The NFL Draft is now a little over a week away and all 32 teams are making their final preparations for what promises to be an explosive weekend. The Philadelphia Eagles will go into the Draft with two first-round picks, but what does their depth chart look like after free agency?
Quarterback
Jalen Hurts, Marcus Mariota, Ian Book
Of course, the Elephant in the room here is that the team needs a new quarterback.
Kidding.
Jalen Hurts is the $255M man and thankfully we can go into the NFL Draft without having to worry about potential Quarterback drama.
It does feel amazing to know that one of the best quarterbacks in the NFL is signed for the next five years and that the team has also given him a backup who will not only push his competitiveness in camp, but could be extremely valuable if Hurts was to get injured.
The Eagles moved on from Gardner Minshew this offseason, replacing him with a man who started 13 games for the Falcons last year. Mariota fits Nick Sirianni’s offense much more snugly and spent last year garnering starting reps as opposed to riding the bench. This was a huge upgrade and one that needed to be made after Minshew proved he was unable to really move the needle when filling in for Hurts last year when the team needed him most.
Running back
Rashaad Penny, Kenny Gainwell, Boston Scott, Trey Sermon
The Eagles said goodbye to Miles Sanders this offseason and brought in Rashaad Penny as his replacement. It’s a low-risk, low-cost move that could have huge upside if Penny can run assertively and stay healthy.
There is no urgent need for a backfield upgrade, but the idea of securing the backfield with Bijan Robinson’s presence at #10 could be all too tempting. Although it has to be noted that Howie Roseman really doesn’t like paying running backs.
Offensive line
Center: Jason Kelce, Brett Toth, Cameron Tom
Guard: Landon Dickerson, Cam Jurgens, Sua Opeta, Tyree Robinson, Josh Sills
Tackle: Lane Johnson, Jordan Mailata, Jack Driscoll, Jarrid Williams, Julian Good-Jones, Roderick Johnson
The Eagles threw a slight curveball this offseason when bringing back Jason Kelce for another rodeo. It’s pushed Cam Jurgens into the vacant starting RG role and that’s no bad thing, but depth at guard is light beyond Sua Opeta.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the Eagles do fancy taking a tackle in the first round. Lane Johnson isn’t getting any younger and injuries are starting to catch up. Jack Driscoll has flashed versatility and upside, but would the Eagles be comfortable giving him a starting role as soon as 1-2 years?
Howie Roseman has always prioritized the trenches and with names like Paris Johnson and Peter Skoronski available, don’t be surprised to see him restock the cabinet.
Tight End
Dallas Goedert, Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra, Tyree Jackson
The Eagles drafted Dallas Goedert in the second round when Zach Ertz was still in his prime. There is no viable TE2 behind Goedert and for an offense that loves to run the ball, it’s hard to imagine things stay that way for long.
None of the 3 backup options have proven themselves worthy of the long-term TE2 spot and that may prompt Roseman to push for one of the top talents in this year’s class.
Wide receiver
A.J Brown, DeVonta Smith, Quez Watkins, Olamide Zaccheaus, Greg Ward, Britain Covey, Devon Allen, Tyrie Cleveland
The Eagles have one of the most dominant 1-2 punches in the NFL and until last night, I’d have made the case for drafting a replacement for Quez Watkins, who has just not been able to develop as quickly as this team has grown. That’s not his fault, it’s just the nature of the rapid rise experienced by Philadelphia.
Olamide Zaccheaus is a tremendous signing on paper and one that should inspire a real training camp battle. I don’t think the Eagles will be going heavy on wideout in this year’s draft, but finding a consistent returner should be a priority.
AP Photo/Chris Szagola, File
