Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2ufxh3zp

Philadelphia Eagles outside linebacker Nolan Smith was arrested Friday, May 15 in central Georgia on charges of reckless driving and excessive speeding after authorities said he was clocked at 135 mph in a 70-mph zone on Interstate 16 in Twiggs County.

The Georgia Gazette, which tracks criminal cases in the state through public records, was first to report on the arrest, which has been confirmed by multiple outlets.

According to the Twiggs County Sheriff’s Office, Smith was stopped around 10:40 p.m. and later booked into jail before being released on bond.

The arrest comes to light as the Eagles prepare to begin organized team activities on Tuesday.

Smith, 25, whom Philadelphia drafted 30th overall out of the University of Georgia in 2023, will be entering his fourth season with the team. His best year was in 2024, when he logged 42 combined tackles, eight TFLs, 6.5 sacks, 11 QB hits, two passes defended, a forced fumble and two fumble recoveries. He spent much of last season on injured reserve after re-aggravating a triceps injury.

In April, the Eagles picked up his 2027 fifth-year option worth $13.75 million.

Smith’s arrest is the latest in a string of driving-related incidents involving current and former University of Georgia football players, including Eagles defensive tackle Jalen Carter.

Carter pleaded no contest in 2023 to misdemeanor reckless driving and street-racing charges connected to a January 2023 crash that killed Georgia offensive lineman Devin Willock and recruiting staff member Chandler LeCroy, who were in the car that Carter was racing.

In addition to that fatal accident, multiple Bulldogs football players have been arrested or cited for speeding, reckless driving or racing-related offenses, drawing national attention to the program’s driving culture.

This also was not Smith’s first driving-related arrest.

While at Georgia in January 2022, Smith was charged with speeding in a construction zone and driving with a suspended license. According to reports at the time, he was accused of driving 89 mph — 44 mph over the posted limit.

Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/ytpw7pjy

The NFL released its full 2026 schedule Thursday night. Here’s the Eagles’ schedule.

They have nine home games and eight away games. They’ll open at Lincoln Financial Field against the Washington Commanders on Sept. 13.

The Birds will play in Dallas on Thanksgiving Day and host the Houston Texans on Christmas Eve.

The Eagles will play Jacksonville in London as the away team on Oct. 11. They were robbed of a home game two years ago when they opened their season internationally against the Green Bay Packers in São Paulo, Brazil.

“I like going overseas because it’s an opportunity to play in front of a different audience, so I love that part. But coming back, I don’t think it sets you up well,” running back Saquon Barkley said.

The Eagles are slated to play on Sunday Night Football twice, Monday Night Football twice — hosting the Cowboys Oct. 26 — and Thursday Night Football on Prime Video once.

They’ll host a Saturday game against the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Dec. 19 at 5 p.m. leading into a short week for the Christmas Eve game the following Thursday.

“They doing us crazy,” left tackle Jordan Mailata said after learning of the Christmas Eve date.

Last year, the Birds didn’t have back-to-back home games until December. This season, they have back-to-back road games only three times — in weeks 2-3, weeks 12-13 and weeks 17-18.

They’ll have back-to-back home games twice and a stretch of three consecutive home games this December — though on some short rest against formidable opponents in the Seahawks, Texans and 49ers.

The Eagles’ bye comes in the middle of the season in Week 10, between home games against the Giants and Steelers. Most of their toughest opponents — based on last year’s records — come at home.

But the NFC East should be much improved. The Cowboys, Commanders and Giants have all gotten healthy and upgraded their rosters, and New York landed a future-Hall of Fame coach in John Harbaugh.

On the surface, the Eagles’ schedule appears relatively easy. But their division might end up being the most difficult in the league.

Home: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Los Angeles Rams, Seattle Seahawks, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts, Carolina Panthers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Away: Dallas Cowboys, New York Giants, Washington Commanders, Arizona Cardinals, Jacksonville Jaguars, San Francisco 49ers, Tennessee Titans, Chicago Bears

Preseason

— Saturday, August 15 at Baltimore Ravens 7:00 p.m. NBC10

— Saturday, August 22 at New England Patriots 7:00 p.m. NBC10

— Friday, August 28 Cincinnati Bengals 8:00 p.m. CBS

Regular Season

WEEK 1: Sunday, Sept. 13: Washington Commanders, 4:25 p.m., FOX

WEEK 2: Sunday, Sept. 20: at Tennessee Titans, 1 p.m., FOX

WEEK 3: Monday, Sept. 28: at Chicago Bears, 8:15 p.m. ESPN (Monday Night Football)

WEEK 4: Sunday, Oct.4: Los Angeles Rams 1 p.m., FOX

WEEK 5: Sunday, Oct. 11: at Jacksonville Jaguars in London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium), 9:30 a.m., NFL Network

WEEK 6: Sunday, Oct. 18: Carolina Panthers 1 p.m.+, CBS

WEEK 7: Monday, Oct. 26: Dallas Cowboys 8:15 p.m. ESPN (Monday Night Football)

WEEK 8: Sunday, Nov. 1: at Washington Commanders 8:20 p.m.+ NBC (Sunday Night Football)

WEEK 9: Sunday, Nov. 8: New York Giants 1 p.m.+, FOX

WEEK 10: BYE

WEEK 11: Sunday, Nov. 22: Pittsburgh Steelers 4:25 p.m.+, CBS

WEEK 12: Thursday, Nov 26: at Dallas Cowboys 4:30 p.m.+, FOX

WEEK 13: Sunday, Dec. 6: at Arizona Cardinals 4:05 p.m.+, FOX

WEEK 14: Sunday, Dec. 13: Indianapolis Colts 1 p.m.+, FOX

WEEK 15: Saturday, Dec: 19 Seattle Seahawks 5 p.m.+, FOX

WEEK 16: Thursday, Dec. 24 Houston Texans, 8:15 p.m., Prime Video (Thursday Night Football)

WEEK 17: Sunday, Jan. 3: at San Francisco 49ers 8:20 p.m.+, NBC (Sunday Night Football)

WEEK 18: at New York Giants, TBD

Postseason

— AFC and NFC Wild Card Playoffs: Saturday, Jan. 16; Sunday, Jan. 17; Monday, Jan. 18

— AFC and NFC Divisional Playoffs: Saturday, Jan. 23; Sunday, Jan. 24

— AFC and NFC Championship Games: Sunday, Jan. 31

— Super Bowl LXI: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, Calif. (ESPN/ABC)Sunday, Feb. 14

+ Game time subject to change due to flex scheduling

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.

The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/3shudvcm

PHILADELPHIA — Eagles rookie minicamp began with the usual mix of nerves, new jerseys and first impressions. But the number on Makai Lemon’s back carried more weight than most.

The Eagles’ first-round pick revealed Thursday that he will wear No. 9 — the same number worn by Super Bowl LII MVP quarterback Nick Foles. Lemon said he reached out to the folk hero before making the decision and got the blessing he needed.

“It meant a lot,” Lemon said of the conversation. “That’s a special number in this city.”

No Eagle has worn No. 9 since Foles left the team after the 2018 season. (Foles officially retired as an Eagle in 2024.) The number became synonymous with Philadelphia’s first Super Bowl championship and the “Philly Special” play that helped defeat the Patriots. Lemon understands the history.

“I know what that number means here,” he said. “I’m going to do everything I can to represent it the right way.”

Lemon wore No. 6 at USC, but that number already belongs to Eagles wideout DeVonta Smith. The rookie wide receiver said the next-closest single-digit option was No. 9 — which he joked “looks like a flipped six.” Before making it official, he wanted to contact Foles out of respect for the franchise legend. The quarterback told him to go for it.

The symbolism stood out on a day otherwise focused on introductions. Lemon, the 20th overall pick in last week’s NFL draft, arrives in Philadelphia with high expectations. The former USC star won the 2025 Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top wide receiver after catching 79 passes for 1,156 yards and 11 touchdowns last season. At 5-foot-11 and 192 pounds, he’s known for sharp route running and yards-after-catch ability.

Philadelphia traded up to draft him, signaling a belief he can become a major piece of the offense. Lemon downplayed the pressure.

“I just want to come in, learn the playbook and earn the trust of the guys,” he said. “Everything else will take care of itself.”

Rookie minicamp marks the first on-field introduction for the Eagles’ entire 2026 draft class. Among the players with Lemon were developmental quarterback Cole Payton of North Dakota State, offensive lineman Micah Morris of Georgia, safety Cole Wisniewski of Texas Tech and edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby of New Mexico. The group will spend the weekend installing basic schemes and getting acclimated to the team’s practice tempo.

The Eagles also made early progress with Lemon off the field. The team reportedly signed him to a fully guaranteed four-year rookie contract worth $20.8 million, including an $11.5 million signing bonus and a fifth-year option.

That quick deal removes one potential distraction and lets the rookie focus on football.

Lemon said the first few days in the building have already been a whirlwind.

“You walk in and see everything — the history, the trophies,” he said. “You realize what the standard is here.”

The number on his jersey serves as another reminder.

For years, No. 9 belonged to the quarterback who delivered the Eagles’ signature moment. Now the number returns to the field on a rookie receiver hoping to write the next chapter.

“He set the bar,” Lemon said. “Now it’s my job to go out and work.”

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The Eagles didn’t just draft for the future. They made a win-now move.

With the trade for Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard, Philadelphia addressed an immediate need on defense while using its early picks to reshape the offense.

The 28-year-old Greenard said the opportunity to join a championship contender appealed to him.

“When you walk in the building and see Lombardi Trophies sitting there, you know what the standard is,” Greenard said. “That’s the kind of place you want to be.”

Greenard arrived from the Minnesota Vikings after a complicated offseason there. Minnesota faced a salary-cap crunch and the veteran pass rusher was seeking a clearer long-term situation. The Eagles sent a compensatory third-round pick and a future third-rounder to acquire him, then signed him to a four-year extension worth $100 million with $50 million guaranteed.

Greenard played just 12 games in 2025 because of a shoulder injury, finishing with three sacks after racking up 12 a year earlier and 12.5 with Houston in 2023. But even when he was injured, he said he battled through.

“I still feel like I rushed well,” Greenard said. “I was still getting back there. I feel like my moves didn’t drop off at all. I always tell myself, listen, the day somebody’s got to tell me to get to the quarterback, that’s when I’ll need to hang it up. Outside of that, if my issue is wrapping a guy up, I promise I’ll be in a good spot.”

The Eagles’ broader strategy revealed a desire to give quarterback Jalen Hurts more help in the passing game as Sean Mannion takes over as offensive coordinator.

Philadelphia’s first two selections focused on pass catchers — signaling A.J. Brown’s impending exit — with USC receiver Makai Lemon in the first round and hybrid tight end Eli Stowers in the second.

Both players like to work over the middle — a place Hurts is often hesitant to throw — but it will be part of Mannion’s system, along with more snaps under center, more play action, more motion, and timing routes in which Hurts will have to release the ball quickly.

Lemon and Wicks will join wideout DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert, plus recently added receivers Dontayvion Wicks, who was Green Bay’s No. 3, and Hollywood Brown.

The Eagles also reinforced the offensive line by tapping tackle Markell Bell of Miami in the third round and Georgia guard Micah Morris in the sixth.

So Hurts ostensibly has plenty of support. The challenge is on him now.

Coach Nick Sirianni said the offense is in the early stages of evolving, since offseason workouts only just begun, but he expects it to look different this fall.

“We’re always looking for ways to stress defenses,” he said. “Guys who can move around, play multiple spots and create mismatches are really valuable.”

The strategy reflects an effort to diversify Hurts’ options. While he has thrived attacking the perimeter, his inconsistency when working the middle of the field has been an issue. Players like Lemon and Stowers could help change that by creating easier throwing windows inside.

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PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles spent the first two days of the NFL draft hunting immediate impact. Day 3 was about something else: upside, depth and long-term development.

Philadelphia wrapped up the draft Saturday by reinforcing the offensive line and adding several late-round defensive projects. But the headliner was the surprising selection of another dual-threat quarterback from North Dakota State — Cole Payton — 10 years after they drafted Carson Wentz as the second overall pick.

The Eagles opted for the 6-foot-3. 232-pound Payton in the fifth round (No. 178 overall). In 13 starts with the Bison last year, he rushed for 777 yds on 136 attempts. He also completed 162 of 225 passes (72%) for 2,719 yds and 16 touchdowns with just one interception.

It was a curious move considering the Eagles still believe in Tanner McKee, 25, who backed up Jalen Hurts last season, and that they recently acquired 38-year-old Andy Dalton.

“We just felt that this was a player that we wanted to take based on the way the board fell,” general manager Howie Roseman said. “When you’re sitting there and a player that you like — regardless of position — is sitting there, you don’t want to pass on him.

“Really, really athletic. Really good with the ball in his hands in the quarterback run game. Made great decisions with the football. Accurate passer. … But there are some wild plays on his tape that are really impressive. I think I charted four times he jumps over somebody or wrote down a bunch of times, ‘He’s the best player on the field.’”

The GM said Payton was the top remaining player on the Eagles’ draft board in that slot, adding he’s not opposed to keeping four QBs on the roster.

“We’re open to carrying four quarterbacks, for sure,” Roseman said. “If you talk about it being the most important position in sports and you have four good ones, why wouldn’t you keep ‘em?”

The 23-year-old Payton — a left-handed thrower — was the 2020 Nebraska Gatorade Player of the Year as a senior at Westside High School in Omaha. He received interest from Iowa State and University of Nebraska, but neither program offered him a scholarship.

He was a backup in college until 2025. In a Zoom conference with reporters in Philadelphia, he discussed what it was like to wait his turn.

“It was tough,” Payton said. “It wasn’t easy, for sure, being the competitor I am. I just love football. … People asked, why didn’t you transfer? It was because I believed in NDSU — the pro-style offense, the fact that they’ve sent so many guys to the NFL. I felt, looking ahead, that I had one year and I was gonna make the most of that one year.

“I’m just so excited to be an Eagle and get to work and compete and improve and learn and grow.”

Payton, who received scholarship offers to play basketball out of high school, turned heads during the football pre-draft process. He ran a 4.56 40-yard dash and posted a 40-inch vertical leap — rare numbers for a quarterback his size.

“He’s a really tough football player,” coach Nick Sirianni said. “You see it when he runs, when he finishes runs, when he competes. And obviously he’s got the arm talent and the athleticism that give you a lot to work with.”

O-line depth

The Eagles continued to invest in the trenches by selecting Georgia guard Micah Morris in the sixth round.

At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds, Morris brings size and versatility after playing both guard positions (and some tackle) for the Bulldogs.

The Eagles have long prioritized building offensive line depth through the draft, and Morris fits that model as a developmental interior lineman who could compete for a backup role early in his career.

International intrigue

An intriguing move came late in the seventh round at No. 251, when the Eagles took Nigerian-born defensive lineman Uar Bernard.

Bernard, 21, has never played organized football but impressed scouts with extraordinary athletic traits during the NFL’s International Player Pathway program.

“We wanted to take a chance on the kid,” Roseman said.

Bernard is 6-4, 306 with just 6% body fat. During the pre-draft process, he displayed a 4.63 40, a 39-inch vertical and a 10-foot-10 broad jump.”

“Obviously, he has a lot of tools in his body,” Roseman said. “We understand it’s going to take time. It’s going to take a lot of time here. But it’s pretty cool. We spend a lot of time talking about ‘unusual,’ and there’s certainly unusual with that guy.”

The Eagles have previously found success with international players, most notably Australian rugby convert Jordan Mailata, who developed into a Pro Bowl left tackle.

“It’s a dream come true for me because I’ve worked hard for this,” Bernard, wrapped in a Nigerian flag, said in a Zoom conference. “I’ve not played football before but I’ve gone through some drills that made me believe I’m going to get better every day. I appreciate God, thank God for everything. Thank God for life, thank God for the opportunity he’s given me to be drafted by the Eagles.”

Answer at safety? More edge help

The Eagles, who chose not to re-sign safety Reed Blankenship, drafted safety Cole Wisniewski (6-4, 220) in the seventh round out of Texas Tech. He’s a physical player who makes lots of plays around the line of scrimmage.

Last season with the Red Raiders — who went 12-2 and reached the Orange Bowl — Wisniewski rang up 78 tackles (38 solo, six TFL), six passes defended, two forced fumbles and a sack. Taken at No. 244, the 24-year-old could be a long shot, but Blankenship was an undrafted free agent four years ago.

The Eagles used their final pick to select New Mexico edge rusher Keyshawn James-Newby.

James-Newby led the Lobos with 15 tackles for loss and nine sacks in 2025 and earned attention from scouts for his burst and relentless motor. At 6-1, 240, he’s undersized compared to many NFL edge rushers, but his production and energy could translate into a situational pass-rush role if he performs well in camp.

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.

Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/3xvnxbhd

PHILADELPHIA — Howie Roseman struck again.

The Eagles general manager traded for Pro Bowl edge rusher Jonathan Greenard from the Minnesota Vikings in a splashy move Friday night, Day 2 of the NFL draft.

Philadelphia sent its compensatory third-round pick (No. 98 overall) and a 2027 third-rounder to Minnesota for Greenard and a Saturday seventh-rounder (No. 244).

The Eagles also inked the 28-year-old Greenard — who was already in Philadelphia — to a four-year, $100 million extension that includes $50 million guaranteed.

The deal overshadowed the Birds’ second-round selection of Vanderbilt tight end Eli Stowers — an explosive and versatile player who can cause havoc for defenses. They later took offensive tackle Markel Bell from the University of Miami.

Greenard fills a need after the departure of Jaelen Phillips and immediately bolsters a defensive front that remains a foundation of the team’s roster construction.

“What you see is a relentless player with physical tools, Roseman said. “He can win in multiple ways. He is hard to block. I know when we play Minnesota, we are worried about where he is at all times.”

“We just felt like we had a really good D-line but we wanted to elevate it to another level.

Greenard has been one of the league’s more disruptive pass rushers when healthy. He recorded back-to-back double-digit sack seasons with the Houston Texans in 2023 and the Vikings in 2024 before an injury-shortened 2025 season. Over the past two full seasons he totaled 24.5 sacks, showing the kind of consistent pressure the Eagles covet along the edge.

For Roseman, the opportunity to add a proven veteran during the draft — rather than simply relying on rookie development — was too good to pass up.

“I think when you’re talking about improving your team, you’re always looking at all avenues,” Roseman said. “For us, this was a chance to add a really good football player who fits how we want to play.”

The trade continued Roseman’s long-standing philosophy of building through the trenches. The Eagles have invested heavily in their defensive front in recent years, rotating waves of pass rushers in an effort to keep pressure on opposing quarterbacks.

“This guy plays the game the way you want it played,” coach Sirianni said. “Relentless effort, toughness, the ability to affect the quarterback. When you add players like that to your defensive line, it raises the level of the entire defense.”

After undergoing a physical and finalizing his contract, Greenard attended the Sixers playoff game against the Celtics with Eagles security chief Dom DiSandro. Before the game, the Birds’ first-round pick, Makai Lemon, rang the bell in front of a raucous crowd.

While the Greenard deal received most of the spotlight, Roseman and the Eagles feel good about the additions of Stowers and Bell.

New tight end

Philadelphia selected Stowers with the 54th overall pick in the second round. The 6-foot-4, 239-pound Stowers, 23, is a former quarterback who converted to tight end and developed into one of the SEC’s most effective offensive weapons.

He was named All-SEC the past two seasons after emerging as a matchup problem for defenses. Last year he won the John Mackey Award for college football’s most outstanding tight end.

In 12 games last season at Vanderbilt (10-3), Stowers caught 62 passes for 769 yards and four touchdowns. He brings a hybrid blend — part tight end, part split-out receiver — and is a natural successor to Dallas Goedert, who’s on a one-year contract.

In the meantime, the Eagles can run a variety of two-tight end sets in Sean Mannion’s incarnation of the West Coast offense, which will challenge Jalen Hurts to operate under center and throw over the middle more often.

Stowers — who has 4.51 speed and an incredible 45.5-inch vertical — succeeds against both man-to-man and zone coverage.

“We just felt like he brings a really unique skill set to our offense,” Roseman said. “He’s a big target, he’s athletic, and he’s a competitive player. Those are things we value.”

A mammoth tackle

In the third round at No. 68 overall, the Eagles took Bell — listed at 6-foot-9, 346 pounds with a 7-foot-3 wingspan. He exclusively played left tackle for the Hurricanes, but Roseman and the Eagles see him as an ascending player with versatile potential.

In the short term, Bell provides immediate depth. He’ll learn behind Lane Johnson — who might retire after this season — and Jordan Mailata.

“Markel Bell was a passion player for us throughout the process,” Roseman said. “Obviously, unusual size, unusual length, hard to find. But really when you watch the tape, he is hard to get around in pass pro. He had zero quarterback sacks allowed this year playing for the University of Miami.”

In 558 pass-protection snaps in 2025, Bell didn’t allow a sack as the Hurricanes went all the way to the national title game against Indiana.

“Offensive line is always going to be a priority for us,” Sirianni said. “You can’t have enough good linemen, and we think Markel has a chance to grow into a really good player.”

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.

Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/bd3vrfwx

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles, in a surprising deal with the archrival Dallas Cowboys, traded up from No. 23 to select All-American wide receiver Makai Lemon out of Southern California at No. 20 in the first round of the NFL draft Thursday night.

By selecting Lemon with their first pick, the Eagles all but confirmed their expected plans to part ways with A.J. Brown, who has repeatedly expressed frustration with the offense.

The 5-foot-11, 192-pound Lemon won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s top college receiver last season, hauling in 79 passes for 1,156 yards — the most yards in the Power Four conferences. He caught 11 touchdowns for the Trojans (9-3) last year.

The move was another Philly win over Pittsburgh this week. After the Flyers went up 3-0 on the Penguins in the opening round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, the Eagles swooped in and scooped Lemon away from the Steelers, who were expecting to take him at No. 21.

He was on the phone with Pittsburgh when the Eagles drafted him after trading up with just a few minutes left on the clock at No. 20.

“I answered my phone and it was the Steelers, and then my phone kept ringing and it’s the Eagles,” Lemon said during a videoconference with reporters in Philadelphia. “They traded up and they were going to pick me. I feel like everything happened for a reason. It means a lot that they really wanted me. I’m all-in, and they’re gonna get all that I got.

“I was definitely shocked, but I couldn’t be more happy, so I’m super-blessed. It was the right time and the right team. Everything worked out just how it’s supposed to be.”

Despite his relative lack of size and the fact he mostly played in the slot at USC, Lemon has proven to be well-built and durable. He ran a 4.53 40 at the NFL combine, where the Eagles first met with him.

They later brought him in for a “Top 30” visit at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. (Teams are permitted to invite up to 30 players to their facility before the draft.) He played some basketball with coach Nick Sirianni.

“It was great vibes, genuine vibes,” Lemon said, smiling. “Everybody was loving. I definitely did shoot some hoops. I let the coach win, you know, I’ll say that. … I gotta get a rematch. I ain’t gonna let him win next time.”

The Birds’ biggest needs entering the draft were on defense, but Lemon was high on their draft board. General manager Howie Roseman saw an opportunity to grab him.

“We just felt that this was a player we wanted to go up and get,” Roseman said. “It just felt like it made a lot of sense based on our board. Obviously, when you have a player that you like who is ranked higher on your board than where you’re picking, you think every pick he’s going to be selected. That’s just the way the draft is. You think everybody is picking the way you are.

“Certainly for us, we didn’t want to sit on our hands. We wanted to go and get him, so that’s why I made the trade.”

The Eagles dealt their first-round pick and both of their fourth-round picks (No. 114 and No. 137) to Dallas. Entering Day 2 of the three-day draft — which is being held in Pittsburgh, though teams make their selections from their respective headquarters — the Eagles now have the 54th overall pick (second round), the 68th and 98th picks (third round), 178th (fifth round) and 197th (sixth round).

“There’s a lot to like about him,” Roseman said. “Competitive. He has the ability to separate in man coverage. In the slot. Can play outside. Physical player. Really good with the ball in his hands. Really good hands. Good in zone coverage. Has really good instincts.”

The sure-handed Lemon, 21, was targeted 130 times last season and had only two drops. He has a knack for finding open space and aggressively creating yards after the catch. He also has no aversion to mixing it up with defenders as a blocker.

“I love his toughness,” Sirianni said. “I think this guy’s a tough, tough football player with the way he carries the football, when he has the football in his hands, and how he blocks. Insanely competitive, so there’s a lot to like. Really excited that he’s added to our roster.”

Lemon’s production steadily grew in college. He didn’t see the field much as a freshman, but played in 12 games as a sophomore, starting six, in which he had 52 catches for 764 yards and three TDs before his breakout 2025 season as a junior.

He was ranked among the top three wide receivers by all analysts at ESPN, Fox, NFL.com, Sports Illustrated and Pro Football Focus, frequently slotting at No. 1.

“(Fans) are gonna get someone who wants to come in and compete at a high level,” said Lemon, a native of Orange County, Calif. “A dog, somebody that’s just gonna do anything the organization needs me to do — at a high level — playing for my teammates and leading by example.”

This was the second time in six years that the Eagles traded with Dallas in the first round of the draft. In 2021, they moved up from No. 12 to No. 10 to take wideout DeVonta Smith.

“Man, the organization, it’s a winning program,” Lemon said of the Eagles. “Great guys on the team that I can learn from, great vets, especially Smitty (DeVonta Smith) and (Jalen) Hurts, and a great defense. So I’m pumped to come in and add what I can do as a player. They’re gonna get everything that I’ve got.”

The Eagles enter Day 2 of the draft with a need for reinforcements on the offensive line, edge rusher, cornerback and safety.

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PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles are built to win now, which makes their draft philosophy all the more interesting.

Even with an experienced roster, they’re one of the younger teams in the league, particularly on defense. And defense is where most of their current needs are.

But general manager Howie Roseman still approaches the draft with a longer view — trusting his board, prioritizing premium positions and often drafting for what the team might need two or three years down the road.

That tension is what makes Roseman’s draft philosophy worth studying. Even with a roster capable of contending, the GM rarely talks about the draft like a one-weekend repair job. He talks about tiers, value and projection — about what a player might become, not just what hole he might fill in September.

“I think the biggest mistake we can make is assuming we know what the team’s going to look like a year from now, two years from now, and missing out on a player because we have a perceived need,” Roseman said.

That is the theory. The Eagles’ recent draft history offers the fuller picture.

Roseman does not ignore need so much as filter it through a broader lens. He has repeatedly invested in premium positions, especially along the lines and in the secondary, while also planning a step ahead. The Eagles drafted Cam Jurgens in 2022 while Jason Kelce was still in place. Two years ago, they doubled up in the defensive backfield with Quinyon Mitchell in the first round and Cooper DeJean in the second, giving the defense a younger, faster backbone.

In other words, the Eagles don’t draft like a team chasing one last run. They draft like a contender trying to keep its window open.

Roseman said projection is central to that.

“A lot of times in the draft we’ll talk about what could this player be in year three,” he said. “To come in and expect 21-, 22-, 23-year-old players to be the best version of themselves — it’s probably a little naive.”

Nick Sirianni sees the other side of that equation. Once the Eagles make the pick, the burden shifts to the coaches.

“Our job is to develop them, put them in the right positions to succeed, help them get better fundamentally, help them learn the game better,” Sirianni said.

He also made clear what the Eagles are hunting for before the card is turned in.

“A guy that loves football, a guy who is tough and a guy who has a high football IQ — God willing, he’s going to reach his ceiling,” Sirianni said.

That combined philosophy frames the Eagles’ approach entering Thursday night, when they hold the No. 23 overall pick in the NFL draft (and seven other picks in rounds two through six on Friday and Saturday).

Even with Roseman’s best-player-available mindset, four positions stand out as the most logical places to look.

Edge rusher

This remains classic Eagles territory. Roseman has long treated pass rush as a premium investment, and the roster always seems to have room for one more disruptive front-seven piece. That is especially true for a team that prefers to roll waves of defensive linemen rather than lean too heavily on one or two stars.

Among the top edge prospects in this class are Ohio State’s Arvell Reese, Texas Tech’s David Bailey, Miami’s Rueben Bain Jr. and Miami’s Akheem Mesidor.

Auburn’s Keldric Faulk and Clemson’s T.J. Parker are also highly regarded. Some of those names will be gone well before No. 23, but the position’s depth should keep edge in play for Philadelphia.

Right tackle

Lane Johnson, who turns 36 next month, is still playing at a high level when healthy, but the Eagles have shown before that they would rather draft a successor a year early than a year late.

Roseman all but said as much when discussing how the team has handled succession plans up front.

“It’s so hard to find elite players at any position that you certainly wouldn’t want to turn down the opportunity at an important position,” he said.

This year’s tackle class gives the Eagles options if they want to think ahead. Miami’s Francis Mauigoa, Utah’s Spencer Fano, Georgia’s Monroe Freeling and Alabama’s Kadyn Proctor headline the group.

Arizona State’s Max Iheanachor and Clemson’s Blake Miller are also among the better tackle prospects. If Roseman wants a player who could learn behind Johnson before eventually taking the job, this draft offers that sort of pathway.

Cornerback

The second outside corner spot remains an issue — dating back to last summer. The recent signings of Riq Woolen and Jonathan Jones don’t necessarily solve the problem. And corner remains one of the league’s hardest spots to fill (especially for a decent price).

This year’s class is strong at the top. LSU’s Mansoor Delane, Tennessee’s Jermod McCoy, San Diego State’s Chris Johnson and Tennessee’s Colton Hood are among the highest ranked corners.

Clemson’s Avieon Terrell and South Carolina’s Brandon Cisse are also part of a deep group, with Washington’s Tacario Davis and Ohio State’s Davison Igbinosun among the other notable names.

Safety

Safety is a clear need after letting Reed Blankenship walk. The team re-signed Marcus Epps as insurance and hopes Andrew Mukuba will return from injury and develop, but Roseman acknowledged the position is unsettled.

“When we go to camp, we’re definitely not full at the safety position,” he said. “We’ll add players there just like we’ll add players at other positions.”

That makes this one of the more direct matches between Roseman’s public comments and the roster. If the Eagles attack the spot early or in the middle rounds, there will be no mystery why.

Ohio State’s Caleb Downs is widely viewed as the best safety in the class and one of the premier defenders in the draft. Oregon’s Dillon Thieneman and Toledo’s Emmanuel McNeil-Warren also sit near the top of the group.

After that come players such as Pitt’s Kyle Louis, LSU’s A.J. Haulcy, Penn State’s Zakee Wheatley and USC’s Kamari Ramsey. It is a position with both top-end talent and useful depth.

A.J. Brown is likely gone

It isn’t news that A.J. Brown will probably be traded after June 1 (most likely to the New England Patriots). Waiting until June cuts the Eagles’ cap hit by $10 million. National insiders expect a future first-round pick to be included in return.

When Roseman was asked directly, again, about Brown’s future here, his response last week was telling:

“What do you think the odds are that I’m answering this question any differently than I’ve answered anywhere else?” he said. “Like, really? Do you think that’s 50 percent? Do you think that’s 75 percent? … A.J. Brown is an Eagle.”

Would Roseman answer the same way about Jalen Hurts or Saquon Barkley?

The Eagles may draft a receiver, but it would be surprising if they spend a high pick on one unless a prospect they highly value falls within reach. They’ve already added Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Dontayvion Wicks this offseason to position themselves for an A.J. Brown departure.

Plus they have DeVonta Smith and they re-signed receiving tight end Dallas Goedert to another year. Oregon tight end Kenyon Sadiq would make an immediate impact this season and replace Goedert in the future, but he may be scooped up before the Eagles get a chance to draft him.

The QB question

The Eagles don’t need a quarterback. Hurts is their starter, their leader and the face of the offense.

But because this is Roseman, the question never fully dies.

His history says not to dismiss the possibility out of hand. The clearest example, of course, came in 2020, when the Eagles drafted Hurts in the second round while Carson Wentz was the entrenched starter. Roseman has spent years arguing that strong depth charts should not keep a team from taking a player it truly believes in.

“If there’s a player available at a position that we’re strong at right now and we think he’s going to be an elite player in the NFL, we’re going to take that player,” Roseman said.

That does not make drafting a quarterback likely. It just makes it very Howie.

EAGLES 2026 PICKS (Entering Day 1):

Rd 1 No. 23

Rd 2 No. 54

Rd 3 No. 68 From New York Jets (Haason Reddick deal)

Rd 3 No. 98 Compensatory pick

Rd 4 No. 114 From Atlanta Falcons (Sydney Brown deal)

Rd 4 No. 137 Compensatory pick

Rd 5 No. 178 Compensatory pick

Rd 6 No. 197 From Falcons (Also Sydney Brown deal)

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Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2feay6hd

PHILADELPHIA — The question was inevitable.

With the NFL draft a week away and the Eagles trying to rebound from a frustrating season, general manager Howie Roseman and coach Nick Sirianni met with the media Tuesday, April 14. The conversation eventually turned to quarterback Jalen Hurts and the reports suggesting tension between the star quarterback and the organization.

Roseman did not hesitate.

“If we have any issue with any of our players, we talk to them directly,” he said. “From my perspective, from Nick’s perspective, from Jeffrey’s perspective (owner Jeffrey Lurie), we’re not hiding behind anything. We talk to our players directly.”

The GM went a step further, criticizing the reports about Hurts.

“I think that it’s unfair,” Roseman said. “It’s unfair to have these articles written, but I understand it’s also what sells at this point. Yeah, I think it’s unfortunate.”

The remarks came amid heightened scrutiny of Hurts following a disappointing 2025 campaign for the Eagles offense. A widely circulated report from ESPN earlier this month suggested there had been internal frustration with Hurts and his role in the offense, including questions about how willing he has been to adjust to coaching changes and schematic tweaks. It echoed midseason reports questioning his coachability.

Roseman’s message Tuesday was clear: If there are concerns, they are addressed privately.

“We will talk to our players directly,” he said. “That’s the relationship we have with our guys.”

Sirianni shared that sentiment, emphasizing Hurts’ importance to the franchise and his role as a leader in the locker room.

“We have a lot of confidence in Jalen,” Sirianni said. “He’s done a lot of special things for this team and for this city. We’re excited about continuing to build with him.”

Hurts, 27, remains one of the central figures in franchise history. The former Alabama and Oklahoma quarterback has led the Eagles to multiple deep playoff runs, including a pair of Super Bowls, and delivered a Super Bowl championship in 2024 during one of the most successful stretches in team history.

But the 2025 season proved turbulent, in some ways reminiscent of a late-season collapse two years earlier. Philadelphia’s offense never fully found its rhythm and the Eagles were eliminated in the playoffs in the first round.

After the season ended, the team dismissed offensive coordinator Kevin Patullo and hired Sean Mannion. Vaunted O-line coach Jeff Stoutland chose to leave. Most of the offensive staff is new.

Roseman insisted Tuesday that the organization’s approach with Hurts — and any player — has not changed.

“There’s a lot that goes on in a season,” Roseman said. “But when there’s something that needs to be addressed, we address it face-to-face.”

For the Eagles, the focus now shifts to the next step in building around their quarterback: the draft.

Draft focus and roster building

Most of the news conference centered on the upcoming NFL draft — April 23-25 in Pittsburgh — and the Eagles’ ongoing effort to reshape their roster after a disappointing finish. Roseman described the organization’s approach as one centered on flexibility.

“You’re always trying to add competition,” he said. “You’re always trying to add talent. That’s the goal every offseason.”

The Birds have been aggressive in recent years, often using trades and creative roster moves to stay competitive while managing the salary cap. Roseman said that philosophy has not changed.

“We’re always going to listen,” he said. “Our job is to do everything we can to make this team better.”

Sirianni said the coaching staff has spent the spring evaluating players who could help improve depth across the roster.

“We’re excited about this class,” Sirianni said. “There are a lot of good players in it.”

The Eagles enter the draft with several needs, particularly on offense after last season’s struggles. Improving the passing game and adding weapons around Hurts remain priorities.

“We’re always looking to add playmakers,” Roseman said, adding that he remains open to making moves during the draft.

A.J. Brown speculation lingers

Star receiver A.J. Brown remains one of the most talented players on the roster, but his name has continued to surface in offseason rumors after a year that included public frustration about the offense.

Brown finished the 2025 season with 1,003 receiving yards — his fourth straight 1,000-yard campaign — but the number represented one of the lower totals of his career.

Roseman did not address specific trade scenarios Tuesday, but his broader message was consistent with past comments: Elite players are hard to replace.

“It’s hard to find great players in this league,” Roseman said in prior remarks about Brown. “A.J.’s a great player.”

For now, the Eagles are publicly touting Brown as a key piece of the offense and a central figure in their effort to bounce back in 2026. If they do trade him, it likely wouldn’t be until after June 1, when the cap hit would be easier to absorb.

In the meantime, they’ve been adding wide receiver depth this offseason — perhaps positioning themselves for dealing Brown. They’ve brought in Hollywood Brown, Elijah Moore and Dontayvion Wicks.

Offseason outlook

Despite last season’s uneven finish, both Roseman and Sirianni expressed confidence that the team can quickly return to contention.

“We’ve got a lot of good players,” Roseman said. “Our job is to keep building and keep improving.”

For now, though, the story of the Eagles’ offseason continues to revolve around the quarterback. If Roseman’s message Tuesday was any indication, the organization believes Hurts remains firmly at the center of its future.

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The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/yc38a457

Members of the Eagles have yet to respond to a bombshell report from ESPN’s Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler detailing last season’s dysfunction — specifically the team’s frustration with quarterback Jalen Hurts — that dropped Wednesday as the annual league meetings were breaking up in Phoenix.

The exposé mirrored midseason reports by The Athletic and NFL broadcaster Derrick Gunn questioning Hurts’ coachability and willingness to follow the offense as designed, a pattern that bothered several teammates and was the source of receiver A.J. Brown’s exasperation.

General manager Howie Roseman, coach Nick Sirianni and owner Jeffrey Lurie had already spoken with the media in Arizona before ESPN released its article, but Lurie praised Hurts on Tuesday.

“There’s no bigger fan of Jalen than me,” Lurie said. “Clutch gene, absolutely. ... Exceptional and so dedicated. I mean, I think you probably know I spend a lot of time with Jalen, as I do with most quarterbacks. Incredibly dedicated to the game, to winning and being a huge winner. I love everything about him.”

Hurts was the Super Bowl MVP in 2024 and outplayed Kansas City’s Patrick Mahomes two years earlier in a Super Bowl loss. His accomplishments are undeniable. But the team wants to see him evolve as a player. That includes operating from under center, where play action has been more effective, and incorporating more sophisticated concepts such as motion, shifts and pinpoint timing routes that reflect today’s incarnation of the West Coast offense.

The Eagles ran play-action passes just 15% of the time last year, which ranked 22nd in the league, despite having a threat like Saquon Barkley in the backfield. Hurts also reportedly changed many plays to simpler, predictable concepts — such as on a failed fourth down late in the wild-card loss to San Francisco — and often held the ball too long and avoided throws over the middle.

The ESPN report comes as the Eagles weigh a contract extension for the quarterback and a possible trade of Brown this offseason.

Part of the problem is that Hurts has had a different offensive coordinator every year. Even when he does develop rapport with a play-caller, that coach has been gone the following season, making continuity impossible. So Hurts himself has become frustrated, distrustful and resistant to new ideas.

But the Eagles don’t seem to see the contradiction in having a revolving door of OCs.

“As much as you’d like to have continuity and would like to have guys here for a long period of time, we want to win. We have an urgency to win right now. If that comes with the ramifications that we lose good people because they’ve earned head coaching jobs, we’ll live with that,” Roseman said at the end-of-season news conference in January.

Sirianni said Monday he has maintained offseason communication with Hurts but emphasized balance.

“You want guys to get away from football a little bit,” he said. “Recharge.”

The latest play-caller is Sean Mannion, a former quarterback who was Jordan Love’s QB coach in Green Bay. Hurts has reportedly expressed early buy-in behind the scenes.

Latest on a new stadium

Lurie confirmed the organization has begun exploring options for the franchise’s next stadium — a process that could eventually lead to a major overhaul of Lincoln Financial Field or an entirely new structure.

Nothing is imminent. But the conversation has started.

“We’re in the exploratory stage,” Lurie said. “We want to be very thoughtful about it.”

Lincoln Financial Field opened in 2003 and remains under lease through 2032. Lurie praised the stadium and the South Philadelphia Sports Complex but acknowledged that the team must begin evaluating future options, as many NFL franchises are doing.

“It’s a wonderful stadium,” Lurie said. “But we have to think about the long-term future and what makes the most sense for the fans and for the city.”

The Eagles have been studying newer venues across the league and abroad, including modern multipurpose stadiums that can host events beyond football.

A domed facility is among the concepts under discussion. Such a move could help Philadelphia pursue mega-events like the Super Bowl and NCAA Final Four.

Lurie said he hasn’t ruled out leaving South Philly.

“We’re looking at everything,” he said. “What’s the best experience for fans? What’s the best long-term home for the Eagles?”

The team has also surveyed season-ticket holders about stadium preferences as part of its research process.

“This is something you do carefully,” he said. “We’re at the very beginning.”

Depth move at linebacker

The Eagles added another piece to their offseason roster this week by signing linebacker Chandler Martin to a two-year deal.

Martin, 23, spent last season with the Baltimore Ravens after going undrafted out of Memphis. He appeared in three games, playing 34 special-teams snaps and recording five tackles.

His rookie season ended early when he tore his ACL in Week 13.

The Eagles view Martin as a developmental linebacker who could compete for depth and special-teams work once healthy. The two-year deal suggests the club is willing to give him time to recover and prove himself.

Philadelphia’s linebacker room is led by Zack Baun and Jihaad Campbell, with young reserves such as Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Smael Mondon and Chance Campbell also in the mix.

Notes

● Lurie reiterated that he remains deeply involved in the franchise despite giving his son Julian an expanded role in recent years.

“Maybe I still have a lot of gray hair,” Lurie said. “But I’m probably more involved than ever.”

● The owner said the team would be open to appearing in another international game — but only as the visiting team.

“We are not going to give up a home game,” Lurie said. “We just did that in Brazil.”

Philadelphia opened the 2024 season in São Paulo, sacrificing a home date as part of the NFL’s international expansion.

● Sirianni confirmed the Eagles are planning joint training-camp practices this summer with the New England Patriots. They will take place in Foxborough, Mass. Last August, the Eagles hosted practices with the Cleveland Browns ahead of their preseason matchup at the Linc.

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/y3pxffne

The Eagles are nibbling around the edges.

After he was unable to re-sign edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, who accepted a four-year, $120 million offer from the Carolina Panthers, general manager Howie Roseman has taken a couple half-measures to address the hole in the roster, hoping one of the moves pops.

The first was two weeks ago with Arnold Ebiketie, a former Temple and Penn State standout whom the Atlanta Falcons allowed to walk. The latest is Joe Tryon-Shoynka, 26, a former first-round pick by Tampa Bay. The Birds signed him to a one-year contract Sunday.

“At some point, you got to have parameters of what you would do, what you wouldn’t do,” Roseman said Sunday in Phoenix at the annual league meetings, referencing Phillips’ lucrative deal.

The team still has multiple avenues to address the position, but the moves so far have been modest: one-year, developmental players and the possibility of help arriving through the draft.

“We’re always looking at ways to add to the pass rush,” Roseman said. “That’s a premium position in this league. Sometimes those answers come in free agency, sometimes they come in the draft, sometimes they come through development.”

The 6-foot-5 Tryon-Shoyinka spent last year in Cleveland and Chicago. In five NFL seasons, he has 160 combined tackles and 15 sacks in 82 games (45 starts).

Roseman called the signing a typical offseason flier — a chance to see whether a talented but inconsistent player can rediscover his form.

“You’re always looking for upside,” Roseman said. “You’re always looking for guys that have traits and have shown flashes. Sometimes it clicks when they get into a different environment.”

The current edge group includes former first-round pick Nolan Smith and second-year rusher Jalyx Hunt. Whether Brandon Graham comes back again in a limited role remains to be seen. The front office still expects internal development to be part of the solution.

“We’ve got some young guys that we’re excited about,” coach Nick Sirianni said Monday. “Those guys continue to grow. And that’s the challenge every year — you want to add talent, but you also want to see the guys you drafted take the next step.”

Still, the Eagles know elite edge rushers rarely come cheap. The price tags this offseason have reflected that reality, with top players signing contracts well north of $20 million per year.

Roseman said the team considered several options but ultimately chose patience.

“You have to be disciplined,” he said. “Sometimes you’re aggressive, sometimes you’re patient. But the goal is always the same — build the best roster you can.”

The draft could ultimately provide the most realistic path.

Philadelphia owns multiple early picks and historically has not hesitated to invest heavily in the defensive line. The organization built its Super Bowl championship teams around relentless pass rushes, a philosophy that remains intact.

“Pass rush affects everything,” Sirianni said. “It affects the quarterback, it affects coverage, it affects the entire defense. When you can rush the passer, you make everybody better.”

That belief has shaped the Eagles’ roster construction for years — and likely will again.

“We’ll keep looking,” Roseman said. “We’re not done.”

‘Edgy’ Riq Woolen

Speaking of having an edge, newly acquired cornerback Tariq Woolen plays with one. Despite his talent, he led the Seattle Seahawks in penalties last season and nearly cost them a trip to the Super Bowl with a taunting flag in the NFC Championship Game.

But Sirianni likes him.

“I love his length, his speed, the competitiveness that he plays with,” Sirianni said. “He’s an edgy player. And we want edgy players. We want guys that play with that type of mentality.”

Sirianni emphasized that “edgy” doesn’t mean reckless — it means confident, aggressive and physical.

“There’s a difference between being careless and being edgy,” he said. “Edgy is playing aggressive, playing confident, playing with that swagger that good defenses have.”

The Eagles believe Woolen’s size and ball skills fit that approach. The former Pro Bowl corner recorded six interceptions as a rookie in Seattle and has built a reputation as one of the league’s most athletic defensive backs.

“When you watch him, you see a guy that attacks the football,” Sirianni said. “That’s what we want.”

Safety shuffle after Blankenship departure

The Eagles also continue to reshape their secondary after losing safety Reed Blankenship in free agency earlier this month.

Blankenship signed a three-year deal with the Houston Texans, leaving a hole next to last year’s high draft pick Andrew Mukuba.

Philadelphia’s immediate response was to bring back a familiar face. The team re-signed Marcus Epps to a one-year deal that gives the defense a veteran presence and a player who already understands the system.

Epps has started extensively in Philadelphia before and provides what the front office views as a dependable baseline while younger players develop.

Mukuba, meanwhile, is expected to take on a larger role after flashes during his rookie season before injuries sidelined him.

The Eagles also added veteran safety and special-teams standout J.T. Gray on a one-year deal.

Gray is primarily known for his special-teams work — he was an All-Pro earlier in his career — but he adds depth to a position that remains unsettled.

The group could still see additional competition through the draft, a route Roseman has frequently used to fill safety spots in recent years.

News and notes

● Roseman again deflected trade speculation involving star receiver A.J. Brown, offering a simple refrain reminiscent of Marshawn Lynch’s “I’m just here so I won’t get fined.”

“A.J. Brown is a member of the Eagles,” Roseman repeated. Sirianni basically echoed that line verbatim a day later.

● Sirianni seemed to pour cold water on any notion that former offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland would still be around the team this year, which right tackle Lane Johnson had floated on a recent podcast.

“Obviously, we moved on with our staff,” Sirianni said. “Really enjoying working with these guys. Obviously, love the guys that are no longer part of our staff. Always will have a relationship with those guys with everything they’ve done for our football team. But right now, we’re just focused on the upcoming year with this staff.”

Stoutland himself spoke about the idea on Nick Foles’ podcast in response to Johnson’s comments, saying he hadn’t heard anything from the Eagles and is enjoying his life right now.

● The Eagles raised some eyebrows when they reworked kicker Jake Elliott’s contract this offseason, ensuring he returns for the 2026 season after a rocky campaign last year (and some issues in 2024).

Roseman said the organization still has confidence in Elliott.

“I have a lot of faith in Jake,” Roseman said. “He’s been a big part of this team for a long time.”

Elliott signed a four-year contract extension in 2024 that runs through the 2028 season.

● The league meetings continue through Wednesday in Phoenix, with owners and executives discussing potential rule changes and other league business. Unlike last year, the tush push is not a topic of discussion.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2ubd6btw

PHILADELPHIA — Wide receiver Hollywood Brown smiled at the podium. Fresh start. Fast offense. A quarterback who can stretch the field.

“I’m excited,” Brown said Thursday as the Eagles introduced him after the sides reached a one-year deal worth up to $6.5 million. “I feel like this is the perfect place for me.”

The Eagles think so too.

“I just want to win,” Brown said at the Jefferson Health Training Complex. “However that looks, I’m with it.”

He spoke calmly, but with an edge. Opportunity has followed him. Consistency hasn’t always.

That’s part of the bet here.

Brown, 28, has flashed big-play ability throughout his career. He’s been a deep threat, a field-tilter. He posted a 1,008-yard season in 2021 and has averaged more than 13 yards per catch as a pro. But injuries and unstable situations have kept him from settling in one place long enough to fully deliver.

Now he steps into a system built for timing and explosion, with quarterback Jalen Hurts pushing the ball downfield.

“I’ve watched how they play,” Brown said. “Explosive. Physical. That’s me.”

The Eagles don’t need him to be the guy. That may be the point. With defenses focused on the top targets, Brown could see favorable matchups — one-on-one with space to run.

“If I get my chances,” he said, “I’m going to make the most of them.”

Brown also talked about fit. About culture. About a locker room that expects to contend.

“You can feel it,” he said. “The standard is high.”

That matters. The Eagles are not rebuilding. They are layering. Brown is one layer.

Braden Mann doesn’t deal in flash. His job is distance, hang time and placement. Quiet work that swings field position.

Still, he understands the stakes.

“Every rep matters,” Mann, the Eagles’ recently re-signed punter, said during his Thursday news conference. “You can change a game with one punt.”

He did that often last season.

Mann finished 2025 with 72 punts and a 49.9-yard average, one of the better marks in the league. He also dropped 20 inside the 20-yard line, a number that reflects control more than power.

That’s what the Eagles want. Not just distance, but precision.

“Coach talks about hidden yards,” Mann said. “That’s what we’re chasing.”

The punter spoke about consistency, about routine. Specialists live there. Same steps, same swing. same results.

“You’ve got to be the same guy every day,” he said.

Mann, 28, has carved out a role by doing just that. Drafted by the Jets in 2020, he spent three years with New York and had a cup of coffee with the Pittsburgh Steelers before landing in Philadelphia. Now, with a four-year, $14 million extension, he returns with long-term expectations.

Special teams can tilt games in January. The Eagles know that. So does Mann.

“It’s about flipping the field, giving the defense an edge,” he said.

No noise. Just work.

Dameon Pierce entered with a different tone. Running backs always do. There’s urgency in the way they speak. Carries are limited. Time is shorter.

“I’m ready to go,” Pierce said. “Whatever they need.”

The Eagles signed Pierce to a one-year deal, adding depth to a crowded backfield. He joins a backfield that already includes Saquon Barkley, Tank Bigsby, Will Shipley and Carson Steele. There will be competition.

Pierce has lived that life.

A fourth-round pick out of Florida in 2022, he broke out as a rookie with 939 rushing yards and four touchdowns on 220 carries. At 5-foot-10, 215 pounds, he ran hard, broke tackles, earned touches.

The years since have been uneven.

He ran for 416 yards in 2023 and 293 in 2024. Most recently was on Chiefs’ practice squad after being waived by Houston in November

Now he gets another shot.

“Every day’s an opportunity,” Pierce said. “You don’t take that for granted.”

He talked about physicality. About finishing runs. About earning trust.

“Run hard. Protect the ball. Do your job,” he said.

Simple words. Hard business.

The Eagles don’t need Pierce to carry the offense. They need reliability. Depth. A runner who can step in and keep the system moving.

Pierce believes he can be that.

“I’ve shown what I can do,” he said. “Now it’s about doing it here.”

NOTES: The Eagles signed tight end Stone Scott to a one-year contract. In four seasons between the Chargers and Jets, he has 38 receptions for 432 yards and a touchdown. … The Minnesota Vikings re-signed former Eagles quarterback Carson Wentz, adding depth to a group that includes J.J. McCarthy, Kyler Murray and Max Brosmer. … Former Eagles running back Boston Scott announced his retirement. In six seasons here from 2018-2023, he rushed for 1,295 yards and 16 TDS on 302 carries. He also spent time on the practice squads of the Saints, Rams and Steelers.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2sud2286

PHILADELPHIA — Veteran cornerback Jonathan Jones, unlike lots of folks these days, didn’t have to worry about extra-long TSA lines for his Wednesday flight to Philly during the partial government shutdown.

That’s because he piloted the plane himself.

“I found a passion for aviation a few years back and I flew up here today,” Jones said, just hours after arriving from Charlotte in his single-engine propeller plane for his introductory press conference with the Eagles. “It’s a little hobby of mine that I enjoy doing.

“I flew into Philly (International) Airport this morning. It was kind of nice to have the little approach over the Delaware River. It was kind of a nice touch for this morning.”

The 32-year-old Jones — an under-the-radar signing, so to speak — agreed to a one-year deal last week (financial terms not yet disclosed). The move came on the heels of the Birds inking Tariq Woolen to a one-year contract worth up to $15 million, as they continue to add secondary depth and address the outside cornerback spot opposite Quinyon Mitchell.

Jones’ NFL journey is an improbable one. At 5-foot-9, 185 pounds, he was an undrafted free agent out of Auburn in 2016. But the New England Patriots picked him up and he spent his first nine seasons there, winning two Super Bowls.

He played in 12 games for the Washington Commanders last year, finishing with 41 tackles and five passes defended.

Jones has found a way to stay on the field for most of the last decade. Aside from a shoulder injury that landed him on IR in 2021, he has generally been a durable, consistent contributor. He did miss the tail end of the 2017 postseason, including Super Bowl LII against Nick Foles and the Eagles, with an injured ankle.

“I try to stay grounded, stay as low to the ground as I can,” the high-flying Jones, a native of Northwest Georgia, ironically said. “I’m always trying to compete, and I still have that childhood joy of playing football. I try to be a cerebral player and dissect offenses, understand how they’re trying to attack us, and go out there and compete.

“I think I have a good philosophy of how defenses are good at stopping offenses, and (how to) eliminate explosive plays. As a cornerback for a long time, I know you’re not going to stop every play, but I want to stop the explosives.”

Throughout his pro career, Jones has alternated between a full-time starter and a depth player. He has played both inside and outside. His most productive year was 2022, when he had four interceptions, including a pick-six, 11 passes defended and 69 tackles in 16 starts on the perimeter.

“I love playing football,” he said. “I can’t remember life before football, every fall since I was 4. … I love aggression. I love flying around on the field and making plays, supporting my teammates.”

Asked what attracted him to the Eagles, Jones had a simple answer: “Winning,” he said. “You watch week in and week out, they find ways to win. That’s so hard to do in this league.

“I kind of admired what this team’s been building over the last few years, some of the dominance they’ve been showing, year in and year out. … A lot of teams will be in the playoffs one year and then you may not hear from them for three or four years.”

Jones also expressed admiration for Mitchell and Cooper DeJean,

“They’re some really, really good young players who have already established themselves in the league, made a lot of plays,” he said. “I think I can be of help to those guys, help them build in their careers, because they have promising futures.”

Jones worked with Eagles secondary coach Mike Pellegrino when both men were in New England. The corner called Pellegrino “one of the hardest working men in football.”

Eagles acquire QB Andy Dalton

Another import from North Carolina Wednesday was journeyman quarterback Andy Dalton, whom the Eagles got from the Panthers in exchange for a 2027 seventh-round pick.

Dalton is entering the second year of a two-year deal and is reportedly guaranteed $4 million. He will compete for a third-string spot, or perhaps second string, though the Eagles still think highly of backup QB Tanner McKee.

Dalton, 38, was a second-round pick out of TCU by the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. He quickly emerged as a starter in Cincinnati, compiling a 70-61-2 record over nine seasons and leading the Bengals to four consecutive playoff berths while earning three Pro Bowl honors. Since then, he has played for the Cowboys, Saints, Bears and Carolina.

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From The Reporter: https://tinyurl.com/mvawtmrb

PHILADELPHIA — Arnold Ebiketie remembers when he became an Eagles fan.

The edge rusher, a native of Cameroon, was a freshman at Temple University in 2017 and witnessed the city’s first Super Bowl championship celebration.

“We all know how the city gets after a Super Bowl here in Philly,” Ebiketie said at his introductory news conference Monday. “I remember being a young kid at Temple and walking from Cecil B. Moore all the way down Broad Street.

“The whole city rallies around the team. You see the passion everywhere. It’s hard not to get caught up in it. … Coming back to the same city at this stage of my career is something I’m grateful for.”

The 6-foot-2, 250-pound Ebiketie, who played three seasons with the Owls before transferring to Penn State, signed a one-year, $7.3 million contract with the Eagles on Friday. It had been a whirlwind week for him and his family, who welcomed a new baby girl named Capri just as free agency was set to open.

“I was hoping she would have waited until after free agency … but she had her own plan, and she came out,” he joked.

Ebiketie, also known as “AK” (his middle name is Kevin), was drafted in the second round by the Atlanta Falcons in 2022. He adds rotational reinforcement on the edge after the Birds were unable to re-sign Jaelan Phillips, who left for Carolina.

In four seasons in Atlanta, Ebiketie started 12 games (appearing in 67) and had 16.5 sacks, 41 QB hits and 129 combined tackles. He’s hoping for a breakout 2026.

“I pride myself on effort and consistency,” he said. “I try to bring energy every snap. Getting after the quarterback is something I take seriously.

“Right now, it’s just about learning the playbook and getting comfortable with everything. I want to earn the trust of the coaches and my teammates. … I’m ready to get to work.”

Ebiketie, 27, who went to high school in Montgomery County, Maryland, spoke with defensive tackle Jordan Davis for 30 minutes before opting to sign here. He joins another high-profile Cameroonian athlete in Philadelphia, the 76ers’ Joel Embiid.

“I haven’t had a chance to meet him yet, but obviously we all know the type of player he is,” Ebiketie said. “And given the fact he’s from Cameroon as well, I feel like it’s big for the country — having different guys be able to represent Cameroon on a basketball stage and a football stage.”

Darius Slay hangs ‘em up

Former Eagles cornerback Darius Slay announced his retirement Monday after 13 NFL seasons that included six Pro Bowl selections. He was also awarded All-Pro honors in 2017, when he led the league with eight interceptions.

“Big Play Slay” helped the Birds reach two Super Bowls, including a championship in Super Bowl LIX. He was a locker-room leader who helped mentor Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean as rookie corners in 2024.

Slay also played for the Detroit Lions — who drafted him in the second round out of Mississippi State — and Pittsburgh Steelers. The Buffalo Bills traded for him in December, but he never reported to the team, saying he was considering retirement.

“This game put me in a position to take care of my family and loved ones and I'm forever grateful. It's hard to say goodbye, but God has a new chapter for me and I'm ready to turn the page and start my new journey,” he posted on Instagram.

Eagles go to Hollywood

The Eagles signed speedy wide receiver Hollywood Brown to a one-year contract reportedly worth up to $6.5 million Tuesday.

It obviously raises more questions about A.J. Brown’s future with the team, though Hollywood could slot in at No. 3.

The flashy Marquise Brown, 28, who hails from Hollywood, Fla., was drafted 25th overall out of Oklahoma by the Baltimore Ravens in 2019. He went on to play for Arizona and Kansas City.

The 5-foot-9, 180-pound Brown missed most of last season with a sternoclavicular injury. In 73 games over seven years, he has 371 catches for 4,322 yards and 33 touchdowns.

In 2021 with the Ravens, he caught 91 balls for 1,008 yards and six TDs.

He’s a cousin of former All-Pro and Pro Bowl wideout Antonio Brown.

The deal occurred on the same day Denver acquired wide receiver Jalen Waddle from the Miami Dolphins in exchange for a first-, third- and fourth-round pick. The Broncos also received a Dolphins fourth-rounder in the swap.

The Eagles let Jahan Dotson, the third receiver behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, walk when free agency began last week after declining to pick up his fifth-year option last offseason.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/4t546wjb

Tight end Dallas Goedert, who had a career year in both health and statistics, is returning to the Eagles on a one-year deal, MediaNews Group has confirmed Sunday.

Terms of the contract have not yet been released as of publication.

Goedert and the Eagles, who drafted him in the second round out of South Dakota State in 2018, had twice pushed back the void date of his contract — first to this past Friday and then to Monday — in an effort to hammer out an extension.

The delay in the void date benefited both sides. For the Eagles, it helped them avert the dead-cap costs of letting his contract expire and kept him off the open market. For Goedert, the temporary concession provided leverage and kept negotiations alive with the team while the free-agency market for tight ends stagnated.

Pushing back the void date signaled that both sides were interested in an extension.

Goedert, who has an injury history, scored 11 touchdowns last year — a franchise record for tight ends — and had 60 receptions for 591 yards in 15 games.

Notes

● The Eagles recently rejected aggressive trade offers from the Los Angeles Rams and New England Patriots for wide receiver A.J. Brown, according to multiple reports.

As previously reported by MediaNews Group, the Eagles won’t trade Brown unless they’re blown away by an offer. This means at least a first- and second-round pick, according to Dianna Russini of The Athletic.

The issue could be revisited around April’s draft or when dead cap costs for trades are mitigated June 1.

If the Eagles trade Brown before June 1, they would be saddled with approximately $43.5 million in dead cap money — about $20 million more than keeping him — based on estimates from Spotrac, a leading tracker of pro sports contracts.

After June 1, the Eagles’ dead cap hit would drop to $16.35 million spread over two years and create roughly $7 million in immediate salary-cap space for 2026.

A pre–June 1 trade partner could absorb some of the cap cost for the Eagles, but no team has been willing to do so while also meeting general manager Howie Roseman’s first- and second-round asking price for Brown.

● The Eagles and edge rusher Josh Sweat reportedly have mutual interest in reuniting. Sweat, a major part of the Eagles’ Super Bowl LIX run, signed with Arizona last offseason, but has requested a trade.

● Jalen Hurts appeared at Enon Baptist Tabernacle Church on Cheltenham Avenue last week to promote his new children’s book, “Better Than a Touchdown.”

Zach Berman of The Athletic asked Hurts about the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator, Sean Mannion, a former quarterback who was QBs coach with the Green Bay Packers.

“He’s amazing,” Hurts told Berman. “I’m excited for what’s to come. Obviously, (interactions) have been limited, given the timing of everything.”

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/57azfm34

PHILADELPHIA — Tariq Woolen understands the opportunity in front of him.

The Eagles’ newest cornerback said he’s ready to compete for a role in a secondary that has been searching for stability opposite Quinyon Mitchell since last summer.

“I’m just excited to be here,” Woolen said during his introductory press conference at the team facility Thursday. “I’m ready to work and compete and show what I can do.”

The Eagles agreed to terms with the 26-year-old corner earlier this week on a one-year, $12 million deal that adds a former Pro Bowl player with rare size and speed to a position group that has been in flux.

At 6-foot-4 with elite long speed, Woolen brings a physical profile that few cornerbacks possess. He ran a 4.26-second 40-yard dash during the 2022 pre-draft process and immediately turned heads as a rookie with the Seattle Seahawks, recording six interceptions and earning Pro Bowl honors.

Now he arrives in Philadelphia looking for a fresh start.

“I feel like I’ve got a lot to prove,” said Woolen, whose payout can increase to $15 million with incentives. “I’m ready to come in, learn the defense and help this team win.”

Addressing the CB2 question

Cornerback depth has been a lingering question for the Eagles since training camp last year. The outside spot opposite Mitchell never fully stabilized. Injuries and inconsistent play forced the Eagles to rotate multiple players through the CB2 role during the season.

The team’s defensive structure under coordinator Vic Fangio places a premium on corners who can play press coverage, use length on the perimeter and handle matchups without constant safety help.

Woolen fits that profile.

Originally selected by the Seahawks in the fifth round of the 2022 NFL Draft, he transitioned to cornerback only late in his college career after beginning as a wide receiver at University of Texas at San Antonio. His combination of length, speed and ball skills allowed him to develop quickly.

Over four seasons in Seattle, Woolen recorded 203 combined tackles, 12 interceptions and 53 passes defended.

A prove-it opportunity

Philadelphia’s one-year deal gives the Eagles flexibility while giving Woolen a chance to reset his trajectory.

Woolen said the Birds’ defensive identity — and their expectation to compete for championships — was a major reason he wanted to come here after Seattle declined to re-sign him.

“It’s a winning culture,” he said. “You see how they play defense here. That’s something I wanted to be a part of.”

For the Eagles, the move represents a low-risk addition with potentially significant upside.

If Woolen returns to the form he showed early in his career, he could quickly emerge as the favorite for the starting job opposite Mitchell. At minimum, his presence adds another long, athletic corner to a position group that needed depth.

The Eagles have built much of their defensive philosophy around generating pressure up front and allowing their corners to challenge receivers on the outside. Woolen’s physical traits — particularly his height and speed — make him an intriguing fit.

“I’m ready to compete,” Woolen said. “That’s what it’s about.”

Landon Dickerson’s shortened deal

The Eagles and three-time Pro Bowl left guard Landon Dickerson have agreed to a restructured two-year contract at $36 million, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported.

Dickerson was previously due $39 million in 2026-27 but can hit that with 2027 incentives.

He’s due $15.7 million this year and is no longer under contract in 2028.

Jihaad Campbell update

Linebacker Jihaad Campbell, set to replace Nakobe Dean full-time alongside Zack Baun, is suffering from a serious shoulder injury and will miss most of the offseason, Fangio told NBC Sports Philadelphia’s John Clark at a reception honoring former coach Dick Vermeil.

Campbell, whom the Eagles drafted in the first round last year, has been dealing with shoulder issues since college at Alabama. He underwent surgery on a torn labrum before the 2024 draft, which may have caused him to fall to the Eagles at No. 31.

Campbell, a South Jersey native, played in 18 games last season, starting 10 before Dean returned from a knee injury. He had 80 combined tackles, three pass deflections, a QB hit, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Dean agreed to a three-year, $36 million contract with the Las Vegas Raiders this week.

Extension for Braden Mann

The Eagles re-signed punter Braden Mann to a four-year, $14 million deal with $7 million guaranteed, according to ESPN’s Adam Schefter.

His gross punting average (49.9 yards) ranked sixth in the NFL. Mann, 28, had a net average of 43.9 yards. His 20 punts inside the 20-yard line were middle of the pack. He tied for the ninth-longest punt in the league with a 70-yarder.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/37jatxh3

PHILADELPHIA — The Eagles opened the new NFL league year Wednesday by doubling down on defense.

Defensive tackle Jordan Davis addressed reporters after signing a major extension, and the team agreed to terms with former Pro Bowl cornerback Riq Woolen as free agency officially opened at 4 p.m.

Davis, who has become one of the anchors of the defensive front, spoke at the Jefferson Health Training Complex about the extension and the expectations that come with it.

“I just want to be the best player I could be for the team,” Davis said. “I’m definitely proud of the work that I’ve been putting in. And that’s not stopping.”

Davis has grown into one of the Eagles’ most important defensive players since being selected 13th overall out of Georgia in the 2022 draft. At 6-foot-6 and roughly 330 pounds, he has developed into a dominant interior presence and a centerpiece of a defensive line that helped power the Birds’ recent championship run.

His new contract reflects that importance. The Eagles rewarded Davis with a three-year extension worth $78 million, with $65 million guaranteed, making him the highest paid nose tackle in NFL history.

During Wednesday’s presser, Davis emphasized that the deal represents motivation rather than a finish line.

“This is not the best that I can be,” he said. “I’m always scratching and clawing for that.”

Davis’ growth over the past several seasons has been significant. Early in his career, he was viewed primarily as an elite run-stopper, but his pass-rushing ability has steadily improved. In 2025, he posted career highs in tackles and sacks while continuing to command attention from opposing offensive lines.

He is coming off the most productive season of his career. In 2025, he started all 17 games and recorded 72 tackles, 4.5 sacks, nine tackles for loss and six passes defended — all career-highs.

Davis also delivered one of the more unusual highlights of the Eagles’ season, returning a blocked field goal for a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams.

The former first-round pick reshaped his body heading into the season, reporting to training camp 26 pounds lighter in an effort to improve his stamina and become a more complete player.

The Eagles have increasingly leaned on their defensive front as the foundation of their identity, and locking up Davis ensures that core remains intact. Extending defensive tackle Jalen Carter remains a top priority.

“The ceiling is the only thing you place upon yourself,” Davis said. “And I’m still chasing it.”

While Davis represents continuity, the organization also made an early move by agreeing to terms with Woolen, a former Pro Bowl cornerback who spent the first four seasons of his pro career with the Seattle Seahawks, who just won the Super Bowl.

Woolen, 26, joins on a one-year contract worth up to $15 million, bringing rare size and speed to a secondary that already features emerging young playmakers.

Originally a fifth-round pick in 2022 out of UTSA, Woolen quickly became one of the league’s most intriguing defensive backs. A converted wide receiver with elite athletic traits, he recorded six interceptions as a rookie and earned Pro Bowl honors.

At 6-foot-4 with exceptional straight-line speed, Woolen has the type of physical profile teams covet for outside cornerbacks. Over four seasons in Seattle, he appeared in 64 games, totaling 203 tackles, 12 interceptions and 53 passes defended.

The Eagles hope Woolen will solidify the second outside cornerback spot, opposite All-Pro Quinyon Mitchell, and strengthen a young secondary that also includes All-Pro nickel corner Cooper DeJean.

The addition also helps address depth in the defensive backfield after the Eagles lost several contributors in free agency, including safety Reed Blankenship to Houston and linebacker Nakobe Dean to Las Vegas. It’s a “show-me” contract for Woolen, whose production leveled off after his rookie campaign.

Notes

• Backup quarterback Sam Howell agreed to a one-year deal with the Dallas Cowboys, leaving Philly after spending the 2025 season as a reserve behind Jalen Hurts and Tanner McKee.

• Edge rusher Josh Uche will not return after signing with the Miami Dolphins. Uche had joined the Eagles during the 2025 season but played a limited role in the defensive rotation.

• Backup offensive lineman Brett Toth agreed to a deal with the San Francisco 49ers, continuing the steady churn of depth pieces that often accompanies free agency

• The Eagles are exploring additional help at edge rusher, with league reports indicating interest in Vikings pass rusher Jonathan Greenard.

The position became a greater focus after edge rusher Jaelan Phillips departed in free agency earlier this week, leaving Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt among the top edge defenders currently under contract as of publication.

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From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/f7wecwj2

The days leading up to free agency have been unkind to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Already gone are edge rusher Jaelan Phillips, strong safety Reed Blankenship, linebacker Nakobe Dean and wide receiver Jahan Dotson.

Poof! Up in smoke went four players in the span of a dark Monday.

Phillips: four years, $120 million, $80 million guaranteed. Blankenship: three years, $24.75 million, $16.5 million guaranteed. Dean: three years, $36 million, $20 million guaranteed. Dotson: two years, $15 million, $10 million guaranteed.

The last two were expected. But the Eagles anticipated re-signing Phillips and believed they at least had a shot at keeping Blankenship. No such luck. Both Phillips and Blankenship — still in their mid-to-late 20s — agreed to terms with other teams by Monday night.

Phillips is going to Carolina and Blankenship is bound for Houston.

Dean, 25, will be a Las Vegas Raider. (He reportedly opted over a similar offer from the Cowboys.) Dotson, also 25, will be an Atlanta Falcon.

The deals don’t become official until free agency begins Wednesday at 4 p.m. ET, but they’re already worked out.

The Eagles were willing to part with Dotson and Dean. They weren’t going to overspend on a No. 3 receiver, and last year they invested a first-round pick in linebacker Jihaad Campbell — who had a promising rookie campaign — to replace Dean, whom they knew would garner big money when his contract expired.

But Phillips? Man, that hurt.

General manager Howie Roseman spent a third-round pick to acquire him from the Dolphins before the trade deadline last November, and he became a reliable force on the front line.

And Blankenship — not only was he a solid, B+/A- safety the Eagles rarely had to worry about, he was a sentimental favorite, a homegrown talent signed as an undrafted rookie out of Middle Tennessee State in 2022.

In four seasons here, Blankenship had 308 combined tackles, nine interceptions, 23 pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. His agreement with Houston doesn’t seem like an exorbitant price.

Dean often struggled with injuries, but he was a team leader and productive when on the field, tallying 226 tackles, 19 tackles for loss, 7.5 sacks, 18 QB pressures, five pass deflections, three forced fumbles and an interception in his four years with the Birds.

Campbell, in 17 games (10 starts), had a stat line that included 80 combined tackles, a pick, three pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in a dynamic inaugural season. He won the starting job over Jeremiah Trotter Jr. in camp and only took on a rotational role after Dean returned from injured reserve.

Two years ago, Roseman hit a jackpot in the draft with cornerbacks Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the first and second rounds. This April, with his defense depleted, he needs to strike gold again.

He also still needs a tight end.

Free agent Dallas Goedert, as of publication, remains on the open market. The Eagles can’t just have no tight end — which is literally where they are right now, since backup Grant Calcaterra is likely gone.

Rosters are rapidly changing every day. Roseman could still pull a couple rabbits out of his hat, and the draft is next month. But right now, Eagles fans are worried. And rightly so.

—

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From The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/597fdbzu

The NFL’s “legal tampering” period began Monday, and Jahan Dotson and Jaelan Phillips are both headed south.

Dotson, a product of Nazareth Area High School in the Lehigh Valley, who went on to star as a leading wide receiver at Penn State, will be signing with the Atlanta Falcons when free agency becomes official Wednesday at 4 p.m., according to multiple reports.

The agreement is for two years, $15 million, including $10 million guaranteed, plus performance incentives that could increase the payout to $17 million.

Edge rusher Phillips — whom the Eagles were aggressively trying to re-sign — is reportedly opting to join the Carolina Panthers on a four-year deal worth $120 million, including $80 million guaranteed.

This week, players and their agents are legally permitted to negotiate with any teams they choose leading up to Wednesday afternoon’s start of free agency.

Dotson set Nazareth career records for receptions (187), receiving yards (2,755) and touchdowns (40).

He ranks second in Penn State history in receptions (183) and single-season receptions (91 in 2021), fourth in receiving yards (2,757), second in single-season receiving yards (1,182 in 2021), and second in touchdowns (25) and single-season touchdowns (12 in 2021).

Dotson was drafted 16th overall by the Washington Commanders in 2022. As Washington cycled through quarterbacks, he never quite found a groove. The Eagles traded for him late in training camp in 2024.

As a third option behind A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Dotson failed to flourish here. In 34 regular-season games, he had 37 catches for 478 yards and one TD. In four postseason games, he had four catches for 83 yards and a touchdown. He had a pair of receptions in Super Bowl LIX.

During the 2024 season, Dotson made a memorable, acrobatic catch for 36 yards against the Jacksonville Jaguars — the same game in which Saquon Barkley did his reverse hurdle. Working against cornerback Tyson Campbell, who had Dotson well-covered, the receiver leapt into the air and tipped the ball to himself for a completion near the sideline, causing the crowd at Lincoln Financial Field to erupt in cheers.

Last April, the Eagles declined to pick up Dotson’s fifth-year option, making him a free agent this offseason.

The Birds acquired Phillips from the Miami Dolphins for a third-round pick before last November’s trade deadline, and he immediately helped stabilize the defensive front. He finished with five sacks, 14 QB hits, 53 combined tackles, four pass deflections, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 17 games between Miami and Philadelphia

Phillips, 26, was a first-round pick (No. 18 overall) out of the University of Miami in 2021 and reunited in Philly with defensive coordinator Vic Fangio, who coached him with the Dolphins in 2023.

Phillips and Dotson will square off at least twice a year in the NFC South.

Now, inking defensive tackle Jalen Carter to a contract extension may be the Eagles’ top priority — as well as finding someone else to play on the edge.

—

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.

From the Delaware County Daily Times: https://tinyurl.com/2e8hayan

The Eagles arrived at the NFL Scouting Combine in Indianapolis this week with the kind of question that tends to follow good teams after a messy finish: Is their biggest offensive star staying put or about to become someone else’s centerpiece?

Coach Nick Sirianni and general manager Howie Roseman didn’t exactly pour water on the A.J. Brown trade chatter, according to multiple reports. They offered no promise the wide receiver will be back next season.

“My expectation is he wants to be here,” Sirianni said in a session with local media ahead of the combine. “And, obviously, you always you want good players like that in your building.”

Sirianni then ran straight into the reality of the NFL calendar — and the reality of his own job, too.

“Will A.J. be here next season? I mean, I think that we’re still in a spot like I can’t guarantee how anything’s going to play out into the next season. I can’t guarantee that,” Sirianni said. “I mean, I was thinking I’m going to be the head coach next season, but it’s like you can’t guarantee anything past tomorrow.”

Brown, 28, has been productive enough to make the question worth asking. He has topped 1,000 receiving yards in each of his four years in Philadelphia and has 339 catches for 5,034 yards and 32 touchdowns in 62 games here. He also has been the public face of their offensive frustration at times, including during a 2025 campaign that ended in a wild-card loss to the San Francisco 49ers.

Sirianni wasn’t interested in relitigating how Brown handled that frustration.

“You guys know me,” Sirianni said. “I’m not gonna say, ‘Hey here’s what I thought this player should have done.’ Just know I’m always communicating with our guys … because I think where you get in trouble is when the job description is not clear.”

What Sirianni did make clear was how much he values Brown inside the building.

“As Howie said, it’s hard to get good players in this league. A.J. is a great player and A.J. is a good teammate and A.J. is a good person,” Sirianni said. “And so, like I said earlier, yeah, does he want to be here? Yes. And do I want him to be here? Yes. So, you know, hopefully that works out.”

Roseman didn’t close the door on a trade, either — because he almost never closes the door.

“I don’t think you can go into any conversation with anyone and just shoot things down without hearing what they have to say, because you never know,” said Roseman, backing up MediaNews Group reporting that was published Monday. “You never know if someone is going to give you something that you didn’t anticipate and if you won’t even have the conversation, I don’t think you’re necessarily doing your job or really servicing the team that you’re with.”

Roseman framed it as diligence, the same way he talks about draft boards and contract structures. Listen first. Decide later.

“Without getting into specifics on any player, we’re always listening, and we’re always kind of open,” he said. “There’s very few things that I would shoot down without even hearing what that means, because how does it hurt to listen?”

Still, he paired that openness with a familiar roster-building philosophy — and a not-so-subtle reminder of what Brown is.

“It’s really hard to find great players. I think A.J. is a great player,” Roseman said. “We’re looking to improve in all areas, and you don’t do that by subtracting.”

Mannion’s blueprint

The Brown conversation is tied to something else the Eagles have been careful not to oversell: the scope of their offensive reset under new coordinator Sean Mannion.

Sirianni said the Eagles interviewed 17 candidates before landing on the 33-year-old former NFL quarterback, and he described Mannion as a coach whose “conviction” jumped out during the process.

“You just could tell right away how sharp he was and then we get him here to the building, it was very obvious,” Sirianni said. “When you do that and when you cast a wide net and you go through the process like that, it reveals itself to you of who the right one is.”

Sirianni also explained what he wanted to hear from a first-time play-caller.

“If I’m a leader, I need to go in there and I need to be like, ‘Hey, here’s what the f— we’re doing. And here’s why we’re doing it,’” Sirianni said. “And sometimes you don’t get that level of conviction unless you’ve really prepped for it, unless you really believe in it.”

The expectation, Sirianni said, is that the Eagles will look “very different” offensively — leaning into concepts from the modern West Coast coaching tree of Kyle Shanahan and Sean McVay.

Sirianni reportedly had final say on hiring Mannion.

The Stoutland void

The offensive shift helps explain another combine subplot: Sirianni’s first extended comments about Jeff Stoutland’s resignation after 13 seasons coaching the Eagles’ offensive line.

“Obviously, he’s been such a huge, important piece of the puzzle of what we’ve done here,” Sirianni said. “At the end of the day, Stout got to where he was and I obviously wish him the best and I’m going to deeply miss him.”

Stoutland announced his departure earlier this month, writing, “I’ve decided my time coaching with the Eagles has come to an end,” and later adding, “I didn’t just work here, I became one of you. Stout out.”

Sirianni said the Eagles wanted Stoutland to remain but acknowledged the staff and scheme changes were pulling the offense in a new direction.

“And it’s a different … some of the things that we think we’re leaning towards doing is a different way of going about it, and (we’re) excited about that opportunity,” Sirianni said.

For now, the Eagles are living in the in-between of late February: saying Brown is a “great player,” saying Mannion is “sharp,” saying Stoutland will be missed — and saying almost nothing with the kind of finality that would make the questions stop.

—

Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X at @the_defranc.