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.
