Reuben Frank and Dave Zangaro bring back Stay or Go in 2022, trying to figure out the futures of every Eagles player on the roster.
We already looked at receivers, cornerbacks, running backs, linebackers, defensive tackles and interior offensive line.
Up today: Specialists.
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Jake Elliott
Roob: You didn’t have to leave the room and hide when Jake Elliot was kicking this year, which was a nice change of pace from last year, when every kick – even the chip shots – was an adventure. Elliott broke the Eagles’ single-season accuracy record, made a 58-yarder, made his first Pro Bowl and made it fun to watch field goals again.
Verdict: Stays
Dave: After a really rough season in 2020, Elliott rebounded in a major way in 2021. He made his first Pro Bowl after making 30 of 33 field goals on the season for a career-high 90.9% rate. Elliott made all three of his attempts from 50+ and one of his misses was a block against the 49ers. He also nailed all 44 of his extra points. If Elliott didn’t already have a contract, the Eagles might have moved on from him after 2020 but good thing they weren’t able to. Because Elliott proved himself this past season and it looks like the Eagles are set at the position.
NFL
Verdict: Stays
Rick Lovato
Roob: One of only two Eagles to play every game since opening day 2017, and I’m not going to say he’s quite as good as the other one, Jason Kelce, but Lovato is as consistent as a long snapper can be. The Eagles have had three long snappers in the last 23 years – Mike Bartrum, Jon Dorenbos and Lovato. That’s a murderer’s row of long snappers. Who remembers who did it before Bartrum? How about that Jeff Dellenbach in 1999! Dellenbach was also the Eagles’ starting right guard that year, which makes him the last Eagles long snapper to start a game. Now you know!
Verdict: Stays
Dave: I didn’t think about Lovato once this past season, which means he did his job.
Verdict: Stays
Arryn Siposs
Roob: Siposs started out just fine. Through 12 games, he was averaging 45.9 yards per punt, which put him a very respectable 12th in the league. The rest of the season? He averaged 38.7 yards per punt, which was more than 1 ½ yards worse per boot than any other punter during that six-game span. You just can’t give away field position like that. Siposs was the worst punter in the league in the most important games of the year. The Eagles have to do better.
Verdict: Goes
Dave: Early in the season, Siposs looked OK. But he really tailed off down the stretch and he had a couple shanks in the playoff game, which just can’t happen. His average of 43.9 yards per punt ranked 24th in the NFL and his net average of 38.7 ranked 23rd. His 17 punts downed inside the 20 ranked tied for 25th in the league. Siposs had good moments this past season but not enough for the Eagles to simply bring him back and hand him the job in 2022. My guess is they bring in some sort of competition for him and I think they can find someone better.
Verdict: Goes