What They’re Saying About the Eagles


NFL: Combine

Here’s a roundup of what the national media are saying about the Eagles this week.

Evan Silva of Rotoworld thinks the Eagles are the best fit for Darrelle Revis:

I think the Philadelphia Eagles make the most sense for Revis. They are an ascending, 2013 playoff team with below-average cornerback play, an aggressive GM in Howie Roseman, and over $20 million in cap availability. Philly defensive coordinator Billy Davis leans heavily in the blitz, a tactic far easier to execute with reliable back-end coverage. The Eagles haven’t been active in free agency beyond re-signing players from within. They’d be wise to make an exception for NFL’s top corner.

Doug Farrar of SI.com thinks Michael Vick could be a bargain for some team:

The debits are obvious. Vick will turn 34 in June, he’s played in all 16 games in just one season, and he still gets balky under pressure at times. (For those reasons, Chris Burke has Vick among his potential free-agent busts.) But when Adrian Peterson tweeted out on Thursday that Vick would make Peterson’s Vikings a playoff contender, he brought up a valid point — Vick is significantly better than any quarterback Minnesota had on its roster last year, and he’d outdo the starters for at least a handful of teams on a no-matter-what basis. Add in the way he dealt with the Nick Foles situation in Philly, and you have a veteran player who has proven he’ll work with a younger quarterback. Vick won’t get starter money anymore, but he’s an acceptable risk.

Farrar predicts Mike Mitchell to the Eagles:

Mitchell was one of the more underrated players in the NFC last season, and the Eagles’ safety situation is pretty dire. After a breakout year in Carolina with 67 tackles and four picks after four seasons lost in the Oakland wilderness, Mitchell, who will be 27 in June, might still have the best years ahead of him.

Patrick Daugherty of Rotoworld ranks Howie Roseman 13th among GMs:

You could argue this is too high for one of the architects of the most disastrous free-agent class in recent memory. Roseman’s role in Philly’s ill-fated “Dream Team” will be a stain he wears until he trades in his suits for pleated-retirement khakis. But he couldn’t have bought a better detergent than Chip Kelly. Roseman replaced a weary Andy Reid with arguably the brightest offensive mind of a generation, and has put his team one step ahead of an ever-changing NFL as a result. As an evaluator and player procurer, Roseman leaves much to be desired. But Kelly provides an easy-to-follow blueprint, lessening the room for error. The degree to which Roseman is tied to his head coach is highly unusual for a modern GM. Thankfully, he’s chosen the right one — the kind that should make him look like a genius in due time.

Chip Kelly had a visitor in town, according to a report: Texas Tech coach Kliff Kingsbury.

Joel Corry of CBSSports.com projects a five-year, $47.5 million deal for Jairus Byrd with $25 million guaranteed:

Byrd reportedly was looking to become the NFL’s highest-paid safety last year when the Bills franchised him for $6.916 million. Troy Polamalu had that distinction in 2013 with the three-year, $29.6 million ($9,866,667 average per year) contract extension he got from the Steelers in 2011. Byrd and the Bills have engaged in negotiations for him to remain with the team. There are conflicting reports on whether Byrd turned down a long-term deal (with $30 million in the first three years) that would have made him the highest-paid safety.

Bill Barnwell of Grantland offers his free agency blueprint for the Eagles:

Oh, how the Eagles have longed for a safety since the Brian Dawkins days. They’ve tried by drafting guys like Nate Allen and Jaiquawn Jarrett and signing veterans like Chung, but nothing has worked for them, and it’s been Philadelphia’s biggest weakness for years. If they are ever going to invest at safety, Byrd — a top-of-the-line model in the prime of his career at 27 — is the guy who makes the most sense. (The only way he could fit Philly better would be if his name were Wawa Byrd.) This would be the right move for everyone involved. Raji would be a reclamation project moving back to the nose for the Eagles, while Smith would offer depth for a perilously thin front three. And if the Eagles let Vick go, Jackson would be the backup quarterback who would make the most sense for Chip Kelly’s offense. What, you would prefer Matt Barkley again?