The Eagles showed desperation in taking a chance on wide receiver Dorial Green-Beckham and that desperation shows that Sam Bradford was right to want out this offseason, Mike Sielski of the Philadelphia Inquirer writes. After giving up three net draft picks, including their 2017 first-rounder, to get Carson Wentz, the Eagles have been forced to roll the dice on some players in order to bring up the talent level. This offseason, the Eagles have brought in a number of red flag players including Wendell Smallwood, Alex McCalister, Jalen Mills, Nigel Bradham, and Green-Beckham.
Here’s more from the NFC East:
- In the chatter over the Eagles‘ acquisition of Green-Beckham, few have talked about the departure of Dennis Kelly, Eliot Schor-Parks of NJ.com writes. Kelly wasn’t exactly been a Pro Bowler with the Eagles, but he did serve a serviceable backup who could be relied on if an injury popped up on the offensive line. Kelly might not have the ceiling that DGB does, but Schor-Parks argues that his floor is much higher. By the same token, DGB might have the most raw talent of any Philly receiver.
- In predicting the Redskins‘ linebackers on the 53-man roster, Mike Jones of the Washington Post cautions not to be surprised if the team’s tenth and final linebacker is on another team’s roster at this time.
- Tackle Will Beatty is on the radar of four NFL teams, but a reunion with the Giants remains unlikely.
- The Cowboys once again made it clear that they will not consider re-signing Greg Hardy.
Mr. Sielsky, you may end up being correct but why does it seem that everything that happens in Philly is a reach or an unnecessary gamble or a terrible mistake. Sometimes you take a risk, a low risk at that, and it pays off.
The Eagles could not possibly fill the cupboard left bare by Kelly in one off-season. They believe they were able to get their franchise QB. They knew they were going to try but had no guarantees. They partnered with two inept teams to climb from 13 to 2 and got rid of huge salaries in the process.
If they couldn’t make those deals, who was going to be their QB? They filled the position with Bradford who signed before even testing the FA waters. Apparently, there wasn’t much of a market or him but they couldn’t wait to find out and have no one. It’s obvious too, that Pederson was not comfortable with Sanchez, hence Daniel at a higher number.
As for DGB, the Eagles gave up a lineman who proved beyond a shadow of a doubt that he couldn’t play here. Look at the last game tape. Hopefully, for his sake, he can find himself as a Titan a la King Dunlap in SD.
Good teams take these gambles all the time. Some work and some don’t. Cris Carter worked for Minnesota. Wes Welker did nothing in Miami. Randy Moss looked like his career was over in Oakland. NE gave up a 5th rd pick for him. TO here, the list goes on.
This guy was a 2nd rd pick. I would have done this deal if my starters were Dez Bryant and Antonio Brown (both were available when Eagles picked in 2010) for Dennis Kelly, please. They got a guy who only dropped 4 balls last year.
Maybe, just maybe, their desperation will have led them to a big time WR for the next ten years. If not, they cut him and all it cost was a guy that wasn’t going to make the team anyway.