It’s time for Round 2 of your questions.
I answered your first bunch yesterday, but we have plenty more to get to.
Let’s do it:
That was Barrett Brooks doing the podcast on his boat. I’ll get out there one day.
OK, to Corey Clement. The injuries have been really tough. He has had back-to-back seasons end on Injured Reserve and it’s fair to wonder about his health. But as long as he’s healthy, I think he’s going to make the Eagles’ roster in 2020.
You’re right about Clement’s contract. They didn’t offer him a tender as a restricted free agent because they didn’t want to pay the salary associated with that. Instead, they brought him back on a veteran minimum deal worth $825,000. If he can be an adequate backup and depth piece, that’s a good value.
NFL
Clement had a really nice rookie season back in 2017 but obviously peaked in the Super Bowl, which is why expectations were so high heading into the next season. In 11 games in 2018 before his season-ending knee injury, Clement was OK. He averaged 3.8 yards per attempt and caught 22 passes. So he was a solid piece.
Coming off that knee injury in 2019, Clement wasn’t even a part of the offense. He played in four games and got just three offensive snaps before a shoulder injury ended his season. So it’s probably unfair to expect him to come back from that injury and all of a sudden, be a part of the offensive game plan.
But after Miles Sanders and Boston Scott, the Eagles don’t have a ton of options at running back. Clement, Elijah Holyfield and undrafted rookies Mike Warren and Adrian Killins Jr. are competing for roster spots. Because of Clement’s experience, I think he has a clear advantage.
I will say that the Eagles have a clear advantage in the NFC East this year because they have the same head coach and defensive coordinator going into the fifth straight season. The other three divisional teams have new head coaches. That would be an advantage in a normal year but especially in a season without a traditional offseason.
I still don’t think the NFC East, overall, is a very good division. So it’s hard to imagine a wild card spot coming out of the division, which makes you think that winning the division is the only way to get to the playoffs. But back in 2018, I didn’t think a 9-7 record would win a wild card spot and it did … and then that Eagles team even went on to win a playoff game and got close to heading back to the NFC Championship Game. So I’m not going to say the Eagles definitely need to win the division to get to the playoffs … but it’s hard to imagine a scenario like 2018 playing out again.
If the Eagles win the division in 2020, it’ll be the first back-to-back NFC East winner since the Eagles won the NFC East from 2001-04.
Logan Ryan is still a free agent and, yeah, he would make the Eagles better. But his asking price is way higher than the Eagles would be willing to pay. At least, his asking price early in free agency was way too high.
Now it’s nearly August and it has probably dropped some. So maybe the Eagles will be keeping an eye on him but the Eagles paid Darius Slay big money so I just can’t see them paying another corner too.
Anytime you lose a Pro Bowler like Brandon Brooks, overall depth is going to suffer. But at least the Eagles were able to bring back Jason Peters. Even if you don’t expect Peters to be a great right guard, having him back at least helps the team from a depth perspective, especially without Halapoulivaati Vaitai. Big V got overpaid by the Lions and the Eagles obviously couldn’t match that contract, but they’ll miss having him as the swing tackle.
But give the Eagles credit for drafting Jack Driscoll and Prince Tega Wanogho. They’re hoping Driscoll can be the next Big V, becoming a backup at multiple positions.
So here’s the Eagles’ starting lineup: Andre Dillard, Isaac Seumalo, Jason Kelce, Peters, Lane Johnson
And their backups: Matt Pryor, Jordan Mailata, Jack Driscoll, Prince Tega Wanogho, Nate Herbig and Sua Opeta.
That might not seem like great depth, but having Big V over the last few seasons was a luxury. The Eagles just have to hope one of their young backups end up being just as good.
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