Eagles

Eagles Post-Draft Mailbag: Philly adding at linebacker?

On X, I asked you guys to give any Eagles-related questions you had, and I’d answer some of them here!

I haven’t done one of these in a few months, so I’m very excited to do one again. So, without further ado, let’s get started.

A few questions to answer here but we’ll start with rookie DB Cooper DeJean.

DeJean’s role in his rookie season is still yet to be determined. We’ve seen reports that they plan to have him start his career at boundary cornerback but in order for DeJean to maximize playing time his rookie season, he should probably serve as a nickel/safety hybrid.

I predict he’ll play all three positions off the bat. Whenever he becomes a full-time starter, we’ll have to see what their plan is with him, but for now, I think it’s safe to assume he’ll be a versatile weapon in Vic Fangio’s defense.

As for your other question, Britain Covey definitely isn’t a lock to make the 53-man roster. Covey was very good down the stretch of 2022 and all of 2023, but he doesn’t offer the multiple-position versatility that Ainias Smith, Cooper DeJean, or Isaiah Rodgers does.

Covey’s undrafted rookie deal, signed in 2022, has one year remaining, so the Philadelphia Eagles will have little financial incentive to keep him on the roster.

I think he has a shot. He’s very good at returning punts and was statistically among the best in the entire league. But is that enough to warrant him retaining a spot keeping him off waivers? Time will tell.

Thanks for the question, Dylan! The Eagles’ right guard position isn’t set in stone, but the betting favorite is 2023 third-round pick Tyler Steen.

Could Matt Hennessy or Trevor Keegan give Steen a run for his money in training camp? Possibly. But I don’t think that’s very likely at all.

Steen is a guy the Eagles really liked coming out of Alabama due to the possibility of him being an all-around versatile weapon on the line. He will likely serve as the team’s swing tackle if he doesn’t lock up the right guard position in 2024.

For now, however, I’d assume he locks down the job and gets a chance to prove he’s the starting right guard going forward.

Sigh. Another year where the Eagles seemingly pour very little resources into the linebacker position. However, I don’t think this is the case so far because they necessarily chose to do this. It was, for the most part, a weak linebacker year in both free agency and the draft.

They signed former All-Pro Devin White, but he’s played far from that level in recent years. He signed a prove-it deal with Philadelphia this offseason and hopes to bounce back and ultimately earn a big payday.

Nakobe Dean has shown promise when he’s on the field but he simply hasn’t been able to stay healthy. He’s still a very big question mark, though I still like his upside.

Oren Burks, whom the team signed to a one-year deal, is likely a special teams guy who’ll offer some backup help.

Ben VanSumeren unironically had the best performance of any Eagles linebacker last season in his only start against the Giants on Christmas Day. But to this point, he’s nothing more than a special teams project.

And to everyone’s personal and emotional delight, the team selected the son of former Eagles legend Jeremiah Trotter in Jeremiah Trotter Jr. He’s a high-motor player with very solid instincts in both run defense and against the pass. We’ll see how much his lack of size and athleticism limits him, if at all at the next level.

So, barring a late-offseason addition that I don’t think is out of the question, the Eagles 2024 linebacker core isn’t very good. It has the upside to be solid, but there are just too many questions to bet on it.

Howie Roseman will continue to look at ways to improve the roster, and I’m sure he’ll look around the league for off-ball linebackers. But for now, this is a very uninspiring group.

The Eagles lost Fletcher Cox to retirement this offseason and haven’t added anyone with a realistic chance of serious playing time in 2024.

Gabe Hall, a UDFA signing, has real potential and it was shocking to see him go undrafted. But as for immediate depth, I’d expect the team to go in a different direction.

They have incredible starters on the interior, but historically, the Eagles like to rely on depth. Jalen Carter and Milton Williams are a top pass-rushing defensive tackle duo and Jordan Davis will play on obvious run downs.

What’s a name to watch? Calais Campbell is still available, and he’d provide some great third-down pass-rush ability. He could be too rich, and I wouldn’t expect anything there, but I assume they’ll bring in a veteran.

The wide receiver position for the Eagles is a very interesting one entering training camp.

They drafted Ainias Smith and Johnny Wilson while signing DeVante Parker and Parris Campbell.

I think the battle for the WR3 spot is unofficially between Campbell and Smith. Parker is strictly boundary WR and Johnny Wilson is a project who’s very unrefined at the moment.

Smith and Campbell, two near locks to make the roster, are going to get looks regardless of who wins. I’d be shocked if there’s a clear-cut, every-down player among the group.

If I had to make a prediction, I’d go with Parris Campbell. He begins the year as the primary guy, but Ainias Smith sees a snap increase as his rookie campaign progresses.

Thank you guys so much for all the questions! I couldn’t answer all of them but I will continue to do these in the future!

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