The fourth instalment in our series ranking the top 25 young Eagles players sees us break into the top 10. This is where things really get spicy, so buckle up!
Quick disclaimer
I realized I had made an error in my rankings, which ended totalling 24 players. To combat this I added UDFA TE Jack Stoll to the back end of the list. It was a toss-up between him and J.J Arcega-Whiteside, but since the Stanford product has done nothing but seemingly regress, I felt like a discussion of upside should instead be one about him meeting some drastically lowered expectations.
Stoll’s 2020 season was cut short due to injury, but he’s a versatile prospect who ran a 4.68 40-yard dash and a 2.66 20-yard split. His 6.86 3-cone drill time is just as salivating and we know that the Eagles love their freak athletes. The Eagles may have brought back Richard Rodgers, but Stoll could be a nice long-term piece to watch develop over the next two years.
Eagles top-25 under 25 so far
#25 TE Jack Stoll
#24 CB Craig James
#23 WR Trevon Grimes (Now back on IR after being waived with an injury settlement)
#22 S Marcus Epps
#21 DE Tarron Jackson
#20 CB Michael Jacquet
#19 LB Davion Taylor
#18 WR Quez Watkins
#17 G Nate Herbig
#16 RB Kenny Gainwell
#15 DT Milton Williams
#14 WR John Hightower
#13 CB Avonte Maddox
#12 S K’Von Wallace
#11 WR Greg Ward Jr.
#10 CB Zech McPhearson
#9 WR Travis Fulgham
It would seem as if Travis Fulgham may have the inside-track to a potential WR3 role right now, working as a big-slot receiver. This is something the Eagles have toyed with for a few years but never really fully explored. Enter Nick Sirianni – a coach who wants to get the most out of his players.
It’s not hard to see why he’d be high on the Old Dominion star. His breakout game in week 4 was the start of a five-game run that saw him amass 435 yards and 4 touchdowns. Fulgham was a beacon of hope in a dying offense.
For whatever reason, Alshon Jeffery’s return coincided with the downfall of Fulgham, who ended the season with a four-game run where he amassed just 104 yards on 9 catches.
There’s no denying just how talented Travis Fulgham is. Although he does lack a lot of polish, his hustle and frame make him a menace that could well contribute in a fairly sizeable way in 2021 and beyond providing Nick Sirianni can keep his volume consistent.
#8 Derek Barnett
I don’t like having Derek Barnett this high, but he’s one of the more proven young names in this (barely).
The former first-round pick is entering an option year where he has to perform. It doesn’t help that Ryan Kerrigan joined the ranks on the other side as someone who is performing at exactly the same rate but at a fraction of the price.
With that said, Barnett is still only 24-years-old and bends the edge like very few can. The only issue is consistency and a lack of pass-rushing moves at his disposal. If he can enjoy a big Summer, then we may finally see the breakout that fans have been waiting for since his arrival in the City of Brotherly love.
#7 LT Andre Dillard
Andre Dillard missed the entirety of his second season due to a biceps injury sustained in what was otherwise a disappointing training camp. This came on the back of a rookie season that many will remember for that game against the Seahawks where he got decimated at right tackle.
That performance ruined just about every statistic possible when it comes to looking at the bigger picture. But in games against Buffalo, Chicago, and even Dallas, Andre Dillard looked really solid. There are still plenty of reasons to be optimistic about a player who can move as fluently as the former first-round pick.
He just about sneaks in this list in terms of age, but if Dillard can indeed beat out Jordan Mailata, as he will probably feel he should, then we could see a big resurgence. If not, he’ll be fighting for his long-term NFL future.
#6 G Landon Dickerson
It’s hard not to get excited about an offensive lineman that can literally do cartwheels. Landon Dickerson may well be the most refined interior prospect in his draft class and had it not been for a big injury in 2020, he’d have likely been taken much higher.
We don’t really know if Dickerson is viewed as a center or a guard but we know that the Eagles love versatility. We also know that Brandon Brooks may not be ready to start the year. Whether he’s the long-term replacement for Jason Kelce or maybe kickstarts his career at guard, there’s no doubting that Landon Dickerson has a huge ceiling.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
