Howie Roseman wasted no time building around franchise QB Carson Wentz. The de facto GM locked up vertical threat Torrey Smith to a three-year contract and signed stud WR Alshon Jeffery to a one-year pact on the first day of free agency. The talented wideouts give Wentz the weapons he desperately needed and should take Doug Pederson’s offense to new heights. Roseman also solidified the fortress in charge of protecting #11. Offensive linemen Steve Wisniewski and Chance Warmack recently agreed to terms with the Eagles and help form a VERY deep crop of o-linemen.
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With the addition of Jeffery, the Eagles now have a true #1 receiver, which opens up a number of things. Firstly, it takes a ton of pressure off Jordan Matthews to be the #1 option he’s not suited to be. Matthews was crowned the top target prematurely, following the departure of Jeremy Maclin, and the offense suffered as a result. Matthews excels in a complementary role and should thrive next to Jeffery next season.
Secondly, the Eagles no longer have to decide between finding Wentz a top target or giving DC Jim Schwartz a lockdown corner in the first round of the draft. Going into the offseason the Eagles had glaring needs at cornerback and wide receiver. There was a huge division amongst fans/media of the team on which position should be the bigger priority when the team is on the clock come draft day. One half believed that giving Wentz, the face of the franchise, a reliable target trumps any of the team’s needs. The other half couldn’t take another season of being dismantled by opposing WRs and urged the front office to find a solution.
Good news, folks, the team is now in position to get the best of both worlds. With the receiving corps drastically upgraded, the Eagles have the green light to draft one of the many promising cornerback prospects at the top of the draft. The team could even double dip and draft a corner in the first two rounds of the draft.
As if that wasn’t good enough, this draft class is also rich with running back talent; another need for the Eagles. And with Joe Douglas- who is responsible for the Bears drafting star RB Jordan Howard last year- in charge of setting the team’s big board, I’m confident the Birds can find Wentz a running mate in the backfield.
By the end of the offseason the Eagles may very well be one of the most well-rounded teams in the league, and primed to compete in 2017. There is still work to be done, but it is shaping up to be an incredibly productive offseason in Philly.
Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports
