Doug Pederson met with the media ahead of today’s Eagles OTA practice and cited six players who are making positive early impressions. Three on offense, and three from the other side of the ball. Are they breakout candidates? Here’s why these early flashes of excellence matter to each.
Offense
Carson Wentz
This one comes as no surprise. The future of the franchise has attacked OTA’s with no knee brace in sight and has looked extremely fluid in what limited footage has come out of the NovaCare Complex, while reports have been nothing short of glowing when it comes to Carson Wentz. Sure, there are no pads on just yet, but in comparison to where Wentz was at in his rehab one year ago, Pederson’s optimism is completely understandable, as is that of fans everywhere.
Nelson Agholor
Agholor’s rise is interesting. Currently scheduled to cost the Eagles over $9M in cap space, both his short-term and long-term future have been up in the air for months. As things stand, the Birds’ are willing to swallow that hit and keep one of the most productive slot receivers in the NFL for one more season before he likely commands a much juicier deal. That decision seems to be serving them right, with the USC product looking sharp in May. Who can blame him? Agholor has gone from being a first-round pick, to a man with the bust label hovering over his head, to a resurgent receiver who exploded in the best way possible for the Eagles, receiving for over 1,500 yards in the last two seasons.
Dallas Goedert
Pederson was quick to mention the growth of his second-year tight end. Defenses had better hope that the Eagles Head Coach was being metaphorical, given that Goedert flashed signs of becoming a total red zone monster in his rookie season. The SDSU product is primed for a real breakout in his second year and early signs like a leaping catch over CB Sidney Jones, are only reenforcing that belief.
Defense
Avonte Maddox
Maddox would’ve won ‘team rookie of the year’ if such an award existed. The versatile DB ended up starting in the nickel, outside, and even at Safety, a position that he had never played before previously. In year two, that versatility could be key to getting on the field, especially considering Andew Sendejo’s future can be weighed against a potential compensatory pick. If Maddox can keep impressing this offseason, picking up where he left off, who’s to say he won’t earn a starting role in his second year. It would certainly be well deserved.
Sidney Jones
In what is now an all-or-nothing season for Sidney Jones, the former second-round pick appears to have hit the ground running. Jones has made impressive plays throughout the OTA program and with a potential starting nickel role on the line, which could lead to a CB1/2 role in the future, Jones has to make sure that he not only stays healthy, but begins flashing signs of the potential that saw him labeled as one of his classes most dominant corners.
Rasul Douglas
It’s an all-or-nothing year for Rasul Douglas too, but for very different reasons. After the Eagles finally gave him another shot at the starting job after exhausting every other option in relief of the injured Ronald Darby, Douglas showed up time-after-time in a big way. His aggressive mentality led to some stunning tackles, while the WVU ball-hawking tendencies have only improved, with the second-year corner leading the team in picks. Still buried on the depth chart, Douglas, like Jones, has to do all he can to make the most of the starting reps he’s now seeing, with Mills and Darby still sidelined. He appears to be doing just that.
Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
