23 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

I can't see this team being as bad as they were last year.  Injury regression to the norm is enough to add a couple wins.

They'll have a solid Oline, a good RB and TE, and most likely add something to the WR corps.  Hurts' optionality and scrambling ability will be a plus.  And the newness of Sirianni's scheme will be a minor benefit.

They had a top-five DL last season and the starters are returning.  The back seven is still an issue, though.  

All said, this shouldn't be another dumpster fire.

Agree.  You hit on the same key points I was thinking about... the mobile, try-hard QB, who will run around on some teams, the new coaching staff, lack of established trends/tape, etc. I see a couple of additional wins.  I don't think they will challenge for the top pick.  

I think the Eagles will be overlooked for the first time in a while as well.  They will be widely picked to finish last in the division and be a bottom of the league team.  Will be interesting to see what games the Eagles will be favored to win.

Something like 6-11 or 7-10 seems likely.  Working against them is that the teams in the division should be better this year, so those games are likely going to be harder.

Overall, it's just not a rosy picture right now.  The feel for me with Hurts is like having a young Rodney Peete as a starting QB.  Great athlete, great guy, college pedigree as a star at a big school... may only complete 50-55% of his passes but will make first downs with his legs too.  The rest of the team includes a few formerly and possibly still great players that are aging.  Not much young talent.  Most disturbingly, a personnel process remains unaltered despite having yielded atrocious outcomes, decimated the salary cap situation, and yielded very little in the draft since drafts made in 2013 and prior.  The owner's role in the alleged "collaborative" approach to personnel has been revealed, and has had a terrible impact.

The most exciting thing going into this year is the current and future draft capital, although that is dampened by the lack of any evidence that the current leadership is capable of utilizing it effectively, no less maximizing it.

If, perhaps after the draft, new personnel leadership was brought in, and proper delegation was allowed... that would for me be the most exciting development for the franchise.  Unless and until this occurs... I find it hard to see the path to building a team that can contend.

6 minutes ago, downundermike said:

I thought he would be our pick the second we traded down.

I was thinking the same, most mocks I see have him just outside top 10 at the 11-15 range.

 

4 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

If they stay at #12, there should be a top-tenish guy still there.  Whereas Paye is a low teens guys as it is.

Further, the gap between Paye and Barnett/Sweat is much smaller than the one between the CB they draft and the non-existent CB2 on their roster.

I still maintain they can get good corners after round 1

I'd rather they used 12 for position other than corner

13 hours ago, austinfan said:

I have been, Howie gambled and lost. Some bad judgments (DeSean, extending Jeffrey) but an awful lot of bad luck. People want to make it black and white, but imagine 2018 if Wallace, Jerrigan and McLeod were healthy. And that's probably what seduced Howie in 2019, "I can't have this kind of injury luck again!"

People want to blame Howie for gambling and losing, but what else was he going to do after the SB? Imagine if he tried to blow that team up in 2018, even in 2019. he should have done so in 2020, but the impact on the team just isn't that great - once you commit to a rebuild you shouldn't be spending on FAs for a couple years.

I mean talk about overreaction, you'd think the Eagles were say the Giants, who after winning their last SB, missed the playoffs 4 straight seasons, lost a WC game, then 4 straight 10+ loss seasons. 4 HCs the last 7 years.

Sadly, your self-awareness in this area is lacking.

Just now, ManuManu said:

 

Daniel Jeremiah also thinks its Mac Jones at #3

1 minute ago, Utebird said:

I still maintain they can get good corners after round 1

I'd rather they used 12 for position other than corner

Well this gets us to the sequencing of the rebuild.

There could be a scenario where Sirianni and Steichen decide to see what they have with Hurts, Reagor, et.al. first before deciding where to invest.

I can't see the same with Gannon, who is probably standing outside Howie's office everyday asking for back seven talent.

Just because they don't address a need this season, doesn't mean they don't see the need.

40 minutes ago, Iggles_Phan said:

Sadly, your self-awareness in this area is lacking.

Yup, "bad luck" was what made Howie get cute and pick Hurts over Chinn even though their board dictated otherwise. 

Howie needs canned and AFan needs a new crush.

7 minutes ago, ToastJenkins said:

would be a bad pick, so potentially, yes.

there are better edge rusher values in the mid rounds. Paye is good, but not what i would call dynamic

I like Payes athleticism, guy is pretty explosive and the guy seems to be pretty ripped up as well, I don't think he misses too many days in the gym, having said that not a fan of his length or lack of, he's only 6'2"

But the dude killed his pro day with a 4.5 40 and 36 bench and has a really good 3 cone on tape as well.

I think he's a gamer, honesty reminds me alot of Brandon Graham, same size same school compact frame strong at the point, I think graham was a little more polished but I think Paye could be a complete DE.

45 minutes ago, Bacarty2 said:

I want to be in position o draft DJ Uiagelelei in 2023. 

He is going to be absolutely ridiculous. 

I agree.  I hope he's on the radar for them.

2 minutes ago, Utebird said:

I like Payes athleticism, guy is pretty explosive and the guy seems to be pretty ripped up as well, I don't think he misses too many days in the gym, having said that not a fan of his length or lack of, he's only 6'2"

But the dude killed his pro day with a 4.5 40 and 36 bench and has a really good 3 cone on tape as well.

I think he's a gamer, honesty reminds me alot of Brandon Graham, same size same school compact frame strong at the point, I think graham was a little more polished but I think Paye could be a complete DE.

I like him a lot. And I think he’ll be motivated to succeed, for his mother. 
 

 

2 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

Well this gets us to the sequencing of the rebuild.

There could be a scenario where Sirianni and Steichen decide to see what they have with Hurts, Reagor, et.al. first before deciding where to invest.

I can't see the same with Gannon, who is probably standing outside Howie's office everyday asking for back seven talent.

Just because they don't address a need this season, doesn't mean they don't see the need.

I agree,it's definitely a need and one I think can be addressed 2nd 3rd round 

Eagles won in 2017 allocating the least amount of money to corner.

The chiefs won with average talent at corner 

The bucs 3 starting corners were two 2nd rounders and a 3rd rounder.

Corners can be found after 1st round especially zone corners 

Now can Howie find those guys?, highly doubtful ☹️

 

1 minute ago, Utebird said:

I like Payes athleticism, guy is pretty explosive and the guy seems to be pretty ripped up as well, I don't think he misses too many days in the gym, having said that not a fan of his length or lack of, he's only 6'2"

But the dude killed his pro day with a 4.5 40 and 36 bench and has a really good 3 cone on tape as well.

I think he's a gamer, honesty reminds me alot of Brandon Graham, same size same school compact frame strong at the point, I think graham was a little more polished but I think Paye could be a complete DE.

BG is a favorite of mine, an all-time Eagle, and I have one of these on my wall.

 

But he never had the athletic upside that JPP showed.  Paye is the same.  Think of Derrick Morgan, who never went to a Pro Bowl.

6 minutes ago, Utebird said:

I like Payes athleticism, guy is pretty explosive and the guy seems to be pretty ripped up as well, I don't think he misses too many days in the gym, having said that not a fan of his length or lack of, he's only 6'2"

But the dude killed his pro day with a 4.5 40 and 36 bench and has a really good 3 cone on tape as well.

I think he's a gamer, honesty reminds me alot of Brandon Graham, same size same school compact frame strong at the point, I think graham was a little more polished but I think Paye could be a complete DE.

Honestly, I don't want another BG at pick 12.  I love BG.  All-time Eagle.  I want someone who can take over a game however.  I'm going to keep pounding the table for Greg Rousseau.  Yes, he's raw but his potential is through the roof.  It's time to get feared players on this defense.  

41 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

Again, this year's draft has much more uncertainty around it that a normal one.  There is no urgency this season.  Future draft capital is the way to go.

 

Further, aside from WR, their needs don't require really high picks.  LBs, cover-2 DBs, interior OL, backup RB & TE can all be found on day 2 or 3.

Agree on both parts.  That's why I don't have an issue with trading back again and collecting another 2022 1st or 2nd round pick.  The value of players between 6-25 I think is very similar, maybe even further out than 25.  Some opted out in 2020.  Some didn't play normal full seasons.  None of them had to do the official combine.  They should call this year's draft the Casino Draft.  Next draft you won't have these issues.  Scouts will have a near normal amount of tape to watch and evaluate.  2022 will be less of a gamble than 2021. 

2nd and 3rd rounds there should be good Ss, CBs, IOLs, LBs.  Day 3 RBs and TEs along with depth/ST guys.  I'd be fine if we traded back again while picking up a 2022 2nd rounder and another 3rd this year.  Then use some of those late round picks to move up a few spots in the 3rd to grab our guys instead of targeting them and having another team pick them ahead of us.  That's so frustrating when we identify a good player, but another team takes them before us. 

 

49 minutes ago, PrinceKelby said:

AFAN: "Until GM's have a crystal ball...."

Howie had Chinn on board as best player available for them on their board at a significant position if need and went with a #2 QB in the 2nd to create a "QB Factory" which then alienated the QB they supposedly went all in with making him want the hell out and completely screwing up THE ONE thing Howie is supposed to be good at.....the cap, which he had already screwed up prior.

 

This is an avalanche of overthinking stupidity that should have easily lead to the canning of Howie.

You can't explain this kind of bull headed stupidity away, no matter how you try. 

 

Unrelated: Those knocking what Miami is doing realize the still have 5 1st RD picks in the next 3 years, right? 

There is a distinct possibility that the facade of the relationship with Carson was already showing cracks after the 2019 season so not only was Hurts insurance against Carson’s tendency to not finish out the season but also against the relationship souring further.  

I thought Driscoll was Brooks/Seumalo/Kelce insurance last year whereas Tega was a hope his knee gets better and he becomes another swing T.  (BTW, I do believe that they will draft a developmental swing T and a C/G this year, if one falls as a BPA, which is likely with 11 picks.) They drafted Dillard the year before to take JP’s spot.

I thought that Taylor was drafted to replace Gerry this season. Not a hard ask but really hoping for an improvement.  Interesting that they went from uber intelligence in answering questions in the QB room to uber athletic ability.  Why can’t we just get a player with Edwards football IQ and Taylor’s athletic ability all rolled into one player. 

I thought they skipped Chinn because of the depth of SSs and that Wallace fell to them. Frankly, Wallace looked more polished at that point than Chinn, whose level of competition left some questions.  

Sad thing is all of the above sounds like "settle for” players instead of elite.  Not every player needs to be an all pro but Howie does seriously need to find some all pros.

Like it, or not, that has been the draft philosophy for this team.  Draft for the future, fill holes in free agency.  Now, this year Howie says draft picks will need to play right away.  That’s because his settle for and hope Doug’s staff will develop players didn’t work and that’s as much on him as Doug’s staff.   Which brings me to another point.  I have been guilty in thinking Doug’s limited NFL experience limited the coaches he could find.  Wondering if Howie’s apparent tinkering with his staff was blaming Doug for not developing players to deflect blame on his inability to find elite players?  

44 minutes ago, downundermike said:

Yes, his scheme left a lot to be desired, but, do you really think another coach is going to make JJAWful more than he is ??

You don't know. I mean JJAW wasn't a reach coming out of college, he wasn't great at separation but at using his big body to shield the ball and snatch it, he had a high level of "wins" for contested balls - that usually translates well. So he might blossom in an Avant role or as a H-back, or he might be on his way out of the league. Sometimes being used in a fashion more suited to your skill set can revive a career.

3 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

BG is a favorite of mine, an all-time Eagle, and I have one of these on my wall.

 

But he never had the athletic upside that JPP showed.  Paye is the same.  Think of Derrick Morgan, who never went to a Pro Bowl.

Yep.  See my post from a few days ago. BG vs JPP feels exactly the same as Paye vs Rousseau.  

1 hour ago, WentzFan11 said:

 

This is the play we will run in the 2023 SB

Lane was a college QB and TE before moving to OT, he is pretty athletic.

But I hate the break the news to Lane, the real target should be the rugby player.

1 hour ago, WentzFan11 said:

 

This is the play we will run in the 2023 SB

Lane or Mailata?

5 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

BG is a favorite of mine, an all-time Eagle, and I have one of these on my wall.

 

But he never had the athletic upside that JPP showed.  Paye is the same.  Think of Derrick Morgan, who never went to a Pro Bowl.

I think graham had a lot of athletic ability coming out, some teams were working him out at MLB I think what he lacked that JPP has is length, Graham is barely 6'2" where as JPP is almost 6'6" with long arms and legs.

That’s crazy cheap. 

55 minutes ago, Connecticut Eagle said:

Again, this year's draft has much more uncertainty around it that a normal one.  There is no urgency this season.  Future draft capital is the way to go.

 

Further, aside from WR, their needs don't require really high picks.  LBs, cover-2 DBs, interior OL, backup RB & TE can all be found on day 2 or 3.

Don’t get the fascination with Cover 2 CBs.  Gannon was pulling away from that to Cover 1 some last year and Zimmer likes Man/Press.  

 

5 minutes ago, bpac55 said:

Honestly, I don't want another BG at pick 12.  I love BG.  All-time Eagle.  I want someone who can take over a game however.  I'm going to keep pounding the table for Greg Rousseau.  Yes, he's raw but his potential is through the roof.  It's time to get feared players on this defense.  

I definitely like Rousseau's Length if he can put on some weight to that frame without sacrificing quickness he could be alot to handle for OTs.

I'd be fine with Rousseau at 12, be nice if the eagles had length at DE for once In stead of a bunch of midgets