1 hour ago, bpac55 said:

He's exciting for sure.  Is he a DE or a DT?  Does it even matter?  He's an elite athlete.  Will be fun to see what happens with him

When we have an elite athlete with a lot to learn, I normally want them to be parked in one niche, one position so they can get comfortable.  Versatility can be a huge obstruction to development.

I actually want the opposite for Williams.  What he might lack in positional simplicity, he should gain in philosophical consistency: pass rush.

Despite his size, he’s a pretty good run defender at DT.  He certainly projects as a very good one at DE.  That’s a dime a dozen.  His pass rush is raw (he even said that’s where he’s less comfortable), yet that’s also where his potential lies.  

I want a year where he just focuses on pinning back and rushing the QB.  Make him bull rush lankier tackles, then learn to come back around the edge when they compensate.  Make him slaughter slower OG’s off the snap with his burst in single gap responsibility.  
 

2 positions, 1 focus.  
 

Improves 2 positions at once and potentially makes our starting DEs and DTs more effective.

19 minutes ago, LeanMeanGM said:

This man is an instant Eagle legend with those locks 

Someone from Nebraska with that haircut has to be a pretty good blocker.  

12 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

 

So he’s got more upside than our starter. 

 Brugler on Trevon Grimes...

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Florida, Grimes was the X receiver in head coach Dan Mullen’s offense, lining up primarily to the sideline. A former top recruit, he had a rocky divorce from Ohio State and wasn’t a high-volume target in Gainesville (averaged 2.6 catches per game at Florida), but he was productive when given the opportunity. With his size and talent, Grimes is a dependable on back-shoulder grabs, and his play is reminiscent of a similar, but less productive version of Michael Pittman. While he is technically refined with his route steps and body movements, he lacks the explosive separation skills to be a matchup weapon in the NFL. Overall, Grimes lacks dynamic burst or speed to easily uncover, but he is a coordinated route runner and strong in contested-catch situations. He projects as a dependable possession target to have in the rotation.
GRADE: 4th-5th Round

Brugler on KAYODE AWOSIKA...

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Buffalo, Awosika held his own at left tackle in head coach Lance Leipold’s run-heavy offense, lining up primarily in a two-point stance. After two seasons at right tackle, he made a successful transition to the left side as a senior, helping clear running room for record-setting running back Jaret Patterson in 2020. Although he needs to improve his sustain skills and add more glass to his diet, Awosika can create movement in the run game when he latches and runs his feet. He flashes the ability to lock down rushers in pass protection when all his moving parts are coordinated, but too often his upper and lower halves are on different pages. Overall, Awosika will face some growing pains as he continues to be coached in the NFL, but he offers the baseline athleticism and strength that make him a worthy late-round investment. He projects as a developmental tackle or guard.
GRADE: 7th Round

Brugler on Harry Crider...

SUMMARY: Harry Crider was a three-year letterman at Columbus East High, earning 2016 All-State honors as a senior center and team captain. A three-star recruit, he was the No. 24 center in the class and originally committed to Virginia before flipping to nearby Indiana. After two years as a reserve, Crider became the starting left guard as a junior before moving inside to center as a senior captain and earning All-Big Ten honors. He is a smart player who can locate stunts and work his feet into proper position (he graduated in two-and-a-half years). However, he spends too much time going in reverse and his base strength needs strengthened or he will continue to struggle vs. power in his face. He is able to control his man when he stays on schedule, but his reset mechanics (hands and feet) are in the development phase. Overall, Crider put improved, quality play on his 2020 game tape, but his play strength and contact balance aren’t yet on the level desired by NFL teams.
 GRADE: Priority Free Agent

Grimes seems reminiscent of Mack Hollins and Hank Baskett...all 3 of whom are bigger, taller, faster athletes than JJAW and Fulgham.  He can get going and get deep when you give him a runway, but is very linear.

Some people call him a special athlete, but most call him a slow stiff on the field.

Nice UDFA pickup...if he wasn't losing all his targets to a player who captures very similar matchups in Pitts, he would have been drafted for sure.

Brugler on Tarron Jackson...

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Coastal Carolina, Jackson played defensive end in defensive coordinator Chad Staggs’ multiple scheme, lining up inside, outside and head-up over the offensive tackle to the field side. After putting his name on the NFL radar as an underclassman, he turned flashes into consistency as a senior, earning All-American honors and finishing his career as Coastal’s all-time leader in sacks (26.5) and tackles for loss (44.0). With his upfield energy, Jackson is quick to soften the edge with his heavy hands and cross into the neutral zone. While he is gap sound and holds up at the point, he has a tweener body type and needs to improve his anchor strength and shed skills. Overall, Jackson’s gaudy college production might not translate, but he is a spark plug rusher with the snap quickness and pop in his hands to line up inside or outside. He projects as a base end who can reduce on passing downs.

Brugler on Patrick Johnson...

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Tulane, Johnson lined up as the Joker rusher in defensive coordinator Chris Hampton’s multiple front, standing up on the edge. He announced himself to NFL scouts with a standout sophomore year and finished with the most sacks (24.5) in school history, becoming the first player in Tulane history to earn All-Conference honors three straight years. Despite average physical traits, Johnson is relentless in pursuit and has a knack for finding the quickest route from A-to-B (was one of only four FBS player to reach double-digit sacks in 2020). He faces a large jump in competition at the NFL level and needs to continue adding to his bag of tricks to cover up his shortcomings. Overall, Johnson lacks overwhelming size/strength and doesn’t consistently play up to his testing numbers, but he is disciplined, physical and will be a tough player to cut once he’s in a camp. He projects as a back-up edge rusher in a 3-4 scheme.
GRADE: 6th-7th Round

Brugler on JaQuan Bailey...

SUMMARY: JaQuan Bailey (along with OL Solomon Kindley and others) led Raines High School to a 12-2 record in 2015, earning First Team All-State honors as a senior with 89 tackles, 25.0 tackles for loss and 14.0 sacks. A three-star recruit, he originally committed to Florida and also considered Tennessee and Virginia Tech, but he surprised and signed with Iowa State to play with his twin brother (Joshua). Despite missing most of 2019 due to leg surgery, Bailey matched the school-record for starts (49) and set new Iowa State records for sacks (25.5) and tackles for loss (44.5). Known for his iron man work ethic, he creates movement with his effective long- arm moves and shows the coordinated hands to unlock the wrists of blockers. However, he has only average arc burst and his cornering attempts are met with resistance. Overall, Bailey’s tweener skills lower his NFL ceiling, but he plays with physical hands and a nose for the ball. He projects as a depth piece at base end.
GRADE: Priority Free Agent

Brugler on Marlon Tuipoloto...

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at USC, Tuipulotu lined up at nose tackle in defensive coordinator Todd Orlando’s multiple front. Some thought his play might suffer after Jay Tufele opted out of the 2020 season, but the opposite happened as he earned All-Conference honors as a junior and impressed NFL scouts. Tuipulotu flashes power in his hands to shock and knock back blockers, separating and locating the football in the run game. He doesn’t have a ton of backfield production versus the pass, but he accelerates into blockers and gives them all they can handle. Overall, Tuipulotu lacks elite pass-rushing tools, but he is strong, stout and active to be a dominant run defender. He projects as an NFL starter who can play in one- or two-gap schemes.
GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 69 overall)

Brugler on Milton Williams (rated on spot below Tuipoloto)...

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Louisiana Tech, Williams was a defensive tackle/end in defensive coordinator David Blackwell’s 3-4 base, primarily lining up over the B-gap. He emerged as one of the best defensive linemen in Conference-USA the last two seasons (19.0 tackles for loss) and is an ascending player who has yet to play his best football. Williams is a slippery rusher with explosive lateral quickness and physical hands to make plays up-and-down the line of scrimmage. He has terrific body flexibility, but his pad level will get the best of him at times and he needs to improve his finishing skills. Overall, Williams is still filling out his frame and learning how to maintain his leverage, but he boasts a dynamic mix of explosiveness and effort. He projects as a scheme-versatile three-technique or base end.
GRADE: 2nd-3rd Round (No. 70 overall)

8 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

Brugler on Tarron Jackson...

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Coastal Carolina, Jackson played defensive end in defensive coordinator Chad Staggs’ multiple scheme, lining up inside, outside and head-up over the offensive tackle to the field side. After putting his name on the NFL radar as an underclassman, he turned flashes into consistency as a senior, earning All-American honors and finishing his career as Coastal’s all-time leader in sacks (26.5) and tackles for loss (44.0). With his upfield energy, Jackson is quick to soften the edge with his heavy hands and cross into the neutral zone. While he is gap sound and holds up at the point, he has a tweener body type and needs to improve his anchor strength and shed skills. Overall, Jackson’s gaudy college production might not translate, but he is a spark plug rusher with the snap quickness and pop in his hands to line up inside or outside. He projects as a base end who can reduce on passing downs.

Brugler on Patrick Johnson...

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at Tulane, Johnson lined up as the Joker rusher in defensive coordinator Chris Hampton’s multiple front, standing up on the edge. He announced himself to NFL scouts with a standout sophomore year and finished with the most sacks (24.5) in school history, becoming the first player in Tulane history to earn All-Conference honors three straight years. Despite average physical traits, Johnson is relentless in pursuit and has a knack for finding the quickest route from A-to-B (was one of only four FBS player to reach double-digit sacks in 2020). He faces a large jump in competition at the NFL level and needs to continue adding to his bag of tricks to cover up his shortcomings. Overall, Johnson lacks overwhelming size/strength and doesn’t consistently play up to his testing numbers, but he is disciplined, physical and will be a tough player to cut once he’s in a camp. He projects as a back-up edge rusher in a 3-4 scheme.
GRADE: 6th-7th Round

The Patrick Johnson write up sounds similar to Trent Cole's scouting report if I remember correctly. Obviously doesn't mean the result will be the same

Brugler on McPhearson...

SUMMARY: A two-year starter at Texas Tech, McPhearson was the field cornerback in defensive coordinator Keith Patterson’s 3-3-5 scheme, also seeing snaps at the SPUR nickel position. After three years at Penn State, he struggled to move up the depth chart and found a fresh start in Lubbock, finishing as one of only three players in the Big 12 to reach four interceptions in 2020. McPhearson displays the movement skills to mirror and stay on top of routes with the competitiveness to challenge passing windows. He does a nice job balancing his eyes between backfield and receiver, although he needs to improve his anticipation and response time to route tells. Overall, McPhearson has an intriguing mix of fluidity, toughness and cover skills and with improved play recognition, he should compete for NFL starting reps, fitting both man and zone teams with inside/outside ability.
GRADE: 4th Round

Brugler on Stevens...

SUMMARY: A three-year starter at LSU, Stevens was the free safety in former defensive coordinator Bo Pelini’s scheme, previously lining up at outside linebacker, box safety and dime back. As the team’s undisputed leader as a senior, he was awarded the No. 7 jersey and led the team in tackles in 2020, but his effort and attitude were sporadic. He runs the alley with conviction and loves to thump, although he needs to improve his downhill discipline and eliminate the missed plays. He has adequate ball skills in coverage, but the deeper he plays, the more ineffective he becomes. Overall, Stevens is a linebacker in the body of a safety and often the toughest player on the field, but he is a complicated study because of his tweener skills and uneven play. He projects as a box player and special-teamer.
  GRADE: 6th-7th Round

 

Re our new RB Gainwell...

Many say he runs routes like a WR.  I don't have access to the tape to have an opinion on that.  But his highlights...I'd say that he finds, tracks, and brings in the football like a WR.  RBs, even 3rd down types, often look like fish out of water catching passes anywhere beyond the flat.  Gainwell definitely looks like a wideout when the ball is in the air.

As a runner, he's not necessarily one of those joystick guys who strings together moves to make an entire defense miss, but he's got good vision, hits the hole quickly, and has very effective 1-step lateral agility to keep his momentum moving past the first tackler.

 

 

Of note:

Once the final roster is complete, the Eagles are very likely to have more players from Memphis than any other school.

 

3 minutes ago, ManuManu said:

 

That's a theme with DeVonta. Albert Breer said he spoke to multiple executives who said every SEC defender they asked that question to gave the same answer.

 

Think we got enough D linemen?

 

Considering Devonta Smith single-handedly compiled the weakness footage for a pair of top 10 pick CBs (one is now is, another who will be), that's not surprising.