We answered the first two bunches of your questions throughout the weekend:
Let’s not waste any time. Time to empty the mailbag:
Nobody seems to be talking about how they passed on AJ Epenesa in the 2nd. We know their DTs are good, but what is your feeling on the DEs - 32-year-old BG, underachieving Barnett, Sweat, and Avery
— Lemke's Double-Play Partner (@FlipsToLemke) May 1, 2020
I didn’t really like the idea of Epenesa in the first round (I didn’t think there was a DE worth the 21st pick when the Eagles were on the clock) but in the second, I would have been on board with that. I agree with you about defensive end. Coming out of the draft, you could certainly argue that it’s their top need. It was a need going in and all they did was add a seventh-round developmental player in Casey Toohill.
Brandon Graham is 32 and his salary balloons in 2021, the final year of his contract. And while I’m still probably higher on Barnett than most, I agree that he hasn’t lived up to his draft status. After that, Josh Sweat is the top rotational player, so I think Vinny Curry might be getting a phone call soon.
In an off season without OTAs and mini camps, how will all the projects the Eagles drafted fair ?
— Ianbot5000 (@ianbot5000) May 1, 2020
It’s going to be hard for any team to rely heavily on their rookies, especially teams like the Bengals who are going to start a rookie quarterback. At least the Eagles don’t have that issue. And at least the Eagles have the same head coach and DC, unlike the other teams in the NFC East.
I see your point about the picks the Eagles made. Guys like Davion Taylor are raw and need more time. It's hard to see most of the Eagles' 2020 draft class making a major impact in their rookie seasons. Jalen Reagor and K'Von Wallace will probably play the most.
Will the Birds end up carrying 5, or 6 WRs, with Alshon potentially on PUP at the beginning of the season?
— Bond...Chris Bond (@Gohan_Polo) May 1, 2020
They kept five last year but after drafting three receivers this year, there’s a better chance of keeping six. On my first 53-man roster projection, I did put Alshon Jeffery on PUP, but I really don’t know where he is in his rehab. I just know that the Lisfranc is a tough injury to recover from quickly. And Marquise Goodwin is a question too because of his injury status. The missed time doesn’t help John Hightower or Quez Watkins, but at least one will be on the roster and there's a chance both make it.
Do you see Kvon Wallace being the starting safety at the end of the year?
— Dan Kirkpatrick (@RogueEagle27) May 1, 2020
K’Von Wallace was one of my favorite players in this draft class and I thought the Eagles got tremendous value by taking him at 127. He’s a versatile, tough, competitive playmaker. He’s not the fastest player in the world, which is probably why he was available so late … but he can play.
And with the Eagles’ situation at safety being such a question mark, he’ll probably play quite a bit. Not ready to commit to his being a starter, simply because we all know how much Jim Schwartz loves Jalen Mills, but Mills and Parks, and even Rodney McLeod to a lesser extent, aren’t long-term solutions at the position. Wallace should play a role early and if he does well, I could definitely see that role growing by the end of his rookie season.
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