We’re a week away from the start of the 2023 NFL Draft and the Philadelphia Eagles have been busy in more ways than one.
Speaking to the media for the pre-draft news conference, both Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni addressed the media to hammer out several key details of the last few weeks. Whether it was an official announcement on the coaching updates made over the last month or their plans within the coming weeks, there were plenty of takeaways from the faces of the organization speaking Thursday afternoon.
Let’s go through it all now.
Coaching Updates
There were several new coaches hired to the organization Thursday afternoon and one major surprise. Arguably the most note-worthy of the current staff receiving a promotion was passing game coordinator Kevin Patullo being promoted to Associate Head Coach to Nick Sirianni.
Then there’s Matt Patricia. After the team moved away from hiring the former Detroit Lions head coach as defensive coordinator, it seems the Eagles have hired Patricia as a defensive assistant.
While the expectation is that he won’t call plays, the souring relationship between the defensive-minded coach and starting corner Darius Slay was a big topic to start things off.
“They’ll have a good working relationship when/if it happens,” Sirianni said of the two.
Both the player and coach now will be in the spotlight once training camp kicks off in a matter of months if the team ends up going in this direction.
The full list of coaches hired by the team can be found here:
Jalen Hurts’ contract extension
On the positive side, the Eagles locked in their franchise quarterback to a mega-extension worth close to $180 million of guaranteed money over a five-year deal.
“Everyone kind of made an effort to do this in a way that was win-win. I think it’s a heck of a deal for Jalen and for the Philadelphia Eagles. There’s a lot of people that deserve credit for where we are now and it starts with Jalen,” Roseman said on the quarterback’s contract extension. “It’s a great story, we’re not at the end of the story but just really excited to do this with him and have him a part of this team.”
Hurts will carry cap hits of $6 million, $13.5, $21.77, and $31 million over the next four years while Philadelphia will try to get back to the Super Bowl with him.
While the All-Pro quarterback has gotten hurt the last couple of seasons, the team remained adamant that they expect Hurts to be ready and able to carry the load going into 2023.
“We didn’t pay him more to do less,” Sirianni said.
Is the Bijan Robinson hype for real?
The Eagles, like every other franchise, have positions that they feel worthy of spending top resources for and others that shouldn’t be spent highly. While running back is certainly one of the positions that the team has looked to move away from in terms of resources, the process of drafting the top back in the draft (Bijan Robinson) won’t be just a simple no.
“The most important thing, especially at 10, is getting a unique player,” Roseman explained. “There are so few unique players that if we pick by position and not talent, it’s not a good pick. We’re being as open-minded as possible.”
Phladelphia’s recent draft history of drafting the best available player has suited them well over recent years and could be put to the test next Thursday. Should Philly go best-available player, Robinson might be the selection due to him being arguably the best running back prospect since Adrian Peterson.
Even with the devaluation of the running back position, it seems everything is on the table for Roseman and the Eagles.
On the Eagles Draft Process
“Nobody has any idea what we’re going to do.”
Roseman main comment on the team’s draft process, while different from his overall thoughts on Bijan Robinson, doesn’t come as a surprise. The Eagles’ general manager has made a career based on the team’s willingness to adapt on the fly, especially in the NFL Draft.
The long-time executive remained mum on where this draft ranks in terms of first-round talented players but made the note that the organization was focusing on the here and now in regards to building this team the right way in their thought process.
So while the Bijan Robinson train has certainly taken off at times at 10, there isn’t a set guarantee anyone knows where the team will go.
AP Photo/Matt Slocum
