#1 need

[SOJA]

On 2/12/2025 at 11:09 AM, Bear Hands said:

I can easily see that ~8-10ish number for first round graded prospects.  There's not much top end talent this season.  I think it's been clear for a minute this class is severely lacking all-pro level players. 

If I had to shoot something out right now, I have around 12 guys as 1sts: 

Hunter, Carter, Graham, Ward, Johnson, Jeanty, Warren, Starks, Grant, Pearce, McMillan, Nolen

Some fringe like Zabel, Morrison, Egbuka, Green, etc.  Not high on the OTs but teams will reach.   

We're in a good position to see who makes the stupid picks ahead of us and land one of the few higher end guys.  Let it fall into our laps and don't reach just because we're all dying for a better Nose or OLB.  

I do think there's a potential IDL and EDGE that could work at 8, but I'm reserving my arguments/cheerleading for now on specific prospects.    

 

as always good post bear hands

[Jay Roosevelt]

The more I think about it, the more a front-3 of Milton Williams, Derrick Brown and Mason Graham would be a pretty damn good foundation for a 3-4 defense. We'd still need to add some help at EDGE, but that front 3 alone would provide a good amount of pass rush.

The only downside might be if we ever move back to a 4-3 we'd essentially have 3 DTs, neither of whom would be natural fits as a 4-3 EDGE.

[Bear Hands]

19 minutes ago, Jay Roosevelt said:

The more I think about it, the more a front-3 of Milton Williams, Derrick Brown and Mason Graham would be a pretty damn good foundation for a 3-4 defense. We'd still need to add some help at EDGE, but that front 3 alone would provide a good amount of pass rush.

The only downside might be if we ever move back to a 4-3 we'd essentially have 3 DTs, neither of whom would be natural fits as a 4-3 EDGE.

I know there's a big 4-3 contingent, but if you have the front-7 figured out personnel wise in a 3-4 base, that can be a real winner.  We run 5-6 DBs so much the trick is getting a 3-down clog in the middle and the quicker pass rush talent that still set an edge.  

So the trick here is that Nose-- someone to get double teamed, maintain leverage and control run gaps.  Tuttle has never been that, and it's been a huge problem that Brown masked, but without Brown, it was a domino effect throughout the defense last year.

The other part is getting the splashy edge rusher, even if it's not a top-end talent (Carter, Pearce, Walker), there's some excellent guys that I'd classify as a specialist that can bloom into a 3-down type.  

If you take away where our picks are, just assess the field, I see a options for both of these roles:

IDL: Kenneth Grant (love), Tyleik Williams, Norman-Lott (love), Alfred Collins, Jordan Phillips, Deone Walker

EDGE: Sawyer, Ezeiruaku (love),  JT Tuimoloau, Princely, Elijah Roberts, Gillotte, Powell-Ryland, Oladejo

[Jon Snow]

[panthers55]

I  have been reading articles about other teams needs like the Patriots and what do you think they said?  They said like every article that their biggest need was to build up the lines and used Philly's dismantling of the Chiefs as proof. Just like we think our biggest need is defensive linemen how many teams are going to reach for a guy because they get desperate when there is a run on linemen. Not all 31 teams besides the Eagles will be able to upgrade their line and likely will reach for players who would have gone much later than they would otherwise. Should be interesting in free agency as well when JAGs get big paydays because they are a linemen and little else.

[CPF4LIFE]

The eagles run game carried their offense way more than their receivers did this year.

[Khyber53]

What we need, wherever it is, is a game breaker. The Patrick Mahomes, the Julius Peppers, the Gronkowski, the Mack... someone who can single-handedly affect the outcome of not a single game but multiple ones. 

Now the hard part... identifying them ahead of time.

[TD alt]

On 2/10/2025 at 11:14 AM, t96 said:

I think it's pretty damn obvious that our main focus this offseason needs to be improving the pass rush. Brown back healthy will help but we still have absolutely nothing at edge rusher. Eagles just dominated a super bowl entirely because of an elite 4 man pass rush. Yeah we could use receivers, another corner, whatever but all of that should be secondary to pass rush.

 

I don't follow college much until looking at prospects closer to draft season -- who are some guys we could target in the first few rounds?

I agree, but...you still should draft the BPA and exercise discipline in regards to reaching. 

Your post speaks to team building as much as anything. That being said, sure college talent is perhaps the main part of that, but free agency should not be overlooked. Zach Baun played a huge part in Philly's championship run. Howie Roseman knows how to build a team (including using free agency), and their scouting department knows how to spot talent.

Edited February 15 by TD alt