Eagles Notes: WRs, The Draft, Ertz
The Eagles will select at least one receiver in this week’s draft, writes Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer. What is unknown is who that receiver/those receivers will be, and when Philadelphia will pull the trigger. The only two receivers who are sure to be off the board by the time the Eagles make their pick with the No. 22 overall selection (assuming they don’t trade up) are Clemson’s Sammy Watkins and Texas A&M’s Mike Evans.
Outside of those two players, Philadelphia will have its choice of a wide variety of elite talents in the first round and a number of players who might fall to Day 2 or Day 3 but who, in any other year, might be first-round worthy. The Eagles will choose between the electric play-makers like Brandin Cooks, the physical threats like Kelvin Benjamin, and the polished route runners. Although it has been said that head coach Chip Kelly prefers a larger receiver, he did not always have such a player while at Oregon, and the diminutive DeSean Jackson was, of course, the team’s primary receiving threat last year.
One concern is that first-round receivers have a lower success rate than first-round players at other positions given that college defenses have been forced to play softer coverage schemes in response to the proliferation of spread offenses in the collegiate game. As such, fewer and fewer college receivers are facing press coverage and the types of schemes they will face in the NFL. GM Howie Roseman, of course, did not divulge his team’s plans, but he did say that he will be looking for a different type of receiver than those the team targeted in Andy Reid‘s West Coast offense, and he indicated he is not necessarily looking for someone who will start right away. Rather, he is seeking the wideout who, with several years of seasoning, could emerge as the top receiver in this very deep class.
Now for a couple of other quick Eagles notes:
- ESPN.com’s Andy Jasner believes the Eagles may wait until the later rounds to draft a receiver.
- In a separate piece, Jasner says that adding a pass rusher is not a priority for the Eagles.
- Although whatever receiver the Eagles do select in the draft will be instantly compared to DeSean Jackson, Jeff McLane of the Philadelphia Inquirer believes TE Zach Ertz will be the player that recoups the bulk of Jackson’s production.
- Tim McManus of Philadelphia Magazine provides a mock-draft roundup for the Eagles.
Eagles Notes: Cooper, Maclin, Peters, Allen
With free agency looming and approximately $20MM worth of cap space to work with, the Eagles have decisions to make on key players. At the top of the list are receivers Riley Cooper and Jeremy Maclin. The belief among NFL people is that both players will be back next season, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane.
- A combination of factors could work to keep the 26-year-old Cooper, whom GM Howie Roseman calls a “young asset,” in Philadelphia. Cooper made a favorable impression on Chip Kelly, but other GMs could be reluctant to bring him into the locker room after last summer’s incident.
- Maclin, 25, has been a playmaker when healthy, and his skill set is ideal for Kelly’s system, but he’s coming off his second right ACL tear. Consequently, Maclin acknowledges he might be willing to settle for a one-year, “prove-it” contract in an effort to cash in next year.
- The team is pleased with its three tight ends. Zach Ertz is a bargain on his rookie deal, while Brent Celek ($4MM) and James Casey ($3.99MM) are reasonably priced, meaning the trio could remain intact.
- DeMeco Ryans is scheduled to make $6.8MM next year and might have to take a pay cut to stay.
- Franchise left tackle Jason Peters has one year remaining at $9.65MM and could be in line for an extension.
- Free safety Nate Allen is also a free agent and a question mark to return. A second-round pick in 2010, Allen has not taken his game to the level expected when he was drafted, and was “afraid to hit,” according to an unnamed former coach.