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01-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Which backup OTs stick around?
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Which backup OTs stick around? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro bring back Stay or Go in 2025, trying to figure out the futures of every Eagles player on the roster. We already took a look at quarterback, running back, receiver, tight end and interior offensive line. Up today: Offensive tackle Le'Raven Clark Roob: You forgot about ol' Le'Raven, didn't you. Clark went on Injured Reserve in May and spent the whole year sidelined. He's a smart veteran, and Jeff Stoutland likes having him around, and Jordan Mailata has always spoken about how much he learned from Clark. But he's 31 now, coming off a serious injury and hasn't played since 2022 with the Titans and you'd think his career is most likely over at this point. Verdict: Goes Dave: The 31-year-old veteran hasn't played in a regular season game since 2022 and spent the entire 2024 season on IR. Clark was around throughout the season despite the injury. If Clark is healthy, there's no harm in bringing him to training camp and seeing if he can't stick around on the practice squad. But it's hard to find a spot on the 53-man roster for him. Verdict: Goes Jack Driscoll Roob: Driscoll signed with the Dolphins after four years with the Eagles, got cut at the end of training camp, rejoined the Eagles, began the season on the practice squad, signed to the 53, suffered a season-ending ankle injury and then won a Super Bowl ring. Quite a season. The Eagles do like Driscoll's versatility and ability to back up multiple positions. He is a free agent, but as long as he's healthy there's no down side in bringing him back. He can do a lot of things and he won't cost much. Verdict: Stays Dave: There's no doubt that Jeff Stoutland likes Driscoll. There's a reason the Eagles brought him back after he was released in Miami. Driscoll ended up missing the end of the season with an ankle injury and was seen in a walking boot. So we'll need to make sure he's healthy but there's no reason to not bring him back on a one-year deal as a free agent. He won't cost much, Stoutland likes him and the Eagles like his versatility. Verdict: Stays Lane Johnson Roob: Penei Sewell may have gotten 1st-team All-Pro again, but Lane Johnson is the best right tackle in the business and you can make a case that he's one of the best ever. Johnson is now a six-time Pro Bowler, a five-time All-Pro (1st team twice, 2nd team three times), a two-time Super Bowl champion and one of only seven right tackles to start three Super Bowls. He's one of six offensive tackles to make six Pro Bowls, win two Super Bowls and make 1st-team All-Pro twice. Four of the five others are all in the Hall of Fame (Forrest Gregg, Jim Parker, Art Shell, Rayfield Wright) and the only other one isn't a Hall of Famer for non-football reasons. Johnson's enthusiasm to continue playing — he turns 35 in May — is incredible news for the Eagles. Verdict: Stays Dave: He's 34 years old now and will be 35 going into the 2025 season but Johnson is still the best right tackle in the NFL and he isn't ready to hang them up. At this point in his career, Johnson is probably going to start thinking about things year-to-year but he wants to be back this season and that's a huge boost for the Eagles. Johnson is already a six-time Pro Bowler and has made the first or second team All-Pro squad four times. He's building his Hall of Fame resume and hasn't seemed to slow down at all. The Eagles will need him to play at that level again this season. Verdict: Stays Fred Johnson Roob: Another fantastic story to come out of the Eagles' 2024 Super Bowl championship season, Johnson spent his career bouncing around from the Steelers to the Bengals to the Buccaneers – who all released him – before landing with the Eagles last year. After a year at Stoutland U, he started six games at both tackle spots this year (five left, one right) and did a fine job in his first starts since 2021 with the Bengals. Stoutland's ability to get backups ready to start is remarkable, and Johnson really established himself as a valuable piece of the NFL's best offensive line. He is a free agent but I'd expect Howie Roseman to be able to get this one done. Verdict: Stays Dave: Johnson was quite a find a few years ago. His career was close to over before coming to Philadelphia and learning from Jeff Stoutland. During the 2024 season, Johnson got emotional when he got a chance to play in place of Jordan Mailata. There was obviously a big drop-off from Mailata to Johnson but Big Fred held his own and played a significant role for the Super Bowl champions. The Eagles would like to bring back the 27-year-old free agent and there's a chance they might be able to do that. But there's also a chance another team might be willing to overpay for his services, in which case the Eagles would have to say goodbye. The locker room won't be the same without the jolly offensive lineman but I think there's a better chance he'll end up elsewhere. Verdict: Goes Jordan Mailata Roob: Was a joke that Mailata this year didn't make his first Pro Bowl. No left tackle had a better year than Mailata, and at least he was named 2nd-team All-Pro. This was Mailata's fifth year as a starter and he's never played better. One of Howie Roseman's greatest draft triumphs – he was a 7th-round pick! – and one of Stoutland's greatest developmental triumphs as well. He's so good now it's easy to forget the guy never played an organized football game before 2018. Verdict: Stays Dave: We should never take the Jordan Mailata story for granted. It's still amazing that the Eagles turned a seventh-round rugby player into one of the best left tackles in the NFL. It's the kind of story that deserves Hollywood treatment and we might see it one day. Mailata will turn 28 later this month but should have at least several more years in the prime of his career. While Mailata didn't get a Pro Bowl nod this year, he was a second-team All-Pro left tackle. And PFF really loved him; they ranked him as the No. 3 overall player in the NFL in 2024. Mailata is under contract through 2028. Verdict: Stays Darian Kinnard Roob: He's a three-time Super Bowl winner, but I'm not sure what that means for Kinnard's future. Kinnard, a Chief in 2022 and 2023 and an Eagle in 2024, only played in two games this year and was inactive for all four postseason games. He's a big dude at 6-5, 325 pounds, and he's cheap and he's the sort of guy Stoutland loves to develop. Not sure there's a spot for him on the 53 though. Verdict: Goes Dave: The Eagles were high on Kinnard when they signed him last February. While Kinnard played in just two games all season, the Eagles kept him on the roster all year, which tells you what they think of him. Kinnard (6-5, 322) seems to have some tackle-guard versatility and if the Eagles are going to lose one or two offensive linemen as free agents, Kinnard is in the pipeline for a reason. I think he sticks around and there's a chance he can move up the depth chart in 2025. Verdict: Stays Brett Toth Roob: Another pet Jeff Stoutland project. He's turned Toth from an exclusive run blocker at Army into a viable NFL backup. Toth first showed up here in 2019, and he's come and gone a couple times since then, but anybody that Stoutland keeps around that long has something going for him. Toth has positional versatility and a ton of experience practicing under Stoutland. No reason to think he won't be in training camp again. But wouldn't expect to see him on the 53 when the season begins. Verdict: Goes Dave: The Eagles first signed Toth back in 2019. It's 2025 and Toth is still in the mix. Toth spent the 2024 season on the practice squad before getting added to the active roster in January. The Eagles like his versatility and Stoutland has put a lot of time into developing Toth into a legitimate NFL player. But I don't love Toth's chances of making the 53-man roster. Another year on the practice squad might be the way this ends up. Verdict: Goes Laekin Vakalahi Roob: The Eagles' latest international exemption lifer, the Australian will once again be the Eagles' 17th practice squad member but won't see the 53-man roster. Verdict: Goes Dave: Vakalahi is an Australian project player who had an international roster exemption all of the 2024 season. He'll have it again in 2025 as the Eagles' 17th practice squad player. I'd anticipate the Eagles keeping him around in that role again this season but not on the 53-man roster. Verdict: Goes Subscribe to Eagle Eye anywhere you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Simplecast | RSS | Watch on YouTube
Yahoo
28-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Is it worth it to re-sign Mekhi Becton?
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Is it worth it to re-sign Mekhi Becton? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro bring back Stay or Go in 2025, trying to figure out the futures of every Eagles player on the roster. We already took a look at quarterback, running back, receiver and tight end. Up today: Interior offensive line Mekhi Becton Roob: I love what Becton did this year and the way he embraced a position change, accepted tough coaching from Jeff Stoutland and worked like crazy to become a very good NFL guard. He's a perfect example of what the culture that Nick Sirianni has built means to players. Becton was seen as a malcontent and a failure with the Jets, but put him in an atmosphere of work and learning and effort and connection and winning, and look what happens. Now, after four miserable years with the Jets, he's got himself a ring, and he's about to get himself a nice contract. I think it's going to be tough for the Eagles to re-sign Becton, whose value has obviously skyrocketed since the Eagles to a low-budget one-year deal. I know Becton loved his year here and would love to stay if the money makes sense. The Eagles still have Tyler Steen under contract for two more years on a rookie deal, and with so many other priorities in free agency I'm not sure how Howie Roseman gets this done. But Steen isn't Becton, either. Could go either way, but I'm going to say … Verdict: Goes Dave: The Eagles had a ton of good individual stories in 2024 and the Becton one was one of the best. He never played for a winning team and was unsigned until after the draft. The Eagles signed Becton for some OL depth and then had the idea to move him to guard. Give Becton credit because he bought in completely and played well all season between Cam Jurgens and Lane Johnson. Becton is now set to be a free agent after playing this past season on a one-year deal and it's not easy to figure out what his market is going to look like. He had a good season in 2024 but will teams see him as a tackle or a guard? And will teams be willing to give him a long-term deal? The Eagles would love to have Becton back but they already have three of their starting offensive linemen on big deals and Cam Jurgens will probably get an extension this offseason. Can they really afford to pay all five like that? Probably not. There's a chance the market is a little lukewarm for Becton and he decides to give a discount and return to play for Jeff Stoutland. But it seems a little more likely that he ends up elsewhere. Verdict: Goes Landon Dickerson Roob: At just 26 years old, Dickerson may already be the greatest guard in Eagles history, although Brandon Brooks may have something to say about that. Dickerson is the only offensive lineman in Eagles history to make three Pro Bowls in his first four seasons and the first Eagle at any position since Donovan McNabb from 2000 through 2002. And he's already matched the most career Pro Bowls by any Eagles second-round pick. A few others have made three – Randall Cunningham, Zach Ertz, DeSean Jackson and LeSean McCoy, among them. Dickerson's ability to play at a consistently high level despite some pretty serious injuries is impressive. He may not be the best guard in the NFL but he's close. Verdict: Stays Dave: The Eagles' massive left guard played through a knee injury in Super Bowl LIX and played at a really high level all season. The 2021 second-round pick has been a home run selection for the Eagles. He has been a Pro Bowler in each of the last three years and has started at least 16 games in each of those seasons. The Eagles got ahead of Dickerson's contract by signing him to a four-year, $84 million deal last offseason that will last through the 2028 season. Dickerson is the highest-paid guard in the NFL but he'll probably lose that crown this offseason. The Eagles were wise to get the deal done when they did and Dickerson rewarded them with a stellar 2024 season. Verdict: Stays Cam Jurgens Roob: Jurgens showed tremendous grit playing in the Super Bowl with a back injury that required surgery and would have sidelined almost any other player. And playing at a very high level. What Jurgens gave the Eagles this year in his first year as an NFL center was remarkable. Just to have the mental toughness to follow the best center of our generation is challenging enough but then to perform at a level that allows the o-line to continue at an elite level – a championship level – without him? That's really special stuff. Verdict: Stays Dave: The Eagles lost future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce to retirement last offseason and they didn't drop off at all. It's amazing to realize just how well Jurgens played in his first year as the Eagles' full-time starting center. He was a Pro Bowler and never let the pressure of replacing a legend hinder him. And then to play through a painful back injury in the NFC Championship Game and the Super Bowl was heroic. Jurgens is entering the final year of his rookie contract, which means he's eligible for an extension. This is a no-brainer. The Eagles always care about keeping their cornerstones and Jurgens is one. I'd be shocked if he doesn't get that extension this offseason. Verdict: Stays Trevor Keegan Roob: The Eagles liked Keegan enough to draft him in the fifth round, but then he was inactive for 20 of 21 games, dressing out only for the meaningless season-ender against the Giants, which he didn't even start. Being a 5th-round draft pick gives you a pretty good chance to stick as a rookie, but it doesn't help a ton in Year 2. We'll see who the Eagles draft and bring in during the offseason, but my gut instinct is that Jeff Stoutland would like to upgrade the interior backups. Verdict: Goes Dave: It was mostly a redshirt season for the fifth-round pick from Michigan but it wasn't a wasted year. He was a freshman at Stoutland University and now he's entering his sophomore season. We still don't know how good Keegan can be and whether or not he'll ever be a starter in the league. But the Eagles invested in him and made sure to keep him on their roster all season. I don't see them getting rid of him after just one season where he didn't even see the field. Verdict: Stays Tyler Steen Roob: I don't think it's a slam dunk that if Becton leaves through free agency that Steen automatically becomes the starting right guard. I think he's been OK – just OK – when he has played but knowing Stout he's not going to hand Steen anything. Would the Eagles draft another interior lineman or sign someone and give him a shot at competing? Wouldn't surprise me. I don't think Steen has shown enough to earn the job without competition. But he's also only 24 and everybody always gets better under Stout, so we'll see. Just a hunch that if the starting right guard isn't Becton, it might not be Steen either. Verdict: Stays Dave: I give Steen a lot of credit for handling the 2024 season with the grace he did. It was expected that Steen would be the starting right guard in 2024 and he began training camp in that spot until he suffered a minor ankle injury. That's when the Eagles tried Mekhi Becton in his place and he never gave the job back. But Steen did everything he could to fight for that position and was able to fill in when the team needed him, including at left guard in the NFC Championship Game. We'll see what happens with Becton this offseason and we'll see if the Eagles add another lineman in the draft. But at the very least, Steen will be back in 2025 as an important depth player and there's a strong chance he could be the starting right guard. Verdict: Stays Subscribe to Eagle Eye anywhere you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Simplecast | RSS | Watch on YouTube
Yahoo
27-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Another year of Dallas Goedert?
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Another year of Dallas Goedert? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro bring back Stay or Go in 2025, trying to figure out the futures of every Eagles player on the roster. We already took a look at quarterback, running back and receiver. Up today: Tight end Grant Calcaterra Roob: Calcaterra showed his value in Dallas Goedert's absence with some big down-the-field plays. He's improved as a blocker but is still below average, although the effort is there. Calcaterra is a solid special teamer and I don't think he'll ever be a TE1 but he's a good guy to have on the roster, especially considering Goedert's extensive injury history. Verdict: Stays Dave: In his third NFL season, Calcaterra took a nice jump forward. He's still not going to offer a ton as an in-line blocker but he was productive when Dallas Goedert missed time this past season. Calcaterra entered the 2024 season with just 9 career catches and ended up with 24 for 298 and a touchdown during the Super Bowl season. The difference was felt when Goedert was out. In previous seasons when Goedert would miss time, the Eagles didn't get much production from the tight end position. That wasn't the case in 2024. Calcaterra will enter the fourth and final year of his rookie contract in 2025 and will be on the roster. Verdict: Stays Dallas Goedert Roob: I know there's a school of thought that it doesn't make sense to re-sign a 30-year-old tight end who's missed 22 games since 2020. But in Goedert's case, it makes perfect sense. Because you'll take the missed games in exchange for some truly elite postseason production, and that's what Goedert gives the Eagles. Goedert has been a very good tight end when he's healthy in the regular season, but he's emerged as one of the top postseason tight ends in NFL history. And when your team is in the playoffs every year that's a really valuable thing to have. Goedert's 52 postseason catches are 8th-most in postseason history by a tight end, his 562 yards are 11th-most and his four TDs are 10th-most. His 215 yards this postseason were 4th-most ever by a tight end in a single postseason, and his 17 catches were 3rd-most. Jalen Hurts has such a trust level in Goedert, and that's something you'd hate to lose. Verdict: Stays Dave: Goedert is 30 now and managed to play in just 10 games in the 2024 regular season. The good news is that he returned in time for the playoffs and was actually the Eagles' leading receiver in the playoffs this year with 17 catches for 215 yards and a touchdown. When healthy, Goedert still played at an extremely high level. In fact, his yards-per-game of 49.6 in 2024 was the third-highest figure of his career. Goedert is still a big playmaking threat in the passing game and a very good blocker in the run game. In the last several years, Goedert has played 12, 14 and 10 games. He seems to miss time during the middle of every season and that's a problem. The tricky thing is that Goedert still really good but can the Eagles rely on him? It's not crazy to think about the Eagles' possibly moving on from Goedert this offseason but he was such a key playoff contributor that it's worth them figuring out a way to keep him around in 2025. Verdict: Stays E.J. Jenkins Roob: Split time between the practice squad and active roster and caught one pass – a touchdown from Tanner McKee in the Giants game. The Eagles like Jenkins, but I'm figuring they draft a tight end fairly early in April, and Goedert, Calcaterra and the rookie will be the three TEs on the 53 coming out of camp. But wouldn't be surprised if Jenkins sticks around on the practice squad and pops up here and there on game day. Verdict: Goes Dave: This is one where I was on the fence. Jenkins did some really good things last summer in training camp. He did everything he could to earn a roster spot but was still released and went to the practice squad. Eventually, Jenkins played in 8 games this season and was the third tight end for Super Bowl LIX. Jenkins is still just 26 and is worth continuing to develop. But Goedert and Calcaterra are back and this might also be a good time to draft another tight end. If that happens, then it's hard to see Jenkins finding his way on the roster. Verdict: Goes Nick Muse Roob: One-time 7th-round pick of the Vikings is another practice squad and futures contract tight end who began the season in Minnesota and finished it here. Don't see a scenario where he could contend for a roster spot. Verdict: Goes Dave: Muse was a late addition to the practice squad in 2024 and then the Eagles signed him to a futures deal after the season ended. So they clearly want to take a closer look at the former Vikings' draft pick. But he's a longshot to make the roster. Verdict: Goes C.J. Uzomah Roob: Uzomah is a 32-year-old veteran who was a good guy to have around to mentor young tight ends and bring 10 years of experience to the tight end room. But it's hard to imagine him having a role moving forward. Verdict: Goes Dave: The Eagles actually kept Jenkins on their roster for Super Bowl LIX instead of activating Uzomah off Injured Reserve. Uzomah played in seven games for the Eagles in 2024 but is clearly at the end of his NFL career. It would make sense for the Eagles to move on and get younger at the position. Verdict: Goes Subscribe to Eagle Eye anywhere you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Simplecast | RSS | Watch on YouTube
Yahoo
24-02-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Will Eagles trade a backup QB?
Eagles Stay or Go 2025: Will Eagles trade a backup QB? originally appeared on NBC Sports Philadelphia Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro bring back Stay or Go in 2025, trying to figure out the futures of every Eagles player on the roster. Up first: Quarterback Ian Book Roob: The Eagles clearly like Book, who was here during the 2022 season and again late this year. He's never going to play here, but he's a smart guy who picks up the offense quickly and you could definitely see him going into coaching at some point, and it wouldn't be surprising if it were here. The Eagles have been a real springboard for quarterbacks who've gone into coaching – Mike Kafka, Matt Nagy, G.J. Kinne, Josh McCown, Tee Martin, Thad Lewis and Doug Pederson all spent time as players with the Eagles and are now coaching. So Book may be here, but it won't be as a player. Verdict: Goes Dave: The Eagles brought back Book late in the 2024 season when Jalen Hurts was dealing with his concussion and he was even briefly on the active roster. Book has been with the Eagles in just two seasons and the Eagles have gone to the Super Bowl in both of them. Coincidence? … Yeah, probably. But the Eagles obviously liked Book enough to bring him back when they were up against it last year and he'll still be a phone call away in 2025 if something happens again. But he's a long shot to actually be on the roster to start the season. Book was a fourth-round pick in 20201 but has played in just one regular season game. He could have a future in coaching if he's interested. Verdict: Goes Jalen Hurts Roob: Tough one, but I do think Hurts will likely be back in 2025 for his sixth season with the Eagles. OK seriously, Hurts may already be the greatest quarterback in Eagles history – 160 touchdowns, six playoff wins, four playoff berths in four years as a starter, two Super Bowl trips in three years, a Super Bowl championship, a Super Bowl MVP – and he doesn't even turn 27 until August. No quarterback since Davey O'Brien in 1939 and 1940 has started at least 10 games for the Eagles and retired having never played for another team. You never know what the future holds, but you'd love to see Hurts have a career like Ben Roethlisberger, Dan Marino, John Elway, Troy Aikman or Terry Bradshaw and spend his entire career with one team. Verdict: Stays Dave: The Eagles are probably going to keep the Super Bowl MVP around for another season. The were plenty of questions about Hurts throughout the 2024 regular season and, honestly, the discourse around Hurts is exhausting. Is he elite? Is he top 10? Top 5? Who cares? Three of the best games we have ever seen Hurts play came in Super Bowl LVII, this year's NFC Championship Game and Super Bowl LIX. Say whatever you want about Hurts but he shows up in the biggest moments. Does that mean he's a perfect player? No, of course not. And it's still fair to criticize him when he makes mistakes in the regular season. But the Eagles have a good quarterback who is happy to do whatever it takes to win. He's the right guy for this team and he'll soon have a Super Bowl ring for proof. Verdict: Stays Tanner McKee Roob: McKee showed enough in his brief appearance vs. the Cowboys and his start against the Giants – four TDs, no INTs, 117.2 passer rating – that teams out there are going to call Howie Roseman just to get an idea what it would take to pry McKee loose. I can't imagine the Eagles would get offered enough for Roseman to part ways with an awfully promising young quarterback, although if the offer was good enough you have to take it. But I also think McKee is too good to spend 2025 – his third NFL season – as a No. 3. Which brings us to … Verdict: Stays Dave: Our suspicions about McKee were proven right in 2024. When the former sixth-round pick got a chance to play this season, he was really impressive. While he was inactive most of the season as the Eagles' third-string emergency quarterback, Pickett in two games completed 30 of 45 passes (66.7%) for 323 yards with 4 touchdowns and 0 interceptions. He's the second-best quarterback on the roster even though the Eagles never bumped him up the depth chart. I think he's ready to be their backup quarterback going into 2025. Perhaps, the Eagles would trade McKee if the offer was good enough but they shouldn't be in a hurry to get rid of the young and talented quarterback. We know the Eagles value the position and he has shown traits that are worth developing. Verdict: Stays Kenny Pickett Roob: There's a lot to like about the way Pickett played in the Dallas and Washington games. He got the ball down the field, threw a couple touchdowns, made good decisions and played very tough. Pickett is only 26, 15-10 as a starting quarterback and just two years removed from being a 1st-round pick and I'm going to guess that there's a team out there that either plans to draft a quarterback and would like a smart veteran to begin the 2025 season as the starter while mentoring the young guy or already has an underachieving quarterback on the roster and wants a veteran to compete in training camp. If you're Howie Roseman, you're sitting there with two capable backup quarterbacks who have some value, and you don't need two. So I'm thinking the Eagles trade Pickett for a mid-round pick, move forward with McKee as No. 2 and Howie has himself another pick, which would be more useful than having two backup QBs. Howie loves draft picks. I think he turns Pickett into one. Verdict: Goe Dave: This is a tough one. I absolutely think the Eagles should be open to trading Pickett before the start of the season but I don't have a lot of confidence that they'll do it. They traded for Pickett before the 2024 season for a reason and he didn't do anything to hurt their confidence in him. Part of the reason the Eagles traded for Pickett was because he had two years left on his rookie contract and now the Eagles are going into that second year. In 2024, Pickett completed just under 60% of his passes for 291 yards with 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He was solid. Could the Eagles be opportunistic and trade Pickett after an injury somewhere in the league? Sure. But, for now, I think Pickett will be around to start the 2025 season. The Eagles are coming off a Super Bowl season and they'll want the most important position on the field to be loaded. Verdict: Stays Subscribe to Eagle Eye anywhere you get your podcasts: Apple Podcasts | YouTube Music | Spotify | Stitcher | Simplecast | RSS | Watch on YouTube
