Philadelphia Eagles news and links for 4/19/21.

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2021 NFL Draft Primer, With 20 Things to Know - MMQB
12) And while other teams, like New England, have been marked as trade-up teams (with quarterbacks as targets), here’s one I was a little surprised by: The Eagles. Philly’s sitting at No. 12 and did well enough in the trade with Miami that it could potentially make a short move back into the top 10 and still come out loaded with draft assets. What would it be for? I’d never totally rule out a quarterback for Philly, but I think corner is a possibility, with teams right above them having that need. And for what it’s worth, in addition to exploring a move up, the Eagles have also explored a move down.

NFL Mock Draft Roundup: Wide receiver and cornerback make up 32 of 34 Eagles picks - BGN
Another week where the roundup is unsurprisingly dominated by the Eagles’ two biggest positions of need. Are we getting too caught in chalk picks or are the Eagles actually (read: ‘No, seriously!’) going to go in that direction? Last week, Derrick Gunn said his “sources keep telling me if the Eagles stay at the 12th spot in the first round they will target a WR or DB.” Makes logical sense. But, with all due respect to a true GOAT like DGunn, draft sources must be taken with a grain of salt. There’s so much unknown in terms of how the board is going to play out.

Eye On The Enemy #50: NFC East Draft Preview with Hayden Winks - BGN Radio
On Episode 50 of Eye on the Enemy, host John Stolnis is joined by Hayden Winks of Underdog Fantasy to preview next week’s NFL Draft. What are the Eagles going to do at No. 12? Would they trade up inside the Top 10? Where would they go? Top needs for all four NFC East teams heading into the Draft. Also, John offers his thoughts on Peter King’s musings regarding Carson Wentz, and more on the rumors that Howie Roseman could be looking to trade up into the top 10 of the draft.

Eagles Mock 2.0 - Iggles Blitz
1st Round – Safety Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Notre Dame – 6-2, 221. I’m sure I just made a few of you wonder what the heck is wrong with my brain. The Fighting Irish referred to Owusu-Koramoah as a LB. Put on the game tape and you see a weapon more than anything else. This guy is special. He can line up in the slot and cover receivers 1-on-1. He can blitz off the edge. Owusu-Koramoah is a good run defender and impact hitter. He makes things happen. Last year Owusu-Koramoah finished second on the team in tackles. He also had an INT, 1.5 sacks, 3 FF, 3 pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries. He had 11 TFL, showing you that he makes his share of plays in the backfield. I was watching tape of a receiver and just noticed Owusu-Koramoah’s feet. He has incredible movement skills for a guy his size. This is not your typical S/LB tweener. Owusu-Koramoah is a gifted athlete.

How the Eagles’ 2022 needs could factor into their 2021 NFL Draft strategy - The Athletic
Jason Kelce is returning for his 11th NFL season, although Kelce has been honest about going year-by-year at this point in his career. The Eagles gave Kelce a new contract this offseason that is effectively a one-year deal. As a result, center could become a major need at this time next season. The Eagles don’t have a clear in-house successor. Isaac Seumalo has been viewed as a potential replacement at center since the Eagles drafted him in 2016, but he’s now entrenched at left guard. Nate Herbig worked as a center during the 2019 season. Ross Pierschbacher and Luke Juriga are roster hopefuls. In Dane Brugler’s seven-round mock draft, Brugler predicted the Eagles would take Oklahoma’s Creed Humphrey in the second round. Humphrey is the top center in the draft. The No. 2 center is Wisconsin-Whitewater’s Quinn Meinerz, a small-school player who didn’t have a 2020 season and could use a year to develop. Meinerz told former NFL offensive lineman Geoff Schwartz on the “Geoff Schwartz Is Smarter Than You” podcast that the Eagles are the team that had expressed the most interest in him. It’s also a position the Eagles could address on Day 3, which is when they found Kelce.

NFL win total predictions for 2021: Reporters make over/under picks for all 32 teams - ESPN
Over/under: 7. Prediction: Over. It’s been doom and gloom in Philadelphia after the Eagles’ 4-11-1 campaign in 2020, and rightfully so. Still, there’s reason to believe they can be more competitive this season. Projected starter Jalen Hurts is sure to provide a higher level of play than the departed Carson Wentz did in 2020 and will be operating behind an offensive line that is formidable when healthy. The same can be said for the defensive front, which will be backed by Anthony Harris and Darius Slay in the secondary. Philadelphia will benefit enough from a last-place schedule to climb out of the NFC East basement and hit get eight or nine wins.

Whispers, Rumors And Gut Feelings As Most Unusual NFL Draft Ever (According To Gil Brandt) Nears - FMIA
Never has there been a draft when the top three offensive linemen, all likely to be picked in the top 20, come in after a year off from football. Never has there been a draft when one of the top corners, Caleb Farley, will be drafted having not played a football game in the previous 512 days. And never has there been a draft when a quarterback likely to be drafted in the top 10, Trey Lance, has played one football game in 15 months. This is why a few teams have deferred some picks to the future. Miami has two first-round picks in 2022 and ’23, Philly could have three ones next year, and the Jets have an extra one and two next year. “I love getting picks next year,” Brandt said. “This year, a pick you’d get in the fourth round might be the quality of a sixth-round pick next year.”

A simple compromise could solve the offseason workout problem - PFT
So here’s the compromise that could solve the problem. For Phase One (which this year lasts four weeks), players would be able to participate in meetings virtually and work out on their own. Although teams would not be responsible for injuries, attending the virtual meetings and working out remotely would qualify for both the $275 per diem and credit toward satisfying the criteria for receiving a workout bonus. In Phase Two (one week) and Phase Three (four weeks), the players would have to attend and participate in the on-field sessions for the per diem and for workout bonus credit. The Packers, per a source with knowledge of the situation, already have offered this middle ground to its players, even though the Packers are one of the only teams whose players won’t be pressured to join in the boycott due to the magnitude of workout bonuses utilized. In a letter sent Thursday to all players, the Packers explained that players will receive credit toward their workout bonuses by participating virtually in Phase One. For Phase Two and Phase Three, presence at Lambeau Field will be required in order to satisfy the requirements of the workout bonus.

2021 NFL Draft prospect profile: Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota - Big Blue View
Bateman played on both the left and right side of the offensive formation, typically lining up on the line of scrimmage as an “X” receiver. He was also used as a slot receiver, particularly in his junior season. He took advantage of the space afforded him by the alignment and was a reliable option over the middle. Bateman is adept at using his foot and handwork to secure clean releases against tight man coverage. He is a savvy route runner, varying his stride length to throw off defenders’ timing, as well as subtle hand and body movements to create separation throughout his routes. In addition to being sudden off the line of scrimmage, Bateman is also explosive out of his breaks, creating initial separation which he is usually able to maintain. He is also able to subtly adjust his routes to find voids in coverage.

Veteran free agent corner named as a “best fit” for the Cowboys, and it’s not Richard Sherman - Blogging The Boys
What’s interesting about Hayward is that he’s still a pretty solid corner with ties to coach Mike McCarthy and has played in a scheme that is very similar to Dan Quinn’s. Besides the money part, it’s hard to see what wouldn’t fit. And at this point, Hayward may come a lot cheaper than his value as free agency has certainly reached the bargain phase. Knowing how the Cowboys front office operates, it’s unlikely they would do this transaction before the draft. They will probably wait to see how the draft goes, and then will wait out the immediate free agent wave that follows the draft. Only then might they go for a real bargain free agent.

NFL star Malcolm Jenkins has made over $70 million from football: His grandpa taught him the mentality to ‘buy everything in cash’ - CNBC
New Orleans Saints safety and two-time Super Bowl champion Malcolm Jenkins says despite making more than $70 million in salary and bonuses throughout his 12-year NFL career, he’s pretty thrifty. “I’m usually a frugal person,” Jenkins tells CNBC Make It. “I don’t blow my money too much. I’m probably more of a saver.” Jenkins, 33, says he grew up with mentality to “buy everything in cash,” which came from his grandfather. While he doesn’t put himself on a strict budget plan, he is thoughtful with his spending. “I’ve accumulated a good enough nest egg to kind of rest, but I’m more interested in how do create stability for not only me but my children and how do I have a greater impact in my community,” Jenkins says.

NFL Daily Kickoff, Monday - Trevor Lawrence’s statement | Browns release Sheldon Richardson - The SB Nation NFL Show
This is the last week before THE week which means that we could be getting a lot of news throughout the NFL world. Check out the latest episode of the NFL Daily Kickoff as we update you on what Trevor Lawrence had to say over the weekend, where the Falcons are sending their people on Monday, and the latest big name to hit the open market.

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