He’s either going to settle in as a savant pass protector as our starting LT or he’s going to get traded or eventually cut.  If he can only play one isolated position on the OL and can’t start there, he won’t be around long.

Since we are on the subject of OL, is it greedy to want this guy somewhere in RD 2? Especially with Kelce's future uncertain. 

He's not an elite athlete as the video mentions, but he does everything right. Would be a centerpiece on the OL for the next decade. Even kind of looks like Kelce out there getting downfield on plays to maul defenders.

 

10 hours ago, eagle45 said:

Extending people prematurely got us burnt in the first place.  

Extending rookies = smart
Extending veterans to 3rd contracts = dumb

That's the problem. Good teams extend their talented players.

13 minutes ago, RLC said:

Extending rookies = smart
Extending veterans to 3rd contracts = dumb

That's the problem. Good teams extend their talented players.

Pretty simplistic honestly. 

Extending good rookies is smart.

Extending great players to a third contract scary but sometimes has to be done.

27 minutes ago, RLC said:

Extending rookies = smart
Extending veterans to 3rd contracts = dumb

That's the problem. Good teams extend their talented players.

Goedert, Sweat, and Mailata all have quite a bit to prove.  Chances are the price goes down on some of them if they just play out 2021.  
 

Will the price go up on 1-2?  Maybe.  But if you sign them to an in between deal now, they’ll just hold out for more money if they have a huge year in 2021 anyway.

Let them play it out and when they play 8 games in typical Eagle fashion (all 3 have injury issues), Lowie can thank me for the money saved.

15 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Goedert, Sweat, and Mailata all have quite a bit to prove.  Chances are the price goes down on some of them if they just play out 2021.  
 

Will the price go up on 1-2?  Maybe.  But if you sign them to an in between deal now, they’ll just hold out for more money if they have a huge year in 2021 anyway.

Let them play it out and when they play 8 games in typical Eagle fashion (all 3 have injury issues), Lowie can thank me for the money saved.

I’d extend Mailata to a team friendly extension right now. At worst he’s a good back up, at best, he’s a solid starting tackle. 
 

Agree on Sweat. Goddert is tricky. If we deal Ertz, Goddert could be in line for a massive deal based on the targets he’ll receive. 

14 minutes ago, eagle45 said:

Goedert, Sweat, and Mailata all have quite a bit to prove.  Chances are the price goes down on some of them if they just play out 2021.  
 

Will the price go up on 1-2?  Maybe.  But if you sign them to an in between deal now, they’ll just hold out for more money if they have a huge year in 2021 anyway.

Let them play it out and when they play 8 games in typical Eagle fashion (all 3 have injury issues), Lowie can thank me for the money saved.

Out of those 3, Sweat is the trickiest one to figure out.  If his knee wasn't wonky he'd probably be in line to start, have better stats and all of that.  Unfortunately, the knee is always going to hold him back from a bigger role.  He's one of the lone bright spots if not the ONLY young player on defense to keep around, not ignoring Singleton, he's just 28.  

Mailata is probably in line for a $50 million contract along the lines of the one Big V got from Detroit. 

DG is going to get paid. 

5 minutes ago, Blazehound said:

I’d extend Mailata to a team friendly extension right now. At worst he’s a good back up, at best, he’s a solid starting tackle. 
 

Agree on Sweat. Goddert is tricky. If we deal Ertz, Goddert could be in line for a massive deal based on the targets he’ll receive. 

I think at worst he's a solid starting tackle.  At best he's a Pro Bowl player. 

People need to remember that outside of a few pre-season games against non-roster players, Mailata was playing the first football games of his life.  Think about that.  Never played pee-wee, high school, college or any other organized football before in his life and he's starting in the NFL....dominating at times.  This guy put 6-8 300 lb. Calais Campbell on his butt and kept driving him once he was down.  Yea he made mistakes but again, he was playing in his first games ever.  

If Dillard was out there making the same mistakes that Mailata was making we would probably say, it's OK, he hasn't played much, he has to go through a learning curve.  

What Mailata did last year is incredible and he should only keep improving.   He has a nasty streak in him that I love and you can tell he wants to be the best.

2 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

I think at worst he's a solid starting tackle.  At best he's a Pro Bowl player. 

People need to remember that outside of a few pre-season games against non-roster players, Mailata was playing the first football games of his life.  Think about that.  Never played pee-wee, high school, college or any other organized football before in his life and he's starting in the NFL....dominating at times.  This guy put 6-8 300 lb. Calais Campbell on his butt and kept driving him once he was down.  Yea he made mistakes but again, he was playing in his first games ever.  

If Dillard was out there making the same mistakes that Mailata was making we would probably say, it's OK, he hasn't played much, he has to go through a learning curve.  

What Mailata did last year is incredible and he should only keep improving.   He has a nasty streak in him that I love and you can tell he wants to be the best.

Truly, he was the most exciting player on the team to watch develop last season.  Of all the young guys he showed the most potential to be great at his position. 

11 minutes ago, Freshmilk said:

Truly, he was the most exciting player on the team to watch develop last season.  Of all the young guys he showed the most potential to be great at his position. 

Agree, yet somehow he still ended up on the bench.  What does that say about the quality of coaching we had?

1 minute ago, E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles said:

Agree, yet somehow he still ended up on the bench.  What does that say about the quality of coaching we had?

I, for one, am very pleased the coaches have changed.

1 minute ago, E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles said:

Agree, yet somehow he still ended up on the bench.  What does that say about the quality of coaching we had?

Nothing. I'm sure it was Stoutland's decision and it made sense at the time, Peters was healthy, outplayed Mailata for two games (Mailata's head was probably swimming) and gave the kid time to absorb what he had been facing on the field. When Mailata played again, he took his game up a notch.

Progress by young players is rarely linear, it's often one step back, two steps forward for a time. Sometimes a guy is in a rut, making the same mistakes, sitting a kid for a couple games can give him a chance to put things in perspective.

2 minutes ago, E-A-G-L-E-S Eagles said:

Agree, yet somehow he still ended up on the bench.  What does that say about the quality of coaching we had?

That's one of my big concerns.  Was that on DP or did Stoutland have say in that too.  I really think it was on DP.  His explanation that Mailata can learn more by sitting on the bench was one of the most head scratching things he said, and he said a lot of things that made me scratch my head.

• 6.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Kyle Pitts

  TE, Florida

• 38.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Liam Eichenberg

  OT, Notre Dame

• 70.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Dayo Odeyingbo

  EDGE, Vanderbilt

• 151.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Brady Christensen

  OT, BYU

• 155.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Simi Fehoko

  WR, Stanford

• 192.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Divine Deablo

  S, Virginia Tech

• 220.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Nahshon Wright

  CB, Oregon State

• 228.

  

  Philadelphia Eagles

  Zyon McCollum

  CB, Sam Houston State

Mailata/Sweat are pretty straight-forward negotiations. They're still projections, so they can secure themselves now and protect them from injury. Given Sweat/Mailata's background, that matters.

Goedert will be tough, given his production when Ertz is off the field. He could argue he's a top 10 TE.

On 1/11/2021 at 4:56 PM, we_gotta_believe said:

Yep, we'll get a 1st from the Colts and Wentz will flourish under Reich. Meanwhile we'll be mired in mediocrity with Hurts.

Bumping the prediction.

Report: Frank Reich Believes the Colts ‘Could Build Around’ Eagles QB Carson Wentz—If Traded to Indy

https://www.stampedeblue.com/2021/2/13/22281335/report-frank-reich-believes-the-colts-could-build-around-eagles-qb-carson-wentz-if-traded-to-indy

3 minutes ago, austinfan said:

Nothing. I'm sure it was Stoutland's decision and it made sense at the time, Peters was healthy, outplayed Mailata for two games (Mailata's head was probably swimming) and gave the kid time to absorb what he had been facing on the field. When Mailata played again, he took his game up a notch.

Progress by young players is rarely linear, it's often one step back, two steps forward for a time. Sometimes a guy is in a rut, making the same mistakes, sitting a kid for a couple games can give him a chance to put things in perspective.

I'm convinced you're either Howie Roseman or the most low key troll ever and we all keep feeding you.  

Mailata's head was not spinning.  JP was 39 coming off an injury, AGAIN.  It made no sense at all to put JP in.  He probably took his game up a notch because he realized the coaches were that dumb to take him out the minute he struggled.  This is the same staff that signed Jamon Brown, watched him go through a wardrobe adjustment mid-play and have one of the worst offensive lineman performances ever, cut him (the right thing) and then brought him back! 

IF it was Stoutland, then we should be worried.  I truly feel it was DP.

Why are fans so afraid to recognize a good, young player? 

What's weird to me regarding salaries is that the team is going to make a profit at the end of the year. I really don't care how big that profit is. If they use all of their cap or allow some to carry over so they can use more the following year, it doesn't change that profit margin. It only affects how the contracts are structured annually. 

Now, let's clear up all the risk involved in contracts: 

1 --- All players can get hurt. A player can get hurt on a rookie deal, a "prove-it" deal, a tag, an extension, a FA blockbuster deal. A player can get hurt on the field or off the field. It's an unknown and a risk all the time. This should not be a factor in the contract unless the player is hurt at the time of the signing. 

2 --- Baggage. Are there conduct issues, distraction issues, character issues, or drug issues with the player? These risks should be factored in with clauses and contract length. 

3 --- Timing. If you extend a player too early, you may overpay him. However, you may still get value in return if he lives up to the potential you saw. If you wait until a player becomes a FA, you risk overpaying to keep him in a bidding war. Players will rarely play up to a top-tier FA contract.

4 --- Fit. When the player being evaluated for the new contract is on your team, in your system, you know he he fits and the value he has on the team. When you lose that player or another player and need to find a replacement in free agency or the draft (or a trade for that matter), you will never know ahead of time if the player will surely be a fit on your team. 

 

So it's strange to me why some fans are hesitant to extend up-and-coming young players that are a fit, are healthy, and don't have baggage. What are we saving that cap space for? To risk on some other risk? In 2019, we made what looked like a good, low-risk FA signing in M. Jackson. The dude had virtually no injury history to date and ends up hurt for the season after 1 game. It can happen to any player at any time. Regarding Mailata: What back injury? You mean the one that we used as an excuse to stash him on IR in 2019 because all the other injuries the team had? Or are we worried because of the concussion (which pretty much ever player in the NFL will experience at some point) ?