The draft is finished, the schedule is out, Nick Sirianni has overseen a practice and training camp is approaching. What’s on your mind? Let’s go to your questions …
How good does Hurts need to be this year to keep his job? League-average QB? Better? — Brad R.
Jalen Hurts will keep his job beyond 2021 only if he’s better than the realistic alternatives. Teams are often as loyal as their options. I frame it that way because I don’t know if Hurts must reach a certain bar to keep his job beyond 2021 — unless he’s so good that the Eagles cannot replace him. Rather, he must be better than the potential replacements.
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If Hurts is better than league average but the Eagles are interested and able to acquire Deshaun Watson or if Russell Wilson becomes available — and I present those two options because those are names that already have been discussed — then my guess is the Eagles would still go for an upgrade. If Sam Howell or Malik Willis or Desmond Ridder or J.T. Daniels or another college quarterback emerges as a player that management deems to be better than Hurts, then the Eagles could replace Hurts. But if the Eagles think another year of Hurts at quarterback and using their picks and cap space to upgrade the roster around him is the best option, then he’s the quarterback. Think back to after the 2014 season when the Eagles traded Nick Foles in a deal for Sam Bradford. It wasn’t that Foles didn’t play to a certain standard. Yes, he was injury-prone, but they acquired Bradford! They just thought Bradford was the better quarterback.
I know there will be much discussion during the season about whether Hurts has proven he should remain the quarterback, and I’ll undoubtedly be contributing to that discussion. But the Eagles aren’t committing to Hurts in 2021 as much as they are committing to keeping their options open. Hurts must be better than the other options. It’s that simple.
Would you rather:
(1) have the Eagles’ top 5 picks or
(2) OT Slater (12) WR Marshall (37), CB Adebo (70), CB/S Melifonwu (84), DT Nixon (123), RB Gainwell (150)? — Brian M.
Put another way, would I rather have stayed at No. 12 than have traded up to No. 10? In your example, is the deal from the Bears on the table? I’d prefer that haul over the play you presented.
To answer the question succinctly, I’d prefer DeVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson to Rashawn Slater and Terrace Marshall. The two defensive backs would be appealing and I was more bullish on Daviyon Nixon than the NFL general managers seemed to be, but in a quest for difference-making players, I’d take the Eagles’ top two over the top two you presented. Smith and Dickerson have better chances of becoming blue-chip players than Slater and Marshall.
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But is there an alternative scenario in which the Eagles move back to No. 20 and take Kwity Paye or Rashod Bateman, still have No. 70, obtain an extra fifth-round pick and add a first- and fourth-round pick in 2022? That’s a different conversation. Smith must become an outstanding player for me to prefer what the Eagles did than take the Bears trade. I believe he can become one.
What are some interesting talking points about the team that you feel have been overlooked? — Zachary G.
I don’t know if I’d say it’s “overlooked” because it’s something I’ve harped on multiple times, but when the 2021 team is discussed, I’m not sure enough attention gets paid to how good they can be along the lines of scrimmage. This is obviously dependent upon health, which is a significant variable when considering the players who are 30 and older, coming off major injuries, or both. But if you’re of the opinion — as I am — that a team can be competitive if it can rush the quarterback and block the quarterback, then the Eagles will be competitive. Look at the top 10 players in both groups:
Offensive line
Left tackle: Jordan Mailata, Andre Dillard
Left guard: Isaac Seumalo, Sua Opeta
Center: Jason Kelce, Landon Dickerson
Right guard: Brandon Brooks, Nate Herbig
Right tackle: Lane Johnson, Jack Driscoll
Defensive line
Defensive ends: Brandon Graham, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, Ryan Kerrigan, Tarron Jackson
Defensive tackles: Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave, Milton Williams, Hassan Ridgeway, Marlon Tuipulotu
There’s obviously focus on the quarterback situation. There are major questions in the back seven on defense. But the Eagles will be strong on both lines, and that should make them more competitive than a lot of people might think.
I see all this talk about trading Zach Ertz, and I’m not sure why Dallas Goedert wouldn’t be on the block. Goedert would have more value on the block and the team is clearly in a rebuild, so why not move the guys that will bring more back. So, Zach, would you be open to trading Goedert or any other player many wouldn’t typically think of? — James H.
This is an interesting question from a value perspective. When it seemed that Kyle Pitts was a possibility for the Eagles, I said on “Birds With Friends” that it would make sense to move Goedert if Pitts was drafted. The reason the focus is on trading Ertz and not Goedert is that the team is transitioning to Goedert as the top tight end. My guess is he’ll eventually sign a contract extension that will keep him in Philadelphia through his 20s (Goedert is 26, turns 27 in January). If the Eagles traded Goedert and kept Ertz, then there’s a hole at the position unless you think Ertz has three or four quality years left. The Eagles would prefer to take that gamble with Goedert than Ertz.
Which is more likely: Jalen Reagor exceeds expectations or Devonta Smith disappoints? — Peter K.
Reagor exceeding expectations. You can probably tell I’m bullish on DeVonta Smith; I just don’t see him becoming a bust. But I suppose the key to this question is knowing what qualifies as Smith disappointing and Reagor exceeding expectations? If Smith must have 80 catches for 1,000 yards as a rookie to avoid disappointment, then I’m not sure he reaches that mark. There have been nine rookie receivers since 2010 who have topped 1,000 yards, including only two since 2016. So expectations for Smith must be realistic. (Of course, factor in the bump to 17 games, and the math changes.)
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This answer also depends upon what the expectations are for Reagor. The presence of Smith should help Reagor, who fits better as a complementary receiver than the top option. Would 50 catches for 700 yards qualify as Reagor exceeding expectations? Based on his rookie season (a 16-game pace of 45 catches and 576 yards), that would be an improvement. So I’d lean toward Reagor exceeding expectations.
If Mailata beats out Dillard for the starting LT job, does Dillard have more value to the Eagles as a backup or trade chip? — Andrew D.
The easy answer is that the Eagles started 11 offensive linemen last season, Mailata has an injury history and a quality backup at that spot is more valuable than a Day 3 pick, which is probably the best the Eagles would be able to secure for Dillard if they traded him after a competition in training camp. Dillard has little game experience, so perhaps all he needs is an opportunity in games. I’m dubious the Eagles would have Dillard on the roster as a reserve, though. After trading up to acquire him in 2019, Dillard should be in the lineup by Year 3. If he’s not, I think Howie Roseman would sooner try to trade him and get some type of value than have Dillard on the bench. Plus, he’s not a swing tackle — he was uncomfortable at right tackle. That would limit his value as a reserve. Perhaps Dillard in Year 3 will be different from the player in 2019, so this is all speculative. And he might prove to be the better option in the starting lineup. But I’d trade him before making him a backup.
Zach, any idea who starts opposite Slay? If the player isn’t yet on the roster, any ideas who they might look at? — Al P.
If I had to make a bet at this point in the offseason, I’m guessing it’s a player who’s not on the roster. Perhaps the Eagles keep Avonte Maddox on the outside or let Zech McPhearson and Michael Jacquet try to earn that job during training camp, but I still think a shoe drops at this position. The player I’d watch is Steven Nelson, who was cut by Pittsburgh in March. He’s still 28, and he could reset his value with a one-year deal on a defense that has a clear hole at cornerback. Price is a different question. The Eagles could also try to trade for a cornerback like they did with Ronald Darby in 2017. Is there a Zach Ertz-for-a-cornerback deal to be made? Regardless, I’m betting on a cornerback who’s not yet on the roster to start Week 1.
Will Fulgham get a fairer shake this year? It’s unclear why he fell out of favor down the stretch last year, but you’d hope a head coach with a wide receiver background could get the most out of him. The team’s outlook is a whole lot better if what we saw for those four games is real. — Rory G.
Yes, Fulgham will get a fair shake in 2021. Whether it’s a “fairer” shake depends upon how you view the 2020 season. My view is the Eagles should have done more to feature him — or at least play him — late in the year, but there could have been factors such as health and practice performance that contributed to playing time. Regardless, it did not serve the Eagles well to play Alshon Jeffery over Fulgham in November and December. After the way Fulgham played in October, he deserved more playing time and opportunity regardless of the veterans on the depth chart. Aaron Moorehead returns as his position coach, but the presence of Nick Sirianni and offensive coordinator Shane Steichen clearly presents Fulgham a clean slate — for better or worse. He can’t rest on last October. Given his size (6-foot-2, 215 pounds), he would fit as a strong complement in an offense with DeVonta Smith and Jalen Reagor. I can get behind that group as the top three if Fulgham is remotely close to the October version.
How does the Banner/Roseman philosophy of “building from the lines out” square with Lurie’s passionate desire for an innovative passing offense? Wouldn’t they have to prioritize skill players (especially wide receivers) over linemen to make Lurie’s vision a reality? Can these two philosophies co-exist? — Nick F.
I don’t think the philosophies of building along the lines and having an innovative passing offense are mutually exclusive. In fact, I’d say they’re complementary. Look at Kansas City. It’s about where money and resources are allocated. If you look at the Eagles in recent years, they had big money invested along the lines, at wide receiver and tight end. They didn’t have big money tied up at linebacker or running back. I don’t see that trend stopping. Look at Howie Roseman’s top draft pick in every draft he’s run: It’s been either a defensive lineman/pass rusher, offensive lineman, pass catcher or quarterback. That essentially marries the two philosophies you described.
Hi Zach, long-time biker first-time mailbag submitter here. What, if any, two or three moves could the Eagles make before the season that would potentially set them up for being surprise contenders like they were in 2017? — Jared M.
The obvious answer to this is a trade for Deshaun Watson before the season begins. The clear caveat here is that any question about Watson depends upon what results from the sexual assault and misconduct lawsuits against Watson and the league’s investigation. Any conversation about acquiring him cannot disregard this variable.
From a football perspective, if Watson plays in 2021 and the Texans trade him, the Eagles are one of the teams best positioned to acquire him considering their treasure trove of assets that includes up to three first-round picks in 2022 and the presence of a young quarterback (who happens to be from Houston). Adding Watson would not only upgrade the Eagles, but it would likely make them the NFC East favorites.
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That’s the only move I can reasonably list that would make the Eagles surprise contenders. I know the Eagles made summer (and fall) moves in 2017, but they weren’t contenders because they traded for Ronald Darby and Jay Ajayi. Those trades bolstered a team that already had outstanding ingredients.
If there’s any development that could make the Eagles contenders in 2021, it would be Hurts taking a second-year leap as Carson Wentz did in 2017. If we’re discussing Hurts as an MVP candidate, then the entire conversation about the Eagles changes.
(Top photo: Mitchell Leff / Getty Images)