Looking at 10 essential building blocks for the Philadelphia Eagles

[time2rock]

Looking at 10 essential building blocks for the Philadelphia Eagles 

Glenn Erby 

 

July 17, 2021 12:24 pm ET

 

The Eagles are fresh in the beginning stages of a roster rebuild and with any teardown, there are essential building blocks that become the core of any roster.

Pro Football Focus recently looked at three players to build around for all 32 NFL franchises.

In Philadelphia, that trio consisted of wide receiver DeVonta Smith, tight end Dallas Goedert and defensive tackle, Fletcher Cox.

PHILADELPHIA EAGLES
WR DeVonta Smith
TE Dallas Goedert
DI Fletcher Cox

Many of Philadelphia’s talented players — Brandon Brooks, Jason Kelce, Lane Johnson, Brandon Graham, and Darius Slay, to name a few — find themselves on the wrong side of 30 years old. Cox does, too, but he plays an interior position that tends to age more gracefully than most. His 194 pressures since 2018 are second to only Aaron Donald among interior defensive linemen.

The passing game has its concerns heading into the 2021 season with Jalen Hurts at quarterback, but Smith and Goedert should provide a solid foundation for the receiving corps. Smith is one of the best route-runners to come out of college in recent years. Meanwhile, Goedert is the only tight end in the NFL with receiving and run-blocking grades of 80.0 or higher since 2018.

Cox is the oldest of the trio, but he’s a staple of this organization and should finish his career with the Eagles.

PFF provided three building blocks, but we wanted to add seven more that lead Philadelphia into the next five years.

HC Nick Sirianni

Philadelphia Eagles’ Nick Sirianni coaches a drill during organized team activities at the NFL football team’s training facility, Tuesday, May 25, 2021, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum, Pool)

The 40-year old head coach is getting his first shot at a young enough age that he’ll get another shot down the line if things don’t work out. Things should develop quickly for Sirianni and the Eagles could be looking at another And Reid scenario, where the former Colts offensive coordinator is leading the franchise into the next decade.

OG Nate Herbig

Currently a reserve, Herbig gained valuable experience during the 2020 season that saw Lane Johnson, Brandon Brooks, and Isaac Seumalo all suffer significant injuries.

The 23-year-old undrafted veteran lost 30-pounds this summer and looks to become an integral part of this organization moving forward as Brandon Brooks, Lane Johnson, and others transition on to retirement.

QB Jalen Hurts

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts stands during NFL football practice at Lincoln Financial Field, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Philadelphia. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool)

Hurts is playing this season for the chance to lead the Eagles into the future and regardless of Howie Roseman’s love for DeShaun Watson, the second-year quarterback is a natural leader who could develop into a Dak Prescott style dual-threat over the next few years.

A developed and efficient Hurts would allow the Eagles to push all their assets and first-round picks into retooling the trenches and linebacker position.

OG/C Landon Dickerson

Philadelphia Eagles offensive lineman Landon Dickerson warms up during rookie minicamp at the NFL football team’s training facility, Friday, May 14, 2021, in Philadelphia. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool)

Dickerson is recovering from an ACL injury, but he’s a year or two away from being the most talented lineman on the roster if he can remain healthy.

WR Jalen Reagor

Philadelphia Eagles wide receiver Jalen Reagor makes a catch during NFL football practice at Lincoln Financial Field, Friday, June 4, 2021, in Philadelphia. (Tim Tai/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP, Pool)

The 2020 first-round pick is an essential piece on the roster and his development is essential to the Eagles improving and staying competitive with the wide receiving corps from rival teams around the NFC East. Dallas and Washington are stacked on the outside and Reagor must provide a viable option for Hurts opposite Smith.

RB Miles Sanders

Dec 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia Eagles running back Miles Sanders (26) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Sanders is chasing his first 1,000-yard rushing season and any hope for the Eagles to return to playoff glory rest with his ability to join Alvin Kamara and Christian McCaffrey as dominant dual-threat options.

K'Von Wallace

Dec 20, 2020; Glendale, Arizona, USA; Philadelphia Eagles safety K’Von Wallace (42) against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

There may be more important players on the roster, but Wallace has to develop and provide a comparable presence to the player Philadelphia drafted out of Clemson. A versatile player who can flourish in the box, Wallace and JaCoby Stevens should and can be the pieces to a versatile and fast defensive unit going forward.

https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/lists/philadelphia-eagles-building-blocks-2021-nfl-season-jalen-hurts-dallas-goedert/?fbclid=IwAR3qg0lsFOt5yl5LSfHDncM2ExTrDV_XLODQqSTmgnX0x2BZHpe759Z8uLA

[UK_EaglesFan89]

Cox is not a building block. There's a good chance he isn't even here after the year. In fact there's an argument to say they trade him this year. 

[Erie]

4 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

Cox is not a building block. There's a good chance he isn't even here after the year. In fact there's an argument to say they trade him this year. 

Maybe a transition player for the first few years of the rebuild. 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

2 hours ago, Erie said:

Maybe a transition player for the first few years of the rebuild. 

Not on his current contract. 

[brkmsn]

The way they do things in today's NFL, I'm not sure I consider RBs building blocks. It's nice when they produce on their rookie contract, but once they are eligible for FA, the cost to keep them isn't always justified when the "next guy up" isn't a huge dropoff (production-wise). 

[UK_EaglesFan89]

5 hours ago, brkmsn said:

The way they do things in today's NFL, I'm not sure I consider RBs building blocks. It's nice when they produce on their rookie contract, but once they are eligible for FA, the cost to keep them isn't always justified when the "next guy up" isn't a huge dropoff (production-wise). 

RBs definitely aren't a building block no matter how good they may be so I completely agree with you.