15 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

I’m not calling him a slam dunk prospect. Those guys don’t exist. Every player has a path to bustsville. 

But if we’re talking about the likelihood of a player in this draft becoming elite or a difference maker at their position, Pitts has probably the best odds of anyone. 

Besides, this isn’t a great top 10 to be picking in  There are two elite prospects that the experts agree on — Lawrence and Pitts.

 

Frankly that’s why I don’t think it’s a slam dunk even makes it to six. I can see Atlanta taking him. With them restructuring Matt Ryan’s contract they’re locked into them for at least two years. They’re likely locked into him for three as they’re gonna have to restructure that contract next year because it is a massive cap number at 48 million with 40.4 dead money. I just don’t see them taking a quarterback at four that’s not going to play for two years. And I also think Cincinnati’s in play. If Atlanta goes offensive line in Sewell which really isn’t that much of a stretch considering the fact McGary was not very good last year, they lost Alex Mack and they don’t have a starting left guard right now. 

So reading PFF’s top remaining FAs, and here are the FAs who are youngish with some kind of theoretical upside...

https://www.pff.com/news/nfl-100-best-available-nfl-free-agents-remaining-2021-nfl-free-agency

Kevin King: King has disappointed during his four years in Green Bay — the former second-rounder's highest-graded season was a 62.7 mark in 2019. He blew up the NFL scouting combine, running a 4.43 40 and posting 98th-percentile agility drills at 6-foot-3, but that agility has not shown up on the field, as King is often knocked off balance by good route runners. King has struggled mightily in zone coverage, ranking dead last in coverage grade since entering the league, and he’s been one of the worst tacklers in the league over the last two years. King has the size and athleticism to be effective on the vertical route tree, but he’s a reclamation project who likely needs a specific, limited role on his new team.

Gareon Conley: A former first-round pick, Conley has had his ups and downs, grading out at 64.5 and 64.0 in his two full seasons. He missed all of the 2020 season. Conley is better in man coverage, as he’s graded in the 69th percentile in single coverage compared to just the 37th percentile in zone since entering the league. He’s also forced incompletions on 22.2% of his targets, the second-best rate in the NFL since 2017. Conley is worth a look in a man-heavy system. 

Rasul Douglas: Douglas has the size and length that a lot of NFL teams covet at the cornerback position, but he lacks change-of-direction or coverage chops. In his past two seasons — with two different teams — he has been beaten for a 100.0-plus passer rating when targeted, giving up eight total touchdowns without an interception going the other way. Douglas is likely a backup at best at this point despite age being on his side.

And at LB...

Eric Wilson: Wilson has a solid 2020 in coverage, grading at 65.5, good for 27th among linebackers. His issues have been in the run game where his 38.3 grade ranked just 85th out of 99 qualifiers. Wilson brings well above average athleticism to the position and that shows up in flashes, but he must get better as a run defender if he’s going to play over 1,000 snaps once again as he did last season. 

Alex Anzalone: Has dealt with some injury issues in the NFL just as he did in college, but he has shown the ability to make some plays in coverage, even if he hasn’t got the interception numbers to back that up. He hasn’t been beaten for a pass longer than 22 yards in any of the last three years but has struggled far more against the run.

What you call Pitts doesn't matter, what he can do on a football matters.

If he can beat top CBs one on one, he's more valuable than a WR with similar measurements, b/c he can not only line up as a WR, he can also play H-back, create mismatches and help in the run games (you're still running the ball 45% of the time, and a player who can take out LBs and SSs has more value in that aspect of the game than most WRs).

So the label doesn't matter, the skill set matters. So you compare him to both big WRs like Evans and Fitzpatrick (both ran in the 4.55+ range) as well as H-backs like Kelce and Ertz and Gonzalez. Then you figure out how unique his skill set is, if he matches up against top 10 WRs and top H-backs. You're not drafting him to be an in-line TE. He's not a tinker toy, he's a unique asset

12 minutes ago, austinfan said:

What you call Pitts doesn't matter, what he can do on a football matters.

If he can beat top CBs one on one, he's more valuable than a WR with similar measurements, b/c he can not only line up as a WR, he can also play H-back, create mismatches and help in the run games (you're still running the ball 45% of the time, and a player who can take out LBs and SSs has more value in that aspect of the game than most WRs).

So the label doesn't matter, the skill set matters. So you compare him to both big WRs like Evans and Fitzpatrick (both ran in the 4.55+ range) as well as H-backs like Kelce and Ertz and Gonzalez. Then you figure out how unique his skill set is, if he matches up against top 10 WRs and top H-backs. You're not drafting him to be an in-line TE. He's not a tinker toy, he's a unique asset

It does matter because he's a TE. You don't draft a TE at 6 unless you are trying outsmart everyone else. 

3 hours ago, ManuManu said:

Can he play though?

That's the question. 

Iowa has produced some nfl talent over the years,mostly OL and TE and I've never seen the guy play or even heard of him and I'm guessing after his workout if teams weren't aware of him they are now and going to go back and watch some tape on him.

11 minutes ago, Diehardfan said:

It does matter because he's a TE. You don't draft a TE at 6 unless you are trying outsmart everyone else. 

I think his point is just because he is a TE, he’s not limited to what we think of TEs being. Pitts can lineup on the outside/slot and beat CBs or can destroy LBs and safeties from the inside.

I don't get the "Kelce was drafted in the 3rd so we don't need to draft a TE round 1" argument when you can find steals of every position in later rounds. If the Eagles believe Pitts can be an elite TE/WR, then he is worth the pick. 

36 minutes ago, WentzFan11 said:

I don't get the "Kelce was drafted in the 3rd so we don't need to draft a TE round 1" argument when you can find steals of every position in later rounds. If the Eagles believe Pitts can be an elite TE/WR, then he is worth the pick. 

Because it’s not just Kelce. Jimmy Graham, Witten, Gronkowski, Kittle, Gates, Sharpe and a lot more not even first rounders. Then look at TE’s taken in the 1st that were worth it. Gonzalez. Maybe Olsen/Miller but I’d say no. Everyone compares Pitts to Waller who was a 6th round pick. 

TJ Hockenson, Noah Fant, Hayden Hurst, OJ Howard, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Eric Ebron, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, Jermaine Gresham, Brandon Pettigrew, Dustin Keller, Greg Olsen, Vernon Davis, Marcedes Lewis, Heath Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr, Ben Watson, Dallas Clark, Jeremy Shockey, Dan Graham, Jerramy Stevens, Todd Heap, Bubba Franks, Anthony Becht. 
 

All the TE’s taken in the first the last 20 years. How many would you take in the top 10? Better question, how many even in the first round at all?

3 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

TJ Hockenson, Noah Fant, Hayden Hurst, OJ Howard, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Eric Ebron, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, Jermaine Gresham, Brandon Pettigrew, Dustin Keller, Greg Olsen, Vernon Davis, Marcedes Lewis, Heath Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr, Ben Watson, Dallas Clark, Jeremy Shockey, Dan Graham, Jerramy Stevens, Todd Heap, Bubba Franks, Anthony Becht. 
 

All the TE’s taken in the first the last 20 years. How many would you take in the top 10? Better question, how many even in the first round at all?

How many of those guys have the versatility to also play WR?  If you draft Pitts, you are drafting him for his versatility.  He has traits similar to Shannon Sharpe.  

7 minutes ago, CaliEagle said:

How many of those guys have the versatility to also play WR?  If you draft Pitts, you are drafting him for his versatility.  He has traits similar to Shannon Sharpe.  

Shannon Sharpe was a 7th round pick. 

My post was not a "don’t draft Pitts whatsoever”. It’s more you better have a damn good idea how to use him. Also just showing the top TE/“H backs” around the league were almost never taken in the first. 

23 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Shannon Sharpe was a 7th round pick. 

My post was not a "don’t draft Pitts whatsoever”. It’s more you better have a damn good idea how to use him. Also just showing the top TE/“H backs” around the league were almost never taken in the first. 

Definitely a more risky year for drafting and the earlier the pick the more the chance of overdrafting. Hopefully not only are they looking to tradeback aways but that they find a partner wanting to move up. The extra picks to mitigate the risks and besides we need to upgrade a lot of positions. Worst case scenario, no trade offers and Chase and Sewell off the board where you going ?

Quick and dirty analysis of top 100 players by position. Using CBS Sports and their top 125 instead of 100 for margin of error

WR 20

OL  21

LB 13

CB/DB 18

S  6

DL 16

Edge/ DE 10

TE 5

QB 8

RB 8

again quick and dirty and CBS

https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/prospect-rankings/quarterbacks/

 

1 hour ago, The guy in France said:

Definitely a more risky year for drafting and the earlier the pick the more the chance of overdrafting. Hopefully not only are they looking to tradeback aways but that they find a partner wanting to move up. The extra picks to mitigate the risks and besides we need to upgrade a lot of positions. Worst case scenario, no trade offers and Chase and Sewell off the board where you going ?

QB Factoryyyyyyy!!!!!!!

11 minutes ago, D-Shiznit said:

QB Factoryyyyyyy!!!!!!!

If the Eagles were truly the QB Factory, they would draft Kyle Pitts at 6 and turn him into a QB. Now that I think of it, why is Greg Ward still just a slot guy? Why is Lane only playing RT?

13 hours ago, Swoop said:

I would be all for Flacco as a backup and anyone that says otherwise is a clown. Yeah, I said it.

On a serious note, I do like it and would be good with it happening. Guy has won a Superbowl, is somehow extremely clutch in big games and has been a solid/good player in this league for years. He wouldn't push for the job and could teach Hurts a lot.

Good move for around 2 mil, IMO.

I'm fine with it. Honestly this season I'm fine with Ronald McDonald

13 hours ago, LeanMeanGM said:

Sounds like he's not coming back

What a crybaby thing to say on his part

11 hours ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

So.....who are we not signing next?  

6 hours ago, Diehardfan said:

It does matter because he's a TE. You don't draft a TE at 6 unless you are trying outsmart everyone else. 

Well then... that will be the pick.  

Howie on Draft Day ^^^ 

35 minutes ago, greend said:

What a crybaby thing to say on his part

It really is.  What does he stand to gain from tweeting that?  Is he looking for a pat on the back?  A non-provoked message like this just screams entitled.  Dude you're an average if that slot corner.  I liked him, seemed to have a good personality and fun to interview in the locker room but time to go.

Also, is there anything more cringy and embarrassing as the Philly press calling players by their nicknames?  Something about it makes me just shake my head.

6 minutes ago, DumbleBear said:

Less LeBlanc's we got, the better

Generally an overly positive guy, seriously. But I'm struck "today" by how utterly useless 98% of the Internet is .  You really have to find things that are truly useful. It's a challenge. Now that we're flooded with all kinds of stupid apps and platforms. 

Not to mention posts on discussion boards.

Sorry. Couldn't resist.

5 hours ago, LeanMeanGM said:

TJ Hockenson, Noah Fant, Hayden Hurst, OJ Howard, Evan Engram, David Njoku, Eric Ebron, Tyler Eifert, Kyle Rudolph, Jermaine Gresham, Brandon Pettigrew, Dustin Keller, Greg Olsen, Vernon Davis, Marcedes Lewis, Heath Miller, Kellen Winslow Jr, Ben Watson, Dallas Clark, Jeremy Shockey, Dan Graham, Jerramy Stevens, Todd Heap, Bubba Franks, Anthony Becht. 
 

All the TE’s taken in the first the last 20 years. How many would you take in the top 10? Better question, how many even in the first round at all?

Rudolph, Shockey, Olsen, Clark are all guys I would have been happy taking as a playoff team's 1st round pick.  Top 15 not a chance.  Top 10 never, but in the 20's, sure.

10 hours ago, NCiggles said:

How long do I have before I have to pick a side?

Until I retire or die

7 minutes ago, DumbleBear said:

Excuse me . I forgot we've 'evolved' beyond the point where things 'served a purpose' and have moved on to such electrifying discussions as whether Elliot should be given free reign because in all honesty she's the true Dragon. 

Suit 'er up. 

Nothing in my commentary should be construed as anything other than what is stated. I'm all for it. 

Suit 'er up. 

Who's Elliot?

27 minutes ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

People keep saying he can play WR.  Maybe at college, but no guarantees bw can at the pro level.  If he could then he would get drafted as a WR.  When he runs a 4.6 at his pro day then he can be a slow WR.  Still not worth the #6 overall.  Not for this team.   

You don’t think he’d be better than Alshon on Day 1?  I sure do.