The Eagles exercised the fifth-year option on wide receiver Nelson Agholor’s contract, giving the team the opportunity to keep him in Philadelphia through the 2019 season, Zach Berman of the Philadelphia Inquirer reports.
Agholor would command a projected salary of about $9.4 million if he plays under his original contract during the option year. It’s not guaranteed until March 2019 unless Agholor suffers an injury, although it keeps him under team control for an additional season and could also help if the Eagles try to sign him to a contract extension.
Agholor, 24, emerged as one of the offense’s best players in 2017, when he finished with 62 catches for 768 yards and eight touchdowns. Agholor also led the Eagles with nine receptions in the Super Bowl. His 2017 performance came after he moved to slot receiver spot in August following the trade of Jordan Matthews. He had more yards, catches, and touchdowns than he totaled in his first two years combined, when Agholor underachieved after the Eagles selected him with their 2015 first-round pick. Now, he’s viewed as a key piece of the Eagles offense for 2018 and potentially beyond.
The draft grades from ‘Draft Guru’ Mel Kiper Jr. are out, and one team that got a very good grade is that of the Eagles, who according to Kiper got an ‘A-‘ for their collection of players over the two days.
It’s good to be the Eagles. Coming off a Super Bowl title, they have no major needs and get to develop starters — not try to draft plug-and-play guys. They’re looking for impact depth. That’s why we saw GM Howie Roseman trade out of the last pick in the first round to move down 20 spots and add an extra 2019 second-round pick (plus pick 125 in this draft). That 2019 pick is an extremely valuable one to stash away.
Now, you have to laugh at the Eagles trading up three spots to take tight end Dallas Goedert ahead of Dallas (49) with the draft in the Dallas area. And my best comp for Goedert all along was Zach Ertz, so now the Eagles have both players. Goedert is the best pass-catching and most athletic tight end in this class. Remember: Trey Burton and Brent Celek are both gone from 2018, so Goedert is going to play. Philadelphia led the league with 110 receptions by tight ends last season. If Goedert had gone late in Round 1 — maybe to Philly! — it wouldn’t have surprised me.
The Eagles didn’t have a third-round pick due to the Jordan Matthews-Ronald Darby swap with Buffalo last year, so Philly had just one pick on the first two days. Fourth-rounders Avonte Maddox (125) and Josh Sweat (130) are talented and athletic. Maddox was a four-year starter who ran a 4.39 at the combine. Sweat had 29 tackles for loss in college and had a 39.5-inch vertical jump at the combine. I moved up Matt Pryor (206) over the last few weeks after people in the league told me he was going to move to guard. And how about the Australian former rugby league player Jordan Mailata going late in the seventh round? Philly is going to try to make him an offensive tackle.
The reason this class isn’t a straight “A”? Not a single running back (though they did announce the re-signing of Darren Sproles when the day ended). If that’s the only bad thing I can say, the Eagles must have had a good day.
Round/Pick Name Pos College
2/49 Dallas Goedert TE SOUTH DAKOTA STATE
4/125 Avonte Maddox CB PITTSBURGH
4/130 Josh Sweat DE FLORIDA STATE
6/206 Matt Pryor OT TCU
7/233 Jordan Mailata OT South Sydney Rabbitohs
April 29th, 2018 Landis Andrews Posted in NFL Draft
The Eagles didn’t select a running back during the first two days of the NFL draft despite an obvious need at the position.
They traded out of the first round and into the second round, where they drafted tight end Dallas Goedert, who fills another need.
When first-round prospect Derrius Guice was drafted in the second round, No. 59 overall by the Redskins late Friday, reports surfaced that Eagles executive Howie Roseman had been in an argument with Guice during the LSU product’s visit to the NovaCare Complex. Roseman denied it, Bob Grotz of the Delaware County Times reports.
“There was no altercation,” Roseman said. “There was no altercation here, in this building, that any of us are aware of. I don’t know where that report came from but I can speak for everyone in here and nothing like that happened here in Philadelphia.”
Asked if an altercation or something similar ensued outside the building, for example the scouting combine, Roseman dug in his heels.
“There was no altercation,” Roseman said. “When you hear the word altercation it sounds like … yelling and screaming. I mean, I don’t know that I’ve ever been in a room where a player has yelled at anyone.”
Said Eagles head coach Doug Pederson, “I didn’t hear of anything.”
The Eagles have agreed to a contract with outside linebacker Paul Worrilow, a person with knowledge of the negotiations confirmed to Zack Rosenblatt of NJ Advance Media.
Worrilow spent the 2017 season with the Detroit Lions after spending the previous four years with the Atlanta Falcons.
Worrilow, 27, missed four games last season due to a knee injury and wasn’t particularly productive otherwise, tallying 30 tackles and one pass deflection in 13 games (8 starts).
The hype for USC quarterback Sam Darnold has b3en growing by leaps and bounds the last few weeks, to the point where many feel he’s going to be the first overall pick in the NFL Draft in April.
At 6-4, 220 pounds, he’s got the look of a player who with some time learning could be a very good to excellent quarterback in the NFL, but time will tell when he might get that chance.
In his final season at USC, Darnold threw for 4143 yards, with 26 touchdowns to go along with 13 picks. This after throwing 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions the season before.
Here’s a look at Darnold and what various places are saying about him in our latest scouting report.
Strengths:
Naturally accurate passer
Fits passes into tight windows
Excellnt ball placement
Throws a catchable ball
Pocket presence
Has poise
Advanced anticipation; instinctive thrower
Throws with good timing
Can accelerate his throwing motion
Quality arm strength
Pushed team to wins
Good internal clock
Mobility
Throws very well on the run
Throws accurately off platform
Displays some feel in the pocket
Not easy to sack
Can hurt defenses on the ground
Can make all the throws required
Can pick up yards on the ground
Threads passes into tight windows
Weaknesses:
Ball security
Too many interceptions
Too many fumbles
Had some confidence issues in 2017
Doesn’t secure the ball well when getting sacked
Good enough not doesn’t have elite arm strength
Throwing mechanics are a bit unorthodox
Needs to start games faster
Summary: Darnold took college football by storm during the 2016 season, and even though he wasn’t eligible for the 2017 NFL Draft, the redshirt freshman had scouts buzzing about his pro potential. After a 1-2 start to the 2016 season for USC, Darnold was made the starting quarterback. For his debut season, he was an extremely efficient passer who led the Trojans to a 10-3 record. Darnold lost his first-ever start against a good Utah team, but after that he led his team to ripping off a nine-game win streak to close out the year, including impressive wins over Colorado, Washington, and a comeback Rose Bowl win over Penn State. Darnold completed 67 percent of his passes in 2016 for 3,086 yards with 31 touchdowns and nine interceptions.
The 2017 season was more of a mixed bag for Darnold. The redshirt sophomore completed 63 percent of his passes for 4,143 yards with 26 touchdowns and 13 interceptions. He had an up-and-down season with too many turnovers – fumbles were a particular issue beyond the interceptions. Darnold also made some beautiful anticipatory throws with excellent accuracy in just about every game.
There is a lot to like about Darnold as a future starter in the NFL. First and foremost, he is an accurate pocket passer who throws with good ball placement and is very precise in the short to intermediate part of the field. Darnold has excellent anticipation to know when and where receivers are going open. With his feel and timing, Darnold hits receivers on the run, leading them to picking up yards after the catch. He also regularly will throw receivers open and help them to find space to beat tight coverage. Darnold is a natural rhythm thrower who would fit best in a West Coast system to maximize his ability to throw accurately in the short to intermediate part of the field. He is a smooth precision passer who can be deadly when he gets into a good groove.
Darnold is comfortable in the pocket, but also has the ability to move around to buy time. While he is not a running quarterback, he is functional to avoid sacks and will move around to help his offensive line and receivers. Darnold made a number of really nice plays during the past two years when things went off script as he got creative to move the ball for his offense. Routinely, Darnold would buy time with his feet and then make an accurate throw downfield with the rush closing in on him.
In my eyes, Sam Darnold is a very odd prospect. Talked about as a number 1 overall draft pick. Talked about as the best Quarterback coming out of college this year. However, I am not seeing any of this. When I watch Darnold, I see one of the most streaky Quarterback play I think I have seen in awhile. At time looks very hesitant to throw, missing an opportunity. Other times he looks too eager and makes a bad decision. He has his good moments, but then a play later he will have a combination of bad plays. Moving in the pocket too early and too often, inconsistent accuracy, and staring down a play for too long are major turn offs to me.
The first thing I notice about Darnold when watching him is that he seems to ignore his dump off routes. He seems so locked in on making a big play, he forgets about the guys that are 5 yards away from him. I can respect wanting to make a big play for the team, but after staring downfield for eternity it’s time to hit your shallow routes. At least LOOK at them to see if they are open. There is no shame in taking an easy three to five yards. Not every throw has to get the crowd on their feet.
The second thing I notice is how much he likes to move around in the pocket. And that is just not his style. I get running to avoid a sack, but too many times I saw him run with a clean pocket. Multiple times he would take off to the outskirts of the pocket, making it easier for defenders to get off their block. He seems to just panic unless he has the cleanest pocket one could possibly have. If he would stand tall in the pocket and deliver, his accuracy issues would go down as well. His deep balls are inconsistent, and the times he does go to dump it off, those are not always pretty either. His best throws come from his 10-15 yarders. Which always happen to be when he stands his ground.
I will say though, 4th quarter Sam Darnold seems to be a better player than in other quarters. He reads the field better, has better ball placement, and doesn’t try to run around as much. It just seems something clicks a bit better for him during the 4th. Like he has calmed down. He just needs to be able to play similar to that all game if he is gonna be the number 1 overall pick this upcoming draft.
I think Darnold has a lot to work on. Personally there are 4 other Quarterbacks I would take before drafting him. He does good things, unfortunately, his good things just are not consistent enough and are overshadowed by his flaws. I believe if he can work on sitting in the pocket longer instead of trying to escape right away (while not holding the ball for too long), a lot of his issues will start fading. I think Darnold will have a real rough start to his career, but if keeps his confidence and keeps fixing his game, it will work out for him in the long run.
Darnold’s entire game is predicated upon his ability to create. Darnold is an athletic player; he is able to pull the ball down and gain chunks of yardage with his legs. His agility and change of direction catch many defenders off guard.
That is why offensive coordinator Tee Martin built an offense that maximized his legs. USC ran a heavy dose of run pass options (RPOs), a concept that gave Darnold many options pre- and post-snap, and he absolutely flourished. On a majority of their plays, Darnold had the ability to give the ball to star running back Ronald Jones, keep it as a runner, or throw it to one of his many weapons outside. This multi-dimensional structure of a play was obviously super productive. His decision making was very good all season, especially on these RPOs. He can process the coverage, find the conflict defender, and distribute the ball quickly.
But what is often overlooked is the accuracy and velocity needed on these kinds of concepts. At times, after the mesh with the running back or play fake, the passing lane is cluttered with defenders coming downhill to defend what they perceive to be a run. Once they realize that it is a pass, they immediately try to get their hands up in the passing lanes. Darnold makes these throws look easy. Standing at 6’4? and 220 pounds, he is able to place the ball in optimal locations, allowing his weapons to make plays.
At the next level, Darnold is going to make his money in the short area. While his elongated release and sloppy footwork will cause issues at times, something I will cover later, it isn’t an issue from 0-9 yards. That bodes well for Sam, because that is where football is won and lost on Sundays. His mechanics aren’t an issue because he is throwing in rhythm and not having to worry about mechanics.
According to SportsInfo Solutions (SIS), Darnold’s short game is phenomenal. From 0-9 yards, he had the highest completion percentage (75.4%), the 4th-most passing yards (1,534), 12th-most touchdowns (10), the 3rd-highest yards per attempt (7.6), and the 5th-highest rating (107.2).
Weaknesses:
As productive as Darnold was over his 27 games at USC, he has some serious flaws that need to be addressed, the first of which is turnovers. Darnold threw 22 interceptions over two years and added another 20 fumbles. This lack of ball security will get you benched quickly.
While the offense surrendered an average of 2.14 sacks a game and a grand total of 30 sacks in 2017, he admitted that he was pushing it too much.
Many of his turnovers are linked to his mechanics. Darnold has some of the worst mechanics I have ever seen from a quarterback. Let’s start with his delivery. Typically, a quarterback with an elongated delivery like Darnold’s will struggle at the next level. From the time he begins his delivery to the time of release is often the difference between a tight window completion and an interception. Defensive backs are just too good on Sundays. If he is slightly late anticipating a throw and needs to drive a pass, the split second longer that it takes to release the ball due to his delivery could lead to an interception, much like it did versus Washington State. The safety bails post-snap, baiting Darnold to throw the speed out as he gets the 1-on-1 coverage. The defensive back reads the route, breaks, and picks him off.
A two-year starter at USC, Sam Darnold is widely praised for his toughness, football IQ and leadership. A coach with the Trojans told me Darnold only cares about football and not the benefits of being a star quarterback. He did turn the ball over 22 times in 2017, which should at a minimum send scouts back to the tape to find the context of each turnover. But Darnold’s tangible and intangible traits are tops in the class.
Scout’s Quote: “Crystal clean off the field. Smart, poised, tough, accurate. He might be the only one that could work in Cleveland because he won’t let the pressure go to his head.”
Coach’s Quote: “The release and turnovers bother me, but he has the makeup to be good. He’s better than [Mitch] Trubisky was last year but he’s not on the level of [Carson] Wentz or Jared [Goff].”
Scout’s Comparison: Tony Romo, retired
Darnold impressed at his Pro Day, throwing in the rain back on March 21st
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson says the team wants to re-sign veteran running back Darren Sproles according to Tim McManus of ESPN.
The coach added Sproles has expressed a desire to return as well. Sproles was limited to three games in 2017 after tearing his ACL in Week 3 last fall and had considered retirement but is now said to be “leaning” towards playing in 2018.
Assuming his health cooperates, the two sides should be able to work out a deal. Originally a fourth-round pick by the then-San Diego Chargers out of Kansas State way back in 2005, Sproles has spent the past four seasons in Philly and had been remarkably durable for his size (5’6′, 190 pounds) until the ACL tear. The third-down specialist turns 35 years old in June.
The Eagles haven’t had defensive end Michael Bennett on their roster all that long after grabbing him from the Seattle Seahawks, but already he’s in some serious hot water off the field.
The defensive end has a warrant out after a grand jury indicted him for the felony charge of injury of the elderly related to an incident at NRG Stadium following this last February’s Super Bowl.
A release from the district attorney’s office states that Bennett was a spectator and in town to watch his brother, Martellus, a player for the New England Patriots, on February 5, 2017. After the game, Bennett allegedly shoved his way on to the field where players were gathering to celebrate, according to the district attorney’s office. NRG Security personnel, including the 66-year-old paraplegic, told Bennett he had to use a different entrance for field access, but Bennett pushed through them, including the elderly woman who was part of the security team.
The charge, injury to the elderly, includes intentionally and knowingly causing bodily injury to a person 65 years or older and carries a penalty of up to 10 years in prison and a $10,000 fine.
The woman suffered a sprained shoulder, Houston Chief of Police Art Acevedo said during a news conference. He noted that authorities are in contact with Bennett’s lawyer.
“We are aware of the situation involving Michael Bennett and are in the process of gathering more information. Because this is an ongoing legal matter, we will have no further comment at this time,” the Eagles said in a statement.
The Eagles got Bennett from the Seahawks back on March 14th.
On Wednesday, reports emerged that the Eagles offered a raise to Chris Long to help convince him to return for the 2018 season. Shortly after that, it was reported that Long hasn’t actually accepted the offer yet and he’s still mulling his future.
But now we have word from Long himself. Speaking in an interview during an event for his Waterboys initiative in St. Louis on Wednesday night, Long said he is leaning on returning to the Eagles in 2018, Brandon Lee Gowton of Bleedinggreennation.com reports.
“For me, at my age every year, it’s important to make a decision, and take self-inventory,” Long said. “Is your body there? Is your mind in it? Do you have the passion? Because it takes a lot. And for me, just every year, I’m a year at a time. From here on out. For however long I play.”
“Philly’s been awesome, like I said. They kind of adopted me as, like, family. So that definitely factors in to everything. And the chance to repeat [as Super Bowl champions].”
“I’m still supposedly “mulling it over,” but I’m leaning on going back and playing.”
“So yeah. I mean, I hadn’t even answered any questions about that but there you go.”
May 1st, 2018 
Chet Cashley 
Posted in 
