Eagles Strongly Considering Joe Mixon
- Mixon remains on the Eagles‘ draft board with less than one week to go before the draft, two sources tell Eliot Shorr-Parks of NJ.com. Furthermore, the Eagles are “very interested” in drafting him, and that comes after extensive research into his off-the-field history. Mixon recently settled the civil suit brought against him by Amelia Molitor and apparently apologized to her in person, which might help his case with teams.
Eagles Notes: McGloin, Wentz, Draft
This year, Eagles player personnel vice president Joe Douglas and de facto general manager Howie Roseman are teaming up to run the draft, as Les Bowen of The Philadelphia News writes. “Since he’s been here, have we done everything that I wanted to do? No. Have we done everything that he wants to do? No. But have we done everything that’s right for the Philadelphia Eagles? Yes,” Roseman said. Earlier this week, both men spoke highly of controversial Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon.
Here’s more from Philly:
- Matt McGloin‘s one-year deal with the Eagles is worth $800K, according to ESPN.com’s Adam Caplan (on Twitter). The quarterback gets $775K of that sum from his base salary plus a $25K workout bonus and no guaranteed money. “Moxy” currently projects to be the third QB on the Eagles’ depth chart behind starter Carson Wentz and primary backup Nick Foles, but the Eagles could conceivably use a late pick on another signal caller in the upcoming draft. It’s also not a given that they’ll carry three QBs on the 53-man roster in the fall.
- The Eagles will listen to what Wentz has to say about certain prospects, as Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com writes. “If there’s any player on our roster that has insight into a guy in free agency or the draft, it’s part of our information gathering,” Roseman said. “Certainly, it’s no different with Carson. If he has insight because he worked out with a particular guy or knows a guy from college, then we want that information. But that’s not unusual just to him.” This offseason, Wentz worked out in California with several draft prospects, including Cooper Kupp, Chad Hansen, Mack Hollins, and JuJu Smith-Schuster, so he might be able to give the front office some extra scouting material.
- Mike Kern of the Daily News advocates for the Eagles to take running back Christian McCaffrey at No. 14 overall. He also pitches the unorthodox idea of the Eagles going for tight end O.J. Howard if he falls that far, but that would be a surprise given that they already have Zach Ertz at TE.
Eagles Notes: Mixon, 14th Pick
Thanks to his off-field transgressions, Oklahoma running back Joe Mixon‘s draft stock is reportedly dropping, but the Eagles are among those who have him on their board, writes Jeff McLane of Philly.com. Owner Jeffrey Lurie has given team brass his blessing to consider drafting Mixon, two sources confirmed to McLane. Notably, two of the Eagles’ key decision-makers, vice president of football operations Howie Roseman and VP of player personnel Joe Douglas, spoke highly of Mixon’s abilities on Thursday. “There’s not much he can’t do,” Roseman said. “He’s incredible with the ball in his hands, you can split him out, he’s got really good hands [as a receiver], he can pass-protect, he can make people miss.” Douglas added that “a lot of people think that he is one of the top backs in this draft,” but he noted that “most teams” are considering Mixon’s character issues.
- Speculatively, Mixon could be a possibility for the Eagles beginning in Round 2. Before debating whether to take him, they’ll have to make a decision in the opening round, where they’re slated to pick 14th. The club has come up with “probably about seven or eight scenarios” for that spot, according to Douglas, and Roseman expects to end up with a star-caliber player with that selection. “One thing I know — when we make a pick at 14, with the way our board looks right now, we’re going to all be high-fiving then, and very excited about that pick,” declared Roseman (via Les Bowen of Philly.com).
Stephen Tulloch To Retire
Former NFL linebacker Stephen Tulloch will announce his retirement later this week, according to Justin Rogers of the Detroit News (Twitter link).
Tulloch, 32, entered the league as a fourth-round pick of the Titans in 2006. After serving as a backup during his first two seasons with Tennessee, Tulloch became a full-time starter in 2008 and never looked back, starting 107 games over the next eight years. He joined the Lions one a one-year deal in 2011, but played well enough to be handed a five-year extension in 2012.
Injuries plagued Tulloch during his final few years in Detroit, and he was ultimately released in 2016. Subsequently, he followed former Lions head coach (and current Eagles defensive coordinator) Jim Schwartz to Philadelphia, inking a one-year pact with the club last August. Tulloch played sparingly, however, seeing the field for just seven percent of the Eagles’ defensive snaps.
PFR wishes Tulloch all the best in retirement.
Eagles TE Brent Celek Accepts Paycut
Eagles tight end Brent Celek has agreed to a pay reduction for the 2017 season, according to Field Yates of ESPN.com (Twitter link). Scheduled to earn $4MM next year, Celek will instead take in only $3MM.
Philadelphia is right up against the salary cap at the moment: at last check, the Eagles had less than a quarter-million dollars in cap room, second-least in the NFL. Celek’s paycut will clear $1MM in cap space, but that won’t allow the Eagles to re-enter the free agent market. Indeed, Philadelphia will probably need to restructure other contracts (or release certain players) in order to sign its draft class and account for unforeseen charges throughout the season.
Celek, 32, was already set to earn $2MM in 2017 guarantees, and this pay reduction won’t affect that total. Having agreed to a contract extension last January, Celek is under contract with the Eagles thorough the 2018 campaign. Playing in a new scheme under head coach Doug Pederson, Celek saw his role drastically reduced last year, as he managed only 14 receptions for 155 and no touchdowns, all of which were career-lows.
Eagles Host Derek Barnett, Quincy Wilson
- The Eagles hosted Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett and Florida cornerback Quincy Wilson on Monday, according to Rapoport (Twitter links). Barnett joins Missouri’s Charles Harris as the second prospective first-round DE to visit the Eagles, owners of the 14th pick, in the past week. Barnett tallied 13 sacks last season, while no one on Philadelphia’s roster finished with more than 6.5. Wilson, meanwhile, could quickly become “a solid No. 2 cornerback” in the pros, opines NFL.com’s Daniel Jeremiah, who rates him as the 29th-best player in this year’s class.
Eagles LB Mychal Kendricks Still On Trade Block
Despite head coach Doug Pederson‘s statement that Mychal Kendricks would be on the Eagles’ roster come September, Kendricks is still on the trade block, according to Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer (Twitter link). Kendricks plans to participate in voluntary workouts this week, per McLane.
Philadelphia had placed Kendricks on the trade block as far back as the 2015 draft, but the club was reportedly actively shopping him this offseason. The Eagles were looking for a fifth-round pick in exchange for Kendricks, but no team was willing to meet that ask after $4.35MM of Kendricks’ $4.85MM 2017 base salary became fully guaranteed earlier this year. Kendricks, 26, is signed through the 2019 campaign thanks to an extension inked in August 2015.
A full-time starter during his first four seasons with the Eagles, Kendricks was largely relegated to a reserve role in 2016, as he played on only a quarter of Philadelphia’s defensive snaps. In that span, he racked up 28 tackles and fumble recovery, and earned positive marks for his run defense and pass rushing ability from Pro Football Focus. Kendricks’ coverage grade of 47.7, however, was lacking.
Eagles To Meet With Adoree' Jackson
- In more cornerback news, USC’s Adoree’ Jackson has a busy schedule lined up this week. The former Trojans standout will meet with three teams — the Eagles, Rams and Texans — in the coming days, per Rapoport (on Twitter). Jackson’s first stop this week will be in Philadelphia, where cornerback is a need area.
Eagles Draft Rumors: Cook, Conley
Florida State running back Dalvin Cook‘s stock is reportedly slipping as the draft approaches, but the Eagles seem undeterred. The club has “heavy interest” in Cook, the runner revealed Wednesday in an interview with Philadelphia-based radio station 94WIP (via Dave Zangaro of CSNPhilly.com). The feeling is mutual, with Cook adding that he “loved the city” when he visited. “It’s a great organization, great people,” he continued. “I think the program is on the rise, just need a couple more guys to fill in and help the program. I like the organization overall and the people that’s in the building.” Should the Eagles pass on Cook at 14th overall, their next opportunity to take him would be at No. 43, though he could certainly be gone by then.
- The Panthers, Browns, Eagles, Bengals, Lions, Titans, Saints and Jets are among the teams with the most interest in Ohio State cornerback Gareon Conley, writes Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports. Conley should go somewhere between ninth and 18th overall, per La Canfora, whom one NFL decision-maker told: “Conley has always been a first-round corner, and I understand why he is the top guy on some boards. He may not be as flashy as some of the other corners, and maybe the upside isn’t quite as high, but neither is the risk. This is a clean player who started for two years and who made big plays in big games. There is a lot to like.”
Three Teams Interested In Jared Odrick
The Giants are in need of help at defensive tackle after losing Johnathan Hankins to the Colts on Thursday. Aid could come in the form of the best interior defender left on the market, Jared Odrick, whom the Giants are interested in, according to Jordan Raanan of ESPN.com. Ian Rapoport of NFL.com first reported last month that Odrick would be a possibility for a Hankins-less Giants team.
Hankins had to wait awhile for a deal to come together, which has also been the case with Odrick. The 29-year-old has been on the market since Feb. 20, when the Jaguars released him only two seasons into a five-year, $42.5MM contract. Odrick earned that deal after compiling 64 appearances, 40 starts and 16.5 sacks with the Dolphins from 2011-14. He continued to serve as a durable pass-rushing threat in his first year in Jacksonville, logging 16 starts and 5.5 sacks, before an injury-shortened 2016 in which he missed 10 games. Odrick passed a physical with the Patriots in late February, though, indicating he’s healthy.
The Seahawks and Eagles also have Odrick on their respective radars, per Raanan, who notes he’s likely to join the third team of his career after the draft. Thanks to Hankins’ departure, the Giants seem to need Odrick more than both Seattle and Philadelphia. Aside from Damon Harrison, Big Blue is lacking along the interior line. The Seahawks have Jarran Reed and Ahtyba Rubin, though both players underwhelmed last season, while the Eagles are in fine shape with Fletcher Cox and the newly acquired Timmy Jernigan.