In the 10th of our 12-part offseason series examining the future of the Eagles, Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro give their opinions on who will be and who won't be on the roster in 2017. We go alphabetically - Part 10 is Smith to Treggs.
C.J. Smith
Roob: The other guy from North Dakota State. Smith played 72 snaps in 10 games on special teams but just one snap on defense, so it's impossible to really determine where the former undrafted free agent is one year in. But the Eagles need all the help they can get at cornerback, and a 23-year-old who had a promising rookie training camp is certainly worth taking a look at this summer. Ultimately, I think the Eagles will go in a different direction when it's time to put together the 53-man roster, but don't count Smith out.
Verdict: GOES
Dave: Smith is a pretty cool story. The Eagles obviously spent a ton of time scouting Carson Wentz and then saw this cornerback show up. That cornerback was Smith and they signed him as an undrafted free agent. He was on the practice squad until October, when he was signed to the active roster. We never got to see him on defense, so it's hard to know what they have, but the Eagles need to upgrade the entire position.
Verdict: GOES
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Marcus Smith
Cap hit: $2.41
Roob: The good news is that over the last 10 weeks of the season, Smith was second on the Eagles in sacks. The bad news is that it was with just 2½ (Connor Barwin had 3.0 those last 10 weeks). Smith was a little better this year. He played 21 percent of the defensive snaps, had those career-high 2½ sacks and even helped out on special teams. But the bottom line is that Smith remains a part-time player and has 4.0 sacks to show for his first three NFL seasons. Smith's contract is up after this year and with about a $1.5 million cap savings if you release him, there's certainly a chance he won't be back. But Smith is probably cheap enough and useful enough to keep around for another year. Plus, nobody wants to release one of their former first-round picks before being absolutely sure they're never going to be a player.
Verdict: STAYS
Dave: Smith is never going to live up to his first-round draft status. That ship has sailed. But in his limited time in 2016, he was a solid contributor. That's something. The Eagles will still need some depth at this spot.
Verdict: STAYS
Darren Sproles
Cap hit: $4M
Roob: Seems like Sproles has been an Eagle forever. Hard to believe it's only three seasons. If Sproles keeps his word and retires after this season, it's going to leave one gaping hole on the roster. How do you replace a record-setting punt returner and electrifying offensive playmaker? The Eagles are going to have to answer that question next year. Fortunately, that's a year off and we'll all get to watch Sproles for one more year.
Verdict: STAYS
Dave: It would be easy to say, "Cut him and save the cap space," but the Eagles don't have anyone to replace him. I know Sproles is 33 and will be 34 by the time the 2017 season starts, but he's still one of the most dynamic players the Eagles have - and they don't have many of those. He can still be a weapon on offense and in the return game. One more year of watching this guy defy physics before he retires as a Hall of Fame candidate.
Verict: STAYS
Caleb Sturgis
Cap hit: $900K
Roob: I'm not sure anybody expected Sturgis to be as solid as he's been since replacing injured Cody Parkey early in the 2015 season. Sturgis hit on 85 percent of his field goals this year, which is a good mark for a kicker in an outdoor Northeast stadium. Sturgis was also 4 for 6 from 50-plus this year, and only two outdoor kickers were better. After his rookie year, I thought Parkey would be here for a decade. Now I'm thinking Sturgis might be.
Verdict: STAYS
Dave: Last year when we did this, I never thought Sturgis would beat out Parkey to win the job, but he beat him so badly it was never even in question. And then Sturgis went out and had a really good season, making more field goals than any Eagles kicker in team history. He went 35 for 41 on the season. He was a real weapon.
Verdict: STAY
Matt Tobin
Cap hit: $850K
Roob: Tobin has been hanging around since joining the Eagles in 2013 as an undrafted free agent offensive lineman. He's been good enough to make the roster every year and even start 21 games along the way, but he's just not good enough to move forward with. I give Tobin credit for spending three seasons in the NFL as an undrafted rookie. He's already bucked some tremendous odds. But the Eagles drafted a couple promising linemen last year and are certain to add a couple this offseason. This is a talented offensive line that's getting deeper, and I just don't see where Tobin fits in.
Verdict: GOES
Dave: Tobin is a decent depth swing tackle, but he is a liability at guard and the Eagles have better options at tackle now, with Halapoulivaati Vaitai and Seumalo. And if Dillon Gordon takes a decent step next year, Tobin becomes expendable.
Verdict: GOES
Bryce Treggs
Cap hit: $540K
Roob: After that 58-yard catch against the Giants in his first NFL game, there wasn't much to get excited about. Treggs had one more catch for 11 yards the rest of the season and did not look like a guy who was about to break through and become a solid contributor. Just goes to show you that having tremendous speed is not enough to make you an NFL wide receiver. Treggs will likely get the summer to try and show some more consistency as far as tracking and catching the football. But other than one snap back in November, I didn't see anything that makes me think Treggs can help.
Verdict: GOES
Dave: Treggs made one play in 2016. It was a nice 58-yard catch and it looked like the beginning of something special at the time. Nope. He might be in camp, but it's time to find some better talent across this position group.
Verdict: GOES
