The Morning Call: https://tinyurl.com/569yy9jv
PHILADELPHIA — Sean Mannion, the Eagles’ new offensive coordinator, has everybody’s attention at OTAs, including All-Pro left tackle Jordan Mailata.
“Sean is an evil genius,” Mailata said Tuesday. “That is my first impression. He just knows ball.”
Mailata was not alone. Earlier in organized team activities, Jalen Hurts called the work “a really good process” and said Mannion has been “very clear” and “very intentional” while installing a new offense built on timing, motion, under-center work and more play-action.
“It’s exciting to be able to learn a new brand of football,” Hurts said.
Mannion, 34, arrived from Green Bay with roots in the modernized West Coast system. Running back Saquon Barkley has operated from deeper alignments. The offensive line has been drilling more zone concepts. And despite the Eagles’ revolving door of OCs the last several years, there’s genuine enthusiasm about Mannion.
“If I were to lock the three smartest people in the facility in one room, Sean would be there, and I think Sean will just be himself,” Mailata said. “It would just be Sean in that room. That’s how smart he is.
“He’s a wizard. And I’m super excited, as the year goes on, we get to display what is in the beautiful mind of his.”
Another major offensive change is simpler: A.J. Brown is gone.
The Eagles traded Brown to the New England Patriots on Monday for a 2028 first-round pick and the better of New England’s two fifth-round picks in 2027. Brown leaves after four seasons, 339 catches, 5,034 yards, 32 touchdowns, two Super Bowl trips and one Lombardi Trophy.
He also leaves after months of noise.
Mailata did not dance around it.
“I think this is more of a — it sounds terrible — but like, thank God it’s over,” Mailata said. “It was a slow pain of just, is he in, is he out? We didn’t really know, and that really wasn’t our focus as a team, especially on offense.”
The Eagles now turn to DeVonta Smith, rookie first-round pick Makai Lemon from USC, second-round tight end Eli Stowers out of Vanderbilt, and free agents Hollywood Brown, Dontayvion Wicks and Elijah Moore.
Plus, for at least one more year, they have veteran tight end Dallas Goedert — which could lead to some interesting packages featuring both Goedert and Stowers on the field together.
“I mean, just the relationship we had, the brotherhood and things like that,” Smith said about the difficulty of Brown’s departure. “We had a great time here. Business is business.
“I’m just going out there and do my job,” Smith added, referencing becoming the No. 1 receiver. “Regardless, however you want to look at it, one, two, three, four. End of the day, we all have jobs, and I’ve got to go out there and do it. I’m going to do the same thing I’ve been doing.”
General manager Howie Roseman said the deal was about the present and the future.
“We wouldn’t have done this trade if there wasn’t a first-round-pick-plus included,” Roseman said.
The Eagles also gained cap and cash relief by waiting until after June 1. Roseman said Brown wanted a fresh start and the Eagles wanted flexibility.
“It was a win-win situation based on where he was and how he felt,” Roseman said. “There’s no doubt that A.J. Brown was a huge, huge part of our football team, a great player for us, and that loss will have to be picked up by more than just one player.”
NOTES: WR Lemon was sidelined with a hamstring injury. He is expected to be ready for training camp in July. … WR Brown, who grew up rooting for the Patriots, called arriving in New England “heaven,” reminiscent of Scott Rolen calling St. Louis “baseball heaven” after his departure from the Phillies in 2002. … Andy Dalton took snaps at QB2 over Tanner McKee on Tuesday. … EDGE Jonathan Greenard (shoulder surgery), acquired in a trade with Minnesota during the NFL draft, participated on a limited basis. … Mandatory minicamp is next Tuesday and Wednesday.
Follow Christiaan DeFranco on X and Threads at @the_defranc.
Been seeing all the praise. it's hard to tell how much of it is just usual stuff with guys trying to be positive and how much is real. Though, I get a sense it is real. I don't remember words like these being used about the last guy. What'll be the most interesting is seeing if they get Hurts to really buy-in. I think Mannion's being smart about connecting with Hurts on a more human level first. Find out what makes him tick. Then fit that into why he's been so hesitant on stuff before, and that leads you to the way to sell Hurts on it this time and bring him along. so far it seems to be working.
On another note, you mention the o-line. A different system than with Stout. Does it seem like everyone's like Mailata and maybe excited about doing something new and not just the same ol' of the last several years?