The NFL Draft is finally in the books and with the rush to sign undrafted free agents entering its final stint, it's time to look back at the ten biggest things we learned about this Eagles over the course of the weekend.
No cornerback selected in the first round!!!
The biggest shock of the entire 2019 NFL Draft was not Clelin Ferrell going 4th overall, nor was it Daniel Jones being taken 6th overall. Instead, it was that the Eagles didn't select a cornerback with their first-round pick. I'm sure Mel Kiper's life flashed before his eyes. Of course, this is totally sarcastic. Everybody knew that this was never going to happen and by everybody, I mean anyone who looked at the roster before submitting a mock draft.
Nonetheless, its' worth noting that the Eagles not only used their first-round pick elsewhere but did the same with every other pick owned. It seems as though they are more than comfortable with the talent already in the DB room.
No Safety selected at all...
Perhaps a little more alarming was the team's decision to not draft a Safety. This was universally agreed to be quite a pressing need for the Eagles, especially for the long-term. But even when names like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson slipped into day three and the laps of the Eagles, Roseman stuck to his guns.
"Yeah, I think it's fair to look at those two groups and say that it's probably something that we would have liked to have done. There were a couple times in the draft where we were deciding between a couple guys."
"...This was a process that we felt like we did address the defense in free agency. When we look at the safety position, we signed Sendejo in free agency and we brought Rodney back."
I wrote extensively about this decision and why the Eagles opted against drafting another young defensive back, but in case you don't have time to read the article below, I'll paraphrase why this decision should ring the alarm bells just yet.
https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2019/04/28/aa-9/
The ability to cross-train defensive backs has become a specialty for Jim Schwartz and Maddox is a shining example. To go from a rookie corner who had never played safety before, to one of the defenses top performers in a matter of weeks is just astounding. The 22-year old has an incredibly high ceiling and it won’t be that farfetched to assume that the Birds’ will keep him on the backline with Rodney McLeod next season, just as Jaylen Watkins once moved.The Eagles have preached versatility and cross-training since the arrival of Jim Schwartz. So while another DB in the room would’ve been great for Cory Undlin, the Eagles already have more than enough Chefs in the Kitchen to cook up a Storm at Safety and may feel confident in letting that situation pan out.
The Eagles have at least three defensive backs who could step up to a a depth-safety role at a moments notice and Roseman is right. The return of Rodney McLeod and signing of Sendejo does somewhat negate the pressing need...for now.
Or a linebacker?
Kind of going hand-in-hand with the decision not to draft a Safety, is the similar call to not pick up a linebacker. Again, there were some enticing options as deep as day 3 of the NFL Draft, but the team stood firm.
What's important to know here is that Paul Worrilow is returning for the 'prove-it' deal that never was after tearing his ACL one year ago, and the Birds' also signed L.J Fort who could be the most underrated signing of the offseason.
Not only that, but the Eagles are getting increasingly lighter on defense. Nickel and dime packages are becoming the norm and the team are keeping 2 linebackers on the field more regularly. With that in mind, adding Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nate Gerry to the picture gives plenty of depth.
Continued on the pages below.
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
Arcega-Whiteside could be an absolute steal
It wasn't the slot replacement that many envisioned, but Arcega-Whiteside could prove to be the steal of the draft. He wasn't expected to be on the board by the time the Eagles were on the clock at 57, let alone be drafted by the team.
At 6'2, 226 lbs, 'JJAW' mirrors the frame of Alshon Jeffery and gives the Eagles a ridiculously dangerous red zone offense. If you have Ertz, Goedert, Jeffery and 'JJAW' on the field, WHAT DO YOU EVEN CALL DEFENSIVELY WHEN INSIDE THE 20?!
His dynamic play is underrated and considering the Eagles already have DeSean Jackson back in the mix, this could be a move that will pay dividends for years to come given how frequently the Eagles like to spice things up offensively.
Aggressive in all the right ways
The Eagles were aggressive in the draft, but they weren't stupid. They ensured they got 'their guys', without giving up the farm to do so. The trades conducted mirrored the values seen on the 'Draft Chart' almost perfectly and the players taken are all completely logical. Even the fifth round selection of Clayton Thorson, while head-scratching, does make perfect sense and that brings us onto our next point.
Trust in the coaching staff
Whether it's Jeff Stoutland, Duce Staley, Chris Willson, or Press Taylor, these draft picks highlighted a complete sense of trust in the coaching staff. All of the players selected have high upsides, but none are finished products (as with every draft pick ever). However, the areas for improvement are clearly areas that the Eagles specialize in.
Eradicating errant quarterback play, developing run-blocking, adding pass-rushing moves and stripping away ball-security issues. These are all coachable traits that can improve with the help of the Eagles staff and the fact the team didn't reach for talent and instead were more than comfortable drafting potential, speaks absolute volumes.
Quality over quantity
The Eagles were joint 32nd for 'total draft selections' this year with the New York Jets. The Birds ended up selecting just five players from this year's crop, trading away a 4th round, 6th round, and eventual 7th round selection.
But in a scenario where 'winning now' is the key...there isn't much room for talent that won't impact the roster right away. The Eagles were smart and kept it simple...bringing us very neatly onto our next point.
Built to win now
The Eagles are a playoff team. Fact. Super Bowl champions in 2017, the team (just about) survived the hangover one year later and returned to the playoffs once more in unlikely circumstances. Now, with their franchise quarterback healthy and an aggressive offseason, the Eagles are arguably better positioned than ever to return to the promised land.
There are still question marks, sure, but the draft reflects a vision that this team isn't preparing to develop for another window, rather than maximizing the season's remaining in their current one.
West Virginia who?
There was a trend in Philadelphia. From Wendell Smallwood and Rasul Douglas, to Shelton Gibson and Tyler Orlosky, of the Eagles drafting and signing players from the University of West Virginia.
The man responsible seems to have been replaced with someone as equally in love with Penn State. Miles Sanders, Shareef Miller and two reported undrafted free agents (we're waiting for team confirmation before covering the class of UDFA's) were all signed by the team this past weekend.
Maybe there's a change of heart, or the Eagles are simply placing more resources closer to home. Either way, it's an interesting shift.
There's still time...
"Talent-acquisition season has not ended." Howie Roseman told reporters after the draft. "We have a long way to go before we play a game, and then we have a long way to go before the trade deadline. We're not going on vacation now; we're going to continue to try to do whatever we can to support Coach and his staff, and we take that part of it seriously."
If you have any lingering concerns over this team's needs, holes or areas that went untouched during the Draft, then this was Roseman's statement that there's life after the Draft.
Just look at when Jay Ajayi was traded for in 2017.Look at the Jordan Matthews trade for Ronald Darby during Training Camp.Remember the Golden Tate acquisition.
The Eagles, by their timeline...are only a fraction of the way into a window where finding the best value is everything. If Howie Roseman hasn't given you a reason to doubt him yet, he certainly has not given one now.
Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports
