technical details
  1. is_video => true
  2. is_chrome_page => null
  3. article_body => "<p>We\u2019ve made it through the flurry of free agency and now through the draft, so the roster the Eagles have together right now is, for the most part, the roster they\u2019re going to go into the 2021 season with.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The next big date on the NFL calendar is May 12, which is the schedule release and the beginning of Eagles rookie camp.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>But until then, we have plenty of questions to get to in the latest mailbag:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/BlickwedelTeddy\/status\/1390701409167978498\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1620412062\" data-url-provider=\"Twitter\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<p>This is a fun one, but I\u2019m going to keep it to realistic scenarios. Because the obvious best case scenario is that the Eagles go 17-0, cruise through the playoffs and win&nbsp;the Super Bowl. That\u2019s not very likely. Nor is the worst case scenario where all of that happens before the Super Bowl and an asteroid comes flying toward earth.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>So here are the best and worst case scenarios, within reason:<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Best case:<\/strong> Jalen Hurts improves greatly and proves himself to be a true franchise quarterback. The Eagles win the division and get into the playoffs, the team finally stays healthy, DeVonta Smith is a stud and the new coaching staff begins to build a championship program. And in Indy, Carson Wentz plays 75% of the Colts\u2019 snaps but their team has a mediocre record and misses the playoffs. That means the Eagles would get a nice first-round pick from that trade.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>But really, the key to this season is Hurts. Because if he proves that he\u2019s a franchise quarterback, then the Eagles have a nice head start in building their team. Not only do they have their QB under contract for a low price for the next two seasons but they would also have 10 draft picks, including three first-rounders, and a bunch of cap space to build a championship team around him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Worst case: <\/strong>This might seem weird, but I actually don\u2019t think the worst case long-term would be a two or three-win team. Honestly, the worst-case would be that Hurts is just OK or slightly above average. Any season where the Eagles end it still not sure if he can be the franchise quarterback isn\u2019t ideal. Because then the Eagles would be in a situation where they have to decide if they give up on a good quarterback and try to land one they hope can be elite. Either way, you\u2019d think the Eagles will want to know. Aside from Hurts, the other things that could go wrong: Sirianni looks overmatched, injuries still pile up, Smith\u2019s size ends up being a problem, Wentz gets hurt before hitting 70% of their snaps and the Colts are still great without him.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/slayburner24\/status\/1390688519715164160\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1620412069\" data-url-provider=\"Twitter\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<p>It\u2019s hard to imagine that the Eagles will go into the season with the current group of corners they have, especially after they waited until the fourth round to address the position with Zech McPhearson. There are still a few free agent options, but they\u2019re dwindling. As much fun as it would be to have Richard Sherman here, he\u2019s probably going to want a big contract. And at this stage in his career, would he really be willing to come to a rebuilding team? My guess is no.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>So I\u2019ll list the three most likely free agents as Steven Nelson, Brian Poole and Cre\u2019Von LeBlanc. Now, Nelson would obviously be the most expensive of the group but he\u2019s still just 28. At this point in free agency, he\u2019s probably looking at a one-year deal anywhere so maybe the Eagles can give him one loaded with incentives to come to Philly. The other guy who makes sense is Brian Poole. Also 28, Pool has started 38 games in the league since 2016. He\u2019s not the same caliber player but he has a connection to the Eagles, formerly playing for DBs coach Dennard Wilson with the Jets. And lastly, LeBlanc is still without a team. His connections to the old coaching staff are gone but for a minimum deal, it wouldn\u2019t be a bad idea to bring Strap back.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/Flyenglishfly19\/status\/1390689772247699460\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1620412075\" data-url-provider=\"Twitter\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<p>I get why you\u2019d want Stephon Gilmore. He\u2019s one of the best corners in the league. But I\u2019m not sure this really makes a ton of sense. While the Patriots might want to trade him as he enters the final year of his contract, are the Eagles really a logical landing spot? Gilmore will turn 31 early in the 2021 season and the Eagles don\u2019t appear very ready to compete right now. So the Eagles would have to give up something significant to get him and then there\u2019s the matter of salary. On his current deal, Gilmore has a $7 million base salary in 2021. The Eagles could get his cap number down this season but that would take an extension and Gilmore going to want a big one; this might be his last pay day. So are the Eagles really in a position to hand out big deals to a 31-year-old cornerback on a team that is at the very least in a retooling phase? Gilmore would make the Eagles better right now \u2026 no question. But I\u2019m not sure this is the most logical fit.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<drupal-url data-embed-button=\"url\" data-embed-url=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/FrancisSatriale\/status\/1390689077389930496\" data-entity-label=\"Embed social\" data-timestamp=\"1620412080\" data-url-provider=\"Twitter\"><\/drupal-url>\r\n\r\n<p>Much earlier this offseason, I came up with a list of five Eagles candidates for an extension \u2026 and none have gotten one so far. But three of the players on the list were members of the 2018 draft class, which means they\u2019re about to enter contract seasons: Dallas Goedert, Josh Sweat and Jordan Mailata.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>Mailata is a tricky one because many of us are assuming that he\u2019ll be the starter this season but the Eagles also still have 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard. If I\u2019m the Eagles, I\u2019d try to lock Mailata up to a contract that pays him like a really good backup. But the player in this instance might want to bet on himself winning the job and playing well. There might just be too little information about his future here to come up with a fair contract for both sides.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><strong>Subscribe to the&nbsp;Eagle&nbsp;Eye&nbsp;podcast:<\/strong><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/itunes.apple.com\/us\/podcast\/id1376641140?mt=2\">Apple&nbsp;Podcasts<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/play.google.com\/music\/listen?u=0#\/ps\/Irihfctcpfeh635rf5ii7m25jzm\">Google Play<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/open.spotify.com\/show\/7efTly7UOHBSf8PKhqUmYC\">Spotify<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.stitcher.com\/s?fid=183796&amp;refid=stpr\">Stitcher<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/eagle-eye-philadelphia-eagles\">Art19<\/a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/channel\/UCXenWaHGZz4Ey4BObUUIyZQ\">Watch on YouTube<\/a><\/p>\r\n\r\n<p><iframe height=\"230px\" src=\"https:\/\/art19.com\/shows\/eagle-eye-philadelphia-eagles\/episodes\/3461ebab-1373-4e20-9f97-8e2999c52254\/embed\" width=\"100%\"><\/iframe><\/p>\r\n"
  4. created => 1620411961
  5. changed => 1620742748
  6. status => true
  7. hero_image_credit => "USA Today Images"
  8. tags => null
  9. field_bean_single_col => null
  10. section => null
  11. orig_image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"2666","height":"1499","uri":"public:\/\/article\/hero\/Hurts_J_new_USATSI_15436777.jpg","timestamp":1617996837}
  12. image => {"alt":"","title":"","width":"2666","height":"1499","uri":"public:\/\/article\/hero\/Hurts_J_new_USATSI_15436777.jpg","timestamp":1617996837}
  13. video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/philadelphia\/video\/shocked-devonta-smith-thrilled-reunite-jalen-hurts"
  14. is_mediaid => true
  15. mediaid => "VbAW0GhoDKaA"
  16. video_autoplay => null
  17. video_automute => null
  18. mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
  19. player_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/vplayer\/p\/BxmELC\/philly_main\/select\/media\/VbAW0GhoDKaA?form=html&autoPlay=true"
  20. chrome_data => null
  21. description => "In his latest Eagles mailbag, Dave Zangaro answers questions about best and worst case scenarios, cornerback options and more."
  22. league => "NFL"
  23. league_id => "104"
  24. sport => "Football"
  25. sport_id => "25"
  26. image_credit => "USA Today Images"
  27. no_promo => false
  28. no_trending_in_body => false
  29. no_recirc => false
  30. no_trend => false
  31. short_title => "Eagles mailbag: Best and worst case scenarios in 2021"
  32. sponsorship_type => "presented_by"
  33. type => "article"
  34. alias => "\/philadelphia\/eagles\/eagles-best-and-worst-case-scenarios-mailbag"
  35. title => "Eagles\u2019 best and worst case scenarios in mailbag"
  36. nid => "445481"
  37. author_0 => "Dave Zangaro"
  38. author_0_id => "16496"
  39. mps => {"author_0":"Dave Zangaro"}
  40. region => "philadelphia"
  41. region_id => "3"
  42. sponsor => null
  43. sponsor_id => null
  44. team_id => "137"
  45. team => "Eagles"
  46. published => 1620473400
  47. article_type => "short"
  48. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/philadelphia\/eagles\/eagles-best-and-worst-case-scenarios-mailbag.json","assets":["public:\/\/article\/hero\/Hurts_J_new_USATSI_15436777.jpg"]}
Eagles

/ by Dave Zangaro
Eagles

We’ve made it through the flurry of free agency and now through the draft, so the roster the Eagles have together right now is, for the most part, the roster they’re going to go into the 2021 season with.

The next big date on the NFL calendar is May 12, which is the schedule release and the beginning of Eagles rookie camp.

But until then, we have plenty of questions to get to in the latest mailbag:

This is a fun one, but I’m going to keep it to realistic scenarios. Because the obvious best case scenario is that the Eagles go 17-0, cruise through the playoffs and win the Super Bowl. That’s not very likely. Nor is the worst case scenario where all of that happens before the Super Bowl and an asteroid comes flying toward earth.

So here are the best and worst case scenarios, within reason:

Best case: Jalen Hurts improves greatly and proves himself to be a true franchise quarterback. The Eagles win the division and get into the playoffs, the team finally stays healthy, DeVonta Smith is a stud and the new coaching staff begins to build a championship program. And in Indy, Carson Wentz plays 75% of the Colts’ snaps but their team has a mediocre record and misses the playoffs. That means the Eagles would get a nice first-round pick from that trade.

But really, the key to this season is Hurts. Because if he proves that he’s a franchise quarterback, then the Eagles have a nice head start in building their team. Not only do they have their QB under contract for a low price for the next two seasons but they would also have 10 draft picks, including three first-rounders, and a bunch of cap space to build a championship team around him.

 

Worst case: This might seem weird, but I actually don’t think the worst case long-term would be a two or three-win team. Honestly, the worst-case would be that Hurts is just OK or slightly above average. Any season where the Eagles end it still not sure if he can be the franchise quarterback isn’t ideal. Because then the Eagles would be in a situation where they have to decide if they give up on a good quarterback and try to land one they hope can be elite. Either way, you’d think the Eagles will want to know. Aside from Hurts, the other things that could go wrong: Sirianni looks overmatched, injuries still pile up, Smith’s size ends up being a problem, Wentz gets hurt before hitting 70% of their snaps and the Colts are still great without him.

It’s hard to imagine that the Eagles will go into the season with the current group of corners they have, especially after they waited until the fourth round to address the position with Zech McPhearson. There are still a few free agent options, but they’re dwindling. As much fun as it would be to have Richard Sherman here, he’s probably going to want a big contract. And at this stage in his career, would he really be willing to come to a rebuilding team? My guess is no.

So I’ll list the three most likely free agents as Steven Nelson, Brian Poole and Cre’Von LeBlanc. Now, Nelson would obviously be the most expensive of the group but he’s still just 28. At this point in free agency, he’s probably looking at a one-year deal anywhere so maybe the Eagles can give him one loaded with incentives to come to Philly. The other guy who makes sense is Brian Poole. Also 28, Pool has started 38 games in the league since 2016. He’s not the same caliber player but he has a connection to the Eagles, formerly playing for DBs coach Dennard Wilson with the Jets. And lastly, LeBlanc is still without a team. His connections to the old coaching staff are gone but for a minimum deal, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring Strap back.

I get why you’d want Stephon Gilmore. He’s one of the best corners in the league. But I’m not sure this really makes a ton of sense. While the Patriots might want to trade him as he enters the final year of his contract, are the Eagles really a logical landing spot? Gilmore will turn 31 early in the 2021 season and the Eagles don’t appear very ready to compete right now. So the Eagles would have to give up something significant to get him and then there’s the matter of salary. On his current deal, Gilmore has a $7 million base salary in 2021. The Eagles could get his cap number down this season but that would take an extension and Gilmore going to want a big one; this might be his last pay day. So are the Eagles really in a position to hand out big deals to a 31-year-old cornerback on a team that is at the very least in a retooling phase? Gilmore would make the Eagles better right now … no question. But I’m not sure this is the most logical fit.

 

Much earlier this offseason, I came up with a list of five Eagles candidates for an extension … and none have gotten one so far. But three of the players on the list were members of the 2018 draft class, which means they’re about to enter contract seasons: Dallas Goedert, Josh Sweat and Jordan Mailata.

Mailata is a tricky one because many of us are assuming that he’ll be the starter this season but the Eagles also still have 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard. If I’m the Eagles, I’d try to lock Mailata up to a contract that pays him like a really good backup. But the player in this instance might want to bet on himself winning the job and playing well. There might just be too little information about his future here to come up with a fair contract for both sides.

Subscribe to the Eagle Eye podcast:

Apple Podcasts | Google Play | Spotify | Stitcher | Art19 | Watch on YouTube