What They’re Saying About the Eagles
Howie Roseman. (USA Today Sports)
A lot has happened this week, so here’s the latest analysis of the Eagles’ moves so far.
The MMQB’s Andrew Brandt is a fan of the Eagles’ trades.
The Eagles’s sell-off of Byron Maxwell and Kiko Alonso to the Dolphins was shrewd, as it (1) moved tens of millions of future dollars for Maxwell off of their books, and (2) allowed them to move from 13th to 8th in the draft to select a blue-chip player they have likely targeted. However, their gifting of Murray to the Titans for the bargain basement price of switching fourth round picks was a “ham sandwich” trade if there ever was one. Murray will certainly be better than he was in Philadelphia, although not the player he was in Dallas.
ESPN’s Bill Barnwell gives the Eagles a B+ for several of their deal, but just a C+ for the Chase Daniel signing.
Expensive square peg in square hole is simple enough. Daniel’s signing may end up as far less important than Brooks’ in the long run, but it’s more interesting to talk about. It seemed like the Eagles were moving on from their reported interest in Daniel after they re-signed Sam Bradford last week, but the $22 million Philly guaranteed to Bradford didn’t dissuade them from bringing in Pederson’s former backup quarterback in Kansas City. Daniel received a three-year, $21-million deal with $12 million fully guaranteed to follow Pederson to the City of Brotherly Love.
Howie Roseman is the 17th-most important person in the NFL during this time, according to Mike Garafolo and Peter Schrager of FOX Sports.
A year after being overruled on player personnel decisions by Chip Kelly, Roseman’s back in the saddle as the man in charge of Philadelphia’s front office. He’s already been aggressive in coming to extensions with key players Sam Bradford, Brent Celek, Zach Ertz, Vinny Curry, and Malcolm Jenkins before the start of the free agency period. But all Eagles fans will be watching April 28-30, and how Roseman — a team employee for 17 years — does in the NFL Draft. Chip Kelly won several battles over Roseman over the past 12 months, but it looks like Roseman — for now — won the war.
With the No. 8 pick, the Eagles could take a transcendent player, says David Murphy of the Daily News.
The stakes of remaining committed to a Best Player Available strategy would seem to increase as a team moves up the draft board, and now that the Eagles are situated at No. 8 overall instead of No. 13, they are very much in the realm of potentially transcendent players.
As Eagles beat writer Zach Berman mentions in the latest episode of our weekly podcast, Not Another Philly Sports Talk Show — shameless plug, it’s free and easy here — it would certainly prove to be a mistake if someone like UCLA linebacker Myles Jack turns into a difference-making player like Luke Kuechly or Von Miller after having been passed over by the Eagles so that they could add an offensive lineman who turns out to be a solid but unspectacular starter.
Greg Cosell of NFL Films takes a look at Brandon Brooks’ game tape.
He has really light feet, that’s one of the things that really stood out when I watched him coming out of college. I was just so surprised — given the fact that he weighed about 335, 34o pounds — with the way he moved. You almost want to describe him as nimble.
And I think he can play in a zone scheme, I think he can actually play in a gap scheme. I think he has multiple uses in the run game. He’s a big man with light feet.
Roseman isn’t being very subtle in his moves, writes NFL.com’s Gregg Rosenthal.
New Dolphins football czar Mike Tannenbaum, like Roseman, is starting to clear the decks of players acquired under the team’s old regime. It’s a common story this time of year to see new general managers get rid of the ghosts of free agency past, but it’s rare to see a team do it as aggressively as Roseman.
After all, Roseman isn’t exactly a new general manager. He’s an executive vice president that used to be a general manager before he was banished to the other side of the Eagles’ building by Kelly. These moves almost have a personal feeling to them. Chip got rid of Roseman and Andy Reid’s guys, and now Roseman is returning the favor.
Cosell also breaks down Nigel Bradham’s film.
He’s another run-and-hit type player. In some ways, he’s similar to Mychal Kendricks. [He’s] a player that if you allow him to run and hit, he can be very effective. Where he struggles, again, is play recognition. He’s not real instinctive, and I think we’ve seen that with Mychal Kendricks.
I think he’s one of those rhythm quarterbacks — quick drops, quick throws. Throws the ball with nice touch. The issue you have with smaller quarterbacks — at times he can’t see real well. But I think he can make all the throws, good arm.
It’s hard to know exactly if you’re going to sign a guy like Chase Daniel and now say, ‘He’s your starting quarterback.’ But I think you can get by with him, given his skill set. Again, you’re just dealing with a quarterback that needs a complete offense because of the size, and therefore, presents some limitations.