Are the Eagles considering drafting a first-round QB?

[time2rock]

Are the Eagles considering drafting a first-round QB?

 

The Eagles have three young quarterbacks on their 53-man roster: 23-year-old Jalen Hurts, 24-year-old Reid Sinnett, and 25-year-old Gardner Minshew.

While the overwhelming rumor mill buzz lately has centered around Howie Roseman eyeing a splashy trade for a veteran QB... would the Eagles think about keeping the QB room super young?

And maybe use a first-round pick on a QB come April's 2022 NFL Draft?

NBC Sports' NFL insider Peter King, one of the most plugged-in football reporters period, dropped a miniscule breadcrumb in Monday's Football Morning in America column. King was recapping the Eagles' current draft pick situation, as the Colts' pick from the Carson Wentz trade seems all but certain to become a first-rounder.

Here's what King had to say about the possible uses for the Eagles' three first-round picks:

"Barring something really weird, the Eagles now will have their own first-round pick, and those from the Dolphins and Colts, and all could be in the top 20 of the round. In all, the Eagles will have nine picks in the first five rounds: three in the first, single picks in the second, third and fourth rounds, and three in the fifth. With quarterbacks not projected to be super-high in round one, the Eagles would likely be able to sit or maneuver slightly to draft one ... or package three attractive picks to get a Deshaun Watson or to chase a Russell Wilson."

Hmm. We already know about Roseman's infatuation with a possible trade for a vet. But draft one, you say? That's interesting.

To be clear, this isn't King doing some hard reporting and saying the Eagles are thinking about drafting a QB in the first round. This feels more like hypothesizing - but when someone as informed as King even hypothesizes, it's important to pay attention.

He's also wisely connecting some obvious dots. 

At one point, it seemed the Eagles could have three extremely high draft picks in April as the Dolphins floundered to start the year, the Colts struggled as well, and the Eagles were putrid through seven games. But with five weeks left in the regular season, all three teams have done some winning and their picks currently sit at Nos. 12, 13, and 17. 

In a draft that isn't loaded with top-tier QB talent, forcing a quarterback pick in the Top 8 would've felt like a poor use of resources by Roseman. But if these three picks are all going to fall in the early-to-mid 10s? All of a sudden the idea of taking one of the draft's top QB prospects seems a little more possible.

Because for all the love Minshew will receive after Sunday, and for all the things Hurts has done so far this year, the Eagles still have no idea what the future holds at the QB position. You can't definitively say that Hurts is The Guy. What if the Eagles' scouts really like a QB in this draft but weren't going to be able to convince Roseman to use, say, the No. 7 overall pick on him when guys like Kyle Hamilton and Aidan Hutchinson could've still been on the board.

Now it's a far more realistic proposition. Roseman himself traveled to see Pitt's Kenny Pickett and UNC's Sam Howell in person last month, a mildly unusual move for a GM. Does he like the Panthers' Heisman hopeful?

The Eagles are still fully in the thick of a wild card race, and Hurts will have his opportunities to show what he can do when the stakes are high late in the season, but this offseason is going to be absolutely fascinating.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/nfl-rumors-are-eagles-considering-drafting-first-round-qb

[UK_EaglesFan89]

There's no doubt about it that Roseman is going to be looking at the QBs in next year's draft. To be honest if he didn't that would be negligence on his part. Doesn't mean they will draft a QB but he's got to at least look. 

[weko]

We need a QB with a strong pro arm to develop.

[time2rock]

1 hour ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

There's no doubt about it that Roseman is going to be looking at the QBs in next year's draft. To be honest if he didn't that would be negligence on his part. Doesn't mean they will draft a QB but he's got to at least look. 

I suppose it depends ... if there is any truth to that rumor that Howie and Lurie are split with their assessments of Hurts, have to figure the owner's opinion weighs much more heavily and could give the directive to roll with Hurts for another year to continue evaluating his development.  TBH I am hoping that is the case, this is one time it will be nice to have the owner interfering with football related decisions.  I don't think this is the year to take a QB.  We are much more likely to end up with someone like Daniel Jones, Dwayne Haskins, Mitch Trubisky, etc. than we are Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, etc.  

[Road to Victory]

Let’s hope Howie doesn’t trade three 1st rounders for Watson. That’s a ridiculous price for a guy with a big contact and sexual assault allegations pending. 

As for Wilson, he’s a shell of himself. I wouldn’t give up any valuable picks to add a declining player with a huge contract. 

[ManchesterEagle]

1 hour ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

There's no doubt about it that Roseman is going to be looking at the QBs in next year's draft. To be honest if he didn't that would be negligence on his part. Doesn't mean they will draft a QB but he's got to at least look. 

 

8 minutes ago, time2rock said:

I suppose it depends ... if there is any truth to that rumor that Howie and Lurie are split with their assessments of Hurts, have to figure the owner's opinion weighs much more heavily and we could see another year of Hurts.  TBH I am hoping that is the case ... I don't think this is the year to take a QB.  We are much more likely to end up with someone like Daniel Jones, Dwayne Haskins, Mitch Trubisky, etc. than we are Patrick Mahomes, Joe Burrow, etc.  

I think the first thing is to let the season play out. 
 

Hopefully we will see 4 more games of Hurts. The ideal is that Hurts puts it together, has a strong run in and leads the Eagles on a playoff run that shows he is the guy at least for next year.

Or he looks like he did against the Giants and we know he isn’t.

In all likelihood though it will be somewhere in between. 
 

In that case we should be open to drafting a QB, but we cannot afford to trade up or in my view trade for a Wilson or Rodgers. We need to use at least 2 of those picks on D, plain and simple. We literally need young talent everywhere on the D.

Now if they see someone they love who drops in the first then fine. If they want to trade down with one of the picks and get an extra first or second next year - great.

But the D needs help in the worst way and we can’t afford to chase a QB, particularly in this class.

 

[time2rock]

10 minutes ago, ManchesterEagle said:

 

I think the first thing is to let the season play out. 
 

Hopefully we will see 4 more games of Hurts. The ideal is that Hurts puts it together, has a strong run in and leads the Eagles on a playoff run that shows he is the guy at least for next year.

Or he looks like he did against the Giants and we know he isn’t.

In all likelihood though it will be somewhere in between. 

TBH I don't think 4 more games tells you anything you don't already know.  If you want a complete assessment then you need to see what Hurts can do next year now that he has a full season of starting experience under his belt and knows what he needs to hone in on during the offseason and the coaches have a much better idea (than they did in January) for what they need to work on with him.  

But still, none of that will matter if Lurie gives the directive to stick with Hurts for another year, as stated in previous post.  

[ManchesterEagle]

11 minutes ago, time2rock said:

TBH I don't think 4 more games tells you anything you don't already know.  If you want a complete assessment then you need to see what Hurts can do next year now that he has a full season of starting experience under his belt and knows what he needs to hone in on during the offseason and the coaches have a much better idea (than they did in January) for what they need to work on with him.  

But still, none of that will matter if Lurie gives the directive to stick with Hurts for another year, as stated in previous post.  

In all likelihood you are right. The chances of Hurts making it clear in the last 4 games he is or isn’t the guy are slim.

What you say makes perfect sense but there are posters who had seen enough after 4/5 weeks and will continue to maintain he can’t be the guy going forward.

[time2rock]

1 hour ago, ManchesterEagle said:

In all likelihood you are right. The chances of Hurts making it clear in the last 4 games he is or isn’t the guy are slim.

What you say makes perfect sense but there are posters who had seen enough after 4/5 weeks and will continue to maintain he can’t be the guy going forward.

Some posters are just so eager to jump at any chance to use every little piece of evidence that supports their opinion, regardless of which side they are on.  TBPH, I am not on either side when it comes to Hurts as our starting QB.  I think he offers a unique skill set at the position but not THE ONE you need to have (a refined ability as a passer) ... at least not yet.  I think there's a chance he can develop that skill set but am not certain of it.  

I am on the side of rolling with Hurts for another year simply because I don't think there are any elite QB prospects in this upcoming class.  If there were I'd probably feel differently.  To me it makes no sense getting saddled with a Daniel Jones type prospect for the next 4-5 years - the better strategy (IMHO) is to build other areas of the roster with elite talent which then means giving Hurts another year.  If after next year we still have the same questions/concerns, then we should do what we need to in order to get a QB (assuming reports that the 2023 class will be much stronger).  But if we do take a QB this April then I am 100% in support of him being successful.  

[EaglesAddict]

1 hour ago, time2rock said:

Some posters are just so eager to jump at any chance to use every little piece of evidence that supports their opinion, regardless of which side they are on.  TBPH, I am not on either side when it comes to Hurts as our starting QB.  I think he offers a unique skill set at the position but not THE ONE you need to have (a refined ability as a passer) ... at least not yet. 

I am on the side of rolling with Hurts for another year simply because I don't think there are any elite QB prospects in this upcoming class.  If there were I'd probably feel differently.  To me it makes no sense getting saddled with a Daniel Jones type prospect for the next 4-5 years - the better strategy (IMHO) is to build other areas of the roster with elite talent which then means giving Hurts another year.  If after next year we still have the same questions/concerns, then we should do what we need to in order to get a QB (assuming reports that the 2023 class will be much stronger).  

Totally with ya on this.  You know what sucks?  It's that it figures that in a year where the Eagles will have 3 first round picks...the QB draft prospects stink.  I truly, TRULY, hope that Roseman doesn't trade for a Watson, Rodgers or Wilson.  Wilson is gonna be the biggest wildcard...I can so see Roseman making this move.  If he does...and gives up anything more than ONE of our firsts, my head will explode.  QBs are extremely pricey in trades, regardless of what we think they're actually worth.  I could talk myself into Wilson if we traded for him, but I would definitely rather use all of our picks to continue to improve the rest of the roster (especially defense) and roll with Hurts next year.  

[EricAllenPick6]

1 hour ago, time2rock said:

Some posters are just so eager to jump at any chance to use every little piece of evidence that supports their opinion, regardless of which side they are on.  TBPH, I am not on either side when it comes to Hurts as our starting QB.  I think he offers a unique skill set at the position but not THE ONE you need to have (a refined ability as a passer) ... at least not yet.  I think there's a chance he can develop that skill set but am not certain of it.  

Totally with you, and I honestly think most of the EMB is on this page, too.  Jalen is developmental, we need to give him a chance to develop and mature as a passer.  A year in, we can see he's developed a bit, but still has a long ways to go.  Another offseason + season should be enough to see what we have.  Keep him around, let our cap situation improve, then go from there.

17 minutes ago, EaglesAddict said:

I truly, TRULY, hope that Roseman doesn't trade for a Watson, Rodgers or Wilson. 

OK, I think this gets tricky.  I would be for it, depending on what we are trading.

Let's say the trade is Jalen + 3rd this year + 1st next year (i.e., we keep all 3 firsts).  We can use those picks to get get some help at DB, LB and edge.  We already have a pretty good offensive line and a receiving corps that's underrated.  The NFC is pretty weak these days, if we added those players and Watson or Rogers?  I think this team would have a shot at winning the NFC East and maybe more.

 

[time2rock]

7 hours ago, EaglesAddict said:

Totally with ya on this.  You know what sucks?  It's that it figures that in a year where the Eagles will have 3 first round picks...the QB draft prospects stink.  I truly, TRULY, hope that Roseman doesn't trade for a Watson, Rodgers or Wilson.  Wilson is gonna be the biggest wildcard...I can so see Roseman making this move.  If he does...and gives up anything more than ONE of our firsts, my head will explode.  QBs are extremely pricey in trades, regardless of what we think they're actually worth.  I could talk myself into Wilson if we traded for him, but I would definitely rather use all of our picks to continue to improve the rest of the roster (especially defense) and roll with Hurts next year.  

I know, I've said the exact same numerous times.  But, there is a chance an opportunity presents itself to trade down using one of those first round picks ... a team may covet a player that falls to one of our slotted picks, we trade down to later in the first and pick up another 1st in 2023 in the process (along with say a 2022 2nd or 3rd).  I would be down with that kind of move - it leaves us still having 3 1s in April plus an extra day 2 pick and sets us up to make a move for a QB in 2023 if the need is there.  

And definitely with you on having no desire to trade most or all of our 1s on a vet like those you mentioned.  We need a young QB to groom and grow with the other young talent on this team (not that Watson is long in the tooth like the others but he has some serious baggage ... they should stay away from that).  

[UK_EaglesFan89]

15 hours ago, time2rock said:

And definitely with you on having no desire to trade most or all of our 1s on a vet like those you mentioned. 

I can see Howie doing it but I have no idea why he would. I'm not sure how anyone can watch this team and think they are just a veteran QB away from being a legit contender.

If you told me 1 first for Rodgers then sure yeah. But that's not going to happen it'll be all 3 plus more. 

[D-Shiznit]

We're either drafting a 1st RD QB or trading the farm for Wilson/Watson/Rodgers.

I just don't see any way Lowie going into 2022 with Hurts/Minshew at QB.

[time2rock]

4 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

I can see Howie doing it but I have no idea why he would. I'm not sure how anyone can watch this team and think they are just a veteran QB away from being a legit contender.

If you told me 1 first for Rodgers then sure yeah. But that's not going to happen it'll be all 3 plus more. 

Exactly.

And exactly.