Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland isn’t the only assistant coach actively making players better.
The Eagles’ strategy has become clear.
There will be a core. They will get paid. There will be a supporting cast. They will be young or looking for a career re-birth.
On Monday, two transactions by Howie Roseman further illustrated this philosophy. The first was another contract extension for future Hall of Fame right tackle Lane Johnson, who reworked his deal to earn another $8 million over two years and an additional $30 million in guaranteed money. It comes on the heels of Saquon Barkley’s contract extension signed a couple weeks ago.
The second was former New York Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari signing a one-year, $4 million deal with the Birds. A former second round pick taken 50th overall in the 2021 Draft, Ojulari played 11 games last year (five starts), recorded six sacks and 10 QB hits. In four seasons, he’s piled up 22 sacks, but has not started more than seven games in a season each of the last three years. He provides depth on the edge with potential upside.
General manager Howie Roseman warned Eagles fans this offseason would look different, and he wasn’t kidding around. The NFL’s No. 1 defense has lost a number of key contributors, and as for the players he’s brought into the fold since free agency began, well, let’s just say Howie has a type.
Ojulari. Josh Uche. A.J. Dillon. Adoree’ Jackson. Avery Williams. Kenyon Green. Patrick Johnson. Dorian Thompson-Robinson. All are players who were once highly drafted and have either experienced struggles in recent seasons or have been injury-prone in their careers. All are buy-low, little-risk acquisitions meant to add depth to the roster, not star power.
None of them are as good as the players who have departed.
At least, not yet.
Zack Baun wasn’t a superstar heading into the 2024 season. Mekhi Becton was a bust. Oren Burks? Never heard of him. All became vital components of the best roster in the NFL.
The days of Roseman going out and splurging on the free agent market are largely over, at least for now, which means we’re likely to see more free agency hauls like what we’ve seen over these last two weeks. It also means the Eagles will continue relying on draft picks to provide close-to-immediate production.
What helped turn the 2024 Eagles into a Super Bowl champion was the selection and, just as importantly, the development, of draft picks from their last three drafts.
There’s no doubt the Eagles’ scouting folks have been on a serious roll lately. Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean and Jalyx Hunt were their first three picks in last year’s draft. The 2023 Draft featured Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, the team’s likely starting offensive guard next year, Tyler Steen, their likely starting safety Sydney Brown, their likely No. 2 corner Kelee Ringo, their likely back-up quarterback, Tanner McKee and a likely starter at defensive tackle, Moro Ojomo. The 2022 Draft landed them Jordan Davis, Cam Jurgens, Nakobe Dean, and Grant Calcaterra.
Mitchell, DeJean, Hunt, Carter, Smith, Steen, Brown, Davis, Jurgens and Dean were all Day 1 and Day 2 picks. The rest were all taken in the fourth round or later. Regardless of where they were selected, most draft picks are not finished products when they reach the NFL, but many franchises and coaching staffs struggle to develop players. It seems they get stuck with preconceived notions of what they were in college and have difficulty identifying the player inside and turning them into impact players.
In recent seasons, Nick Sirianni’s coaching staff has done a remarkable job developing virtually every pick they’ve made.
Defensive line coach Clint Hurtt helped Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith reach their first round potential, and he’s done a remarkable job accelerating Jalyx Hunt’s timeline. The fact they’ve turned Moro Ojomo, a seventh-round pick, into a viable starter on a championship-caliber roster, is remarkable. There’s reason to believe Hurtt can help Ojulari, Uche, and maybe even Bryce Huff (if he’s not traded) find another gear or at least contribute in an effective rotation.
Losing Josh Sweat and Milton Williams will hurt, but hopefully not too much.
Inside linebackers coach Bobby King deserves a world of credit for helping turn Zack Baun from a journeyman special teams/edge rusher to an All Pro linebacker in one season. Nakobe Dean’s future was uncertain until he emerged this season as a potential Pro Bowler and franchise cornerstone. Not only that, Oren Burks became a postseason playmaker under King’s leadership. There’s reason to believe he can help Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. progress into a solid linebacker, as well as whoever they may draft at that position next month.
Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean were both expected to be quality players, but cornerbacks coach Roy Anderson helped them become Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates and shutdown corners in their first seasons. One would think he can get the most out of Kelee Ringo and Adoree’ Jackson, as well as any rookies they may select.
And of course, there is Jeff Stoutland, who seemingly performs a miracle every year. Jordan Mailata is one of the best left tackles in the game, and he helped Mekhi Becton become one of the best run-blocking guards in the NFL after four seasons in the New York Jets’ wilderness. The Birds didn’t seem to miss a beat moving from future Hall of Famer Jacon Kelce to Cam Jurgens in the first year of that transition, so it’s fair to be bullish on Tyler Steen’s ability to step up and for his newest project, 24-year-old former Texans offensive guard Kenyon Green, to blossom.
There’s no doubt defensive coordinator Vic Fangio deserves the lion’s share of the credit for the improvement in the defense, and former offensive coordinator Kellen Moore and head coach Nick Sirianni also must receive their bouquets, too. And the most important aspect of player development lies within the player himself, to be coachable, hard-working, and diligent. All are immensely talented, and that should not be forgotten.
But for the Philadelphia Eagles in the Sirianni/Jalen Hurts era, this is the way. When you’ve run out of cap space and cash on hand to go high on the hog on veteran stars in free agency or trades, you have to draft well, shop in the bargain bin, and then develop those players.
Over the last three years, the Eagles have done a magnificent job doing both.
It’s the key to keeping their Super Bowl window and dreams of a dynasty open.
