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My first mock draft of the year
Note: in this scenario, the Eagles have an agreement to trade AJ Brown to the Patriots for this year’s 1st round pick and a 3rd round pick next year that can escalate to a 2nd rounder if the Patriots make the playoffs and AJ plays 70% of the snaps.
I couldn’t pre-arrange that in PFSN, so with the 31st pick, I would have selected Blake Miller OT Clemson.
This draft class has a mix of starters, depth pieces who will be eventually be starters, and projects. The only position I’m not feeling great about leaving the draft is Safety. Maybe EDGE too.
Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
After five months of silence, Lane Johnson opens up on coaching staff changes – NBCSP
On a recent podcast appearance on “Fitz & Whit” with former NFL players Andrew Whitworth and Ryan Fitzpatrick, Johnson opened up the changes the Eagles have gone through this offseason. First, he spoke about the addition of Mannion who brings with him from Green Bay a version of the highly successful Kyle Shanahan/Sean McVay system. He compared Mannion to Shane Steichen, who was offensive coordinator during the 2022 Super Bowl run and is now head coach of the Colts. And he spoke about the loss of Stoutland, the only NFL position coach he’s ever had. “I’m excited about Sean Manion joining our staff,” Johnson said. “I think he’ll kind of have a Shane Steichen type of trajectory. So I’m excited to get to work with those guys.” Asked what he liked about Steichen as play caller, Johnson said: “It was just I thought he had a good sense of we could go into a game and have a game plan. And when he saw the defense that was lining up and it wasn’t anything like we expected, he would have the ability to go off script and kind of implement things. “So yeah, it was just stuff off the cuff that you kind of saw in games and in practice. But his personality, man, he’s really upbeat, up tempo and it has a fire to him for sure.” What about Mannion? “I’m excited about this new system,” Johnson said. ‘I think it has some Shanahan implements in it. And I think it will be maybe easier on the edge for Jordan (Mailata) and I. So maybe not as much isolation. And you know, when you run some wide zone like the 49ers and the guy comes over you, you’re not worried about it. You just keep going.
Dameon Pierce, Eagles agree to one-year contract – BGN
Pierce is heading into his fifth season in the league, and spent most of his career with the Texans. He was a breakout candidate after rushing for 939 yards his rookie season, but has struggled to stay healthy and has never played more than 14 games in a season. The RB suffered a pretty brutal preseason quad injury last year and ultimately lost his spot among the RB rotation before being released by Houston in November. The Chiefs went on to sign him at the end of the year as they looked for bodies to fill a decimated roster.
A peek ahead to the Eagles’ 2027 free agents – PhillyVoice
iDL Moro Ojomo: Ojomo has blossomed into a good starter after being selected in the seventh round of the 2023 draft. If he patiently waits until free agency, he will very likely make bank in 2027 free agency, like Milton Williams did in 2025 and Jaelan Phillips did in 2026.
Howie and his staff have done a terrific job of creating space. That gives them the flexibility to go after Jonathan Greenard if they want. Maybe they would be able to trade AJ Brown before June 1. There coul be a free agent or two that they have interest in. Maybe they would like to re-sign Fred Johnson to be the swing tackle. I think re-signing safety Marcus Epps would make a lot of sense. They have options. The trade for Andy Dalton gives them the option to trade Tanner McKee if they want. We haven’t heard much about teams showing interest in him, but it feels like the QB market has become more active recently. The Eagles dealt for Dalton. The Chiefs just traded for Justin Fields. Andy does love athletic QBs. Just this morning Carson Wentz re-signed with the Vikings. Maybe a market will emerge for McKee.
Fly, Eagle Fly: Jonathan Jones flies himself to Philadelphia to sign contract – The Athletic
Jonathan Jones has offered new meaning to the Philadelphia Eagles’ fight song, “Fly, Eagles Fly.” Jones, an NFL defensive back and licensed pilot, flew himself to Philadelphia on Wednesday morning to sign his contract with the Eagles. He was in the cockpit of a single-engine turboprop aircraft from Charlotte, N.C., a flight that typically takes about 70-75 minutes from takeoff to landing. “Found a little passion for aviation,” Jones said in a video conference with media members Wednesday. “It’s a little hobby of mine that I enjoy doing.”
Post-Free Agency Power Rankings: Rams, Seahawks pace the NFL – PFF
7) Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles waited out the opening phase of free agency, biding their time to let the market run its course. Their patience allowed them to acquire a trio of cost-effective free agents in cornerback Riq Woolen, edge rusher Arnold Ebiketie and receiver Marquise Brown. Those signings are premier examples of the Eagles’ self-awareness and ability to pivot. After missing out on Jaelan Phillips, attention turned to other solutions to stabilize the pass rush off the edge, leading to Ebiketie. Woolen provides the perfect answer at the outside CB2 spot, a position that was a weak link in the secondary this past season. Savvy moves like these have allowed the Eagles to stay a formidable force in the NFL.
Patriots legend adds fuel to Eagles’ A.J. Brown rumors with cryptic message – NJ.com
Oh, Julian Edelman, you really know how to light a flame. On his X account, the Patriots legend just posted a GIF of himself telling Eagles wide receiver A.J. Brown “We’re all Patriots,” a clip pulled from his “Dudes on Dudes” podcast from last month. Brown is seen smiling and laughing when Edelman tells him that.
The 2026 wide receiver class lacks a true WR1, but there are several explosive pass catchers with the potential to earn Pro Bowl honors within their respective roles. Jordyn Tyson is a silky-smooth route-runner with outstanding ball skills and RAC (run after catch) ability. The 6-foot-2, 203-pounder makes a living coming down with difficult catches over the middle, exhibiting the toughness and concentration of a 10-year veteran, though he did have injury issues in college. Carnell Tate is an acrobatic playmaker with exceptional ball skills and ballerina-like body control. Tate steadily improved at Ohio State, refining his route-running skills while playing opposite a future first-rounder in Buckeyes superstar Jeremiah Smith. Chris Brazzell II is the vertical playmaking specialist every offense needs on the outside. The 6-4, 198-pounder possesses the speed, explosiveness and burst to punish opponents for dropping safeties into the box. Malachi Fields ran an underwhelming 4.61 40-yard dash at the combine, but the supersized pass catcher poses problems for undersized defenders on the outside. Standing 6-4 1/2 and 218 pounds with smooth route-running ability and sensational ball skills, the Notre Dame/Virginia product is a natural “X” receiver with the talent and potential to anchor a passing game. Denzel Boston is a big-bodied target with an ultra-physical game that overwhelms defensive backs on the perimeter. Although his separation quickness is a concern, the Washington standout routinely comes down with contested catches on jump balls and post-ups in the red zone.
Spadaro: My exclusive Q&A with new Eagles wide receiver Hollywood Brown – PhiladelphiaEagles.com
Hollywood Brown: “It definitely flipped the switch that did a lot of stuff overnight. ‘Hollywood’ took off and I had to answer a lot more questions about who I was as a person, rather than talking about my football play. Why are they calling me ‘Hollywood?’ Is he all about ‘Hollywood?’ For me, I took it as being as a symbol of where I’m from. I’m from Hollywood, Florida. There is a lot of poverty there. There is not much inspiration there. So, I took it as a chance to inspire so many people, so many kids that I know, so many family members that I know and wear that on my sleeve. To this day, I feel like I’m representing them and every time ‘Hollywood’ goes out, people from home know where that’s coming from. My friends from home, they call me ‘Jet,’ so it’s kind of two different worlds.”
Rosters are set for the Fanatics Flag Football Classic – PFT
The rosters for the other two teams were sent on Wednesday, in a draft conducted by the Founders (led by Tom Brady and Jalen Hurts) and the Wildcats (led by Jayden Daniels and Joe Burrow). Joining Brady and Hurts on the Founders will be: Raiders running back Ashton Jeanty, Saints running back Alvin Kamara, former Patriots and Buccaneers tight end Rob Gronkowski, Buccaneers safety Antoine Winfield Jr., Eagles receiver DeVonta Smith, free-agent receiver Stefon Diggs, free-agent pass rusher Von Miller, free-agent safety Damar Hamlin, former NFL defensive back Patrick Peterson, and boxer Terence Crawford.
Panthers trading Andy Dalton to Eagles for draft pick – Cat Scratch Reader
It’s about as little as a team can receive for a player given that it’s not only a pick in the last round, it’s a pick in the last round over a year from now. Dalton probably won’t even be playing anymore by then. The move was more about getting Dalton somewhere he’s wanted or needed and saving a little bit of that cold hard cap space. Given that the Eagles are usually a good team, it’s probable that the pick lands somewhere in the 250 range. It’s unlikely to amount to a player of significant consequence, but it’s technically not nothing.
Vikings Re-Signing QB Carson Wentz – Daily Norseman
The Vikings signed Wentz just before the start of the 2025 season and wound up putting him into the starting lineup in Week 3 following McCarthy suffering a high ankle sprain in Week 2. Wentz then started the next five games for the Vikings, leading the team to a 2-3 record in those games. He ended up suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in the team’s loss to the Los Angeles Chargers in Week 8, a game in which he took as much of a beating as any Vikings’ quarterback has taken in recent memory. In his five starts in 2025, Wentz completed 65% of his passes for 1,216 yards and threw six touchdown passes to five interceptions.
Dallas has backup quarterback options now – Blogging The Boys
The Dallas Cowboys have made an addition to their quarterback room by signing free agent Sam Howell to a one-year, $2.5 million deal. It comes with $2 million fully guaranteed, and he can earn an extra $500,000 if he reaches certain playing time incentives tied to the team making a playoff run. While this is chump change in the world of professional quarterbacks, it provides the team with a battle-tested backup who has legitimate starting experience, should the Cowboys have any apprehensions about current backup quarterback Joe Milton.
[BLG Note: Former Eagles UDFA signing Jeremy Reaves will be entering his ninth season with Washington.]
Darnell Mooney could be a difference-maker for the Giants – Big Blue View
Mooney is also reuniting with Matt Nagy, which could help him quickly settle into the Giants’ offense. His speed and route-running ability should make him a dangerous option in New York’s play-action passing attack, particularly when the offense operates out of heavier personnel packages. If the Giants can successfully establish the run and force defenses into heavier looks, then Mooney’s speed could help more explosive plays develop for John Harbaugh and New York. One of Mooney’s most valuable traits is his ability to sell the vertical route before quickly throttling down, creating separation as he finds soft spots in coverage and works back to the quarterback. That nuance as a route runner—combined with his speed—can make him a reliable target on intermediate play-action concepts and scramble-drill situations.
Patriots sign cornerback Kindle Vildor to reported 1-year deal – Pats Pulpit
Since leaving Nashville in mid-October 2023, Vildor spent time in Philadelphia, Detroit and most recently Tampa. Along the way, the 5-foot-11, 189-pound defender has appeared in 85 combined regular season and playoff games.
The NFL might feel like it’s in a pre-draft lull, but March is a critically important time for the future of football. Wednesday marked the deadline for teams to submit proposed rule changes to be discussed at the NFL owner’s meeting late this month, where they can either be codified into the league rules — or tabled for further discussion in May. Inside of these proposals is one from the Cleveland Browns, which could have a devastating impact on the NFL.
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