Philadelphia Eagles' rookie, Markel Bell has gone from a 3rd-round pick to a possible swing tackle to his first NFL start so fast that some may have missed the ascent.
The third-round rookie had taken first-team snaps at right tackle this summer when five-time All-Pro Lane Johnson missed four straight practices due to an excused, non-injury-related absence.
He had to step in for Lane against the Rams for similar reasons.
With reports stating that Lane Johnson is likely retiring at season’s end, the right tackle of the future, Markel Bell, has all eyes on him.
Many thought the swing tackle battle would never become an actual competition and that veteran Fred Johnson had the job locked up. Bell changed that thinking during the summer.
Fred Johnson appeared to be on track for the job heading into camp, but Bell stepped in, took as many first-team reps, and seemed to get more comfortable by the day. Players, coaches, and observers took notice.
That type of progress, especially that quickly, was impressive. And while nobody will know whether the RT job would have been Fred or Markel if Johnson were healthy this past weekend against LA, it showed the coaching staff’s early confidence in Markel.
Bell spent his college career at left tackle; the transition to the right side is a different challenge, but one he has embraced and quickly succeeded at.
He has said Lane Johnson warned him about the adjustment and that there would be growing pains. Bell understands the challenge.
Markel has acknowledged how different it is to adjust to facing a top NFL defense every day.
But the Eagles’ system may be exactly what allows Bell’s unique skill set to shine. And he has seemed confident since the summer.
“I’m physical. I’m fast. I’m athletic. That’s what this system allows me to do: My talent’s on full display.”
Before Philadelphia, Bell followed an unconventional path. JUCO (Junior College) to Miami to becoming an Eagles third-round pick.
At Miami, he displayed the mentality the Eagles value along the offensive line: a mauler who finishes blocks and overwhelms defenders.
His size advantage was comical at times, but his athleticism for a player his size is what sets him apart.
It is hard to imagine that the Eagles drafted him in the third round expecting him to start so quickly. They saw a tackle with rare size and tools who could become part of the long-term answer at tackle, sooner rather than later. But even with that accelerated timeline, he is ahead of schedule.
The only question left to answer is whether Markel can turn his physical dominance into production at the NFL level.
His first game was a mixed bag statistically, but he reportedly didn’t know he’d start until a couple of hours before kickoff, and context matters.
If Lane is out again, Bell will almost have a full week of practice before the long flight to London to play the Jacksonville Jaguars.
The offensive line has been the talk of the Eagles’ struggles, and his play could help correct some of those issues.
From what we have seen so far, there were some pressures he gave up that need to be corrected, as well as an illegal alignment penalty for being too far back off the line. Those are mental errors, not physical limitations. And he overwhelmingly has two things you can’t teach in the NFL. Size and strength.
He needs to utilize both of those attributes while also cleaning up the self-forced mistakes much sooner than expected, but for the Eagles to be successful, he will have to rise to the occasion.
