We answered the first batch of your Eagles questions Thursday (see story), but we have plenty more to go.
Let's not waste any time:
I'm hoping they go heavy O-Line and D-Line in the draft. Games are won in the trenches. Do you see the #Eagles doing this?— Michael Wysocki (@MikeWysocki8189) February 20, 2019
I do think the Eagles go heavy on OL and DL in this draft, especially D-line. The Eagles seem to share your philosophy about building their team in the trenches. Howie Roseman has been pretty vocal about that since getting reinstated back to his position of power. It also just so happens the Eagles have some pretty clear needs along the offensive and defensive lines.
On offense, Jason Peters is aging and expensive. Could the Eagles possibly draft his replacement in the first two rounds? I think that's entirely possible, especially because the Eagles have three picks in the first two rounds.
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While I think there's a chance the Eagles draft an offensive tackle that early, I'd almost be surprised if they don't go hard after this very deep defensive line class. The Eagles have needs at defensive end and defensive tackle.
Top 3 positions the Eagles target in FA... Top 3 positions the Eagles target in draft... thanks!— T (@TW3384) February 20, 2019
I think there will be some overlapping here and it's a little harder because free agency obviously comes before the draft, but if I have to put them into categories, here's my best guess:
Free agency: Receiver, linebacker, running back
Draft: Defensive end, defensive tackle, offensive tackle
The Eagles have tried to find speed in free agency over the past couple years, so there's a pattern there. I think there's a chance they'll sign a running back and draft one, so I could have put that in either. I haven't liked a lot of what I've seen from this linebacker draft class, so maybe they sign one, although that position has been devalued in recent years.
As for the draft, I got into it above, but I think they leave with linemen this year. I think that has to be one of their goals too.
Say the Eagles address the running back position in both free agency and the draft, would you rather have the big name come from free agency or the draft?
Ex Le'Veon Bell and late round pick
or
Blount and Josh Jacobs— Matt Lupi (@MLupiNFL) February 20, 2019
Well, this is hard to answer because it would depend on the specific players. The idea of getting Le'Veon Bell is intriguing, but I don't think that's likely. And the idea of the Eagles drafting a running back at No. 25 is similarly unlikely.
So, as boring as this answer is, I think the result falls somewhere in between. Maybe the Eagles use one of their two second round picks on a running back and sign a guy like Tevin Coleman. Or maybe they get a guy like Mark Ingram and then draft a Ryquell Armstead or Rodney Anderson in the fourth round. I think either of those two scenarios are more likely.
Thoughts on Bryce Love or Devin Singletary as RB targets in RD2? I think Jacobs will be long gone by the time we pick again, but both are intriguing prospects, particularly if Love's medicals check out. JihaD— 📟DREAM TEAM SZN📟 (@ZipSquad_JihaD) February 20, 2019
What do you think about rodney anderson, say we take him 4th round coming of injury but does it all— Tevis Veney (@Tveney54eagles) February 20, 2019
I just lumped these two together because they're both about running backs in the draft. I agree with the first tweet that Jacobs is going to be gone by the time the Eagles draft in the second round. Heck, he could be gone before they pick at 25.
I don't think it's crazy to think the Eagles might draft a running back in the second round this year. They haven't done that since 2009, when they took LeSean McCoy. That was 10 years ago and it was also with pick No. 53, which they have thanks to the Ravens this season. The Eagles will really need to be in love with any running back they take in the second round. In a recent seven-round Eagles mock draft, I had them taking David Montgomery in the second round. I like him a lot.
Singletary could be in the mix for one of those second-round picks, but the Eagles have been burned just a couple years ago by taking a prolific but undersized prospect. My problem with Singletary is he wasn't asked to catch the ball much at Florida Atlantic. That's an important piece of playing RB in the Eagles' offense, so I'd need to know he can do it.
Love is a tough one to figure out. Obviously, the medical checks at the combine will be important to see how he's recovering from the ACL tear.
As for Anderson, he's another guy with durability issues. As a player, I actually really like him. His 2017 season was really impressive. I've actually been watching Anderson since his high school days. Back then, I was living in Houston and he was going to Katy High School in the suburbs. He could be a low-risk, high-reward option in the fifth round area.
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