Given how much money the Eagles have spent this offseason, what is going on with these players?
We’ve had plenty of time to put an exciting free-agency signing period and the addition of an incredible draft class in the rearview mirror, thanks to the Eagles’ massive offseason spending spree. Preseason and training camp are drawing near. Now is the moment to find out if the Philadelphia Eagles are as good on the football field as they seem to be on paper—and if all their summer signings paid off.
There is only one issue. We still have to wait for all of it to start because July just started. For now, we have to go back to the drawing board. Over the next few weeks, we’ll talk about any pearls we find and analyze notions that we don’t know are real.
Even in this anticipated sluggish news cycle, we couldn’t help but gaze forward. The roster of the current 90-man training camp includes nearly thirty players with one-year contracts or those with expired ones.
Some people are more likely than others to receive extensions. These are a few of the more noteworthy mentions that can have a steep learning curve before they get one.
Avonte Maddox, defender
Does anyone not adore Avonte Maddox? A native Eagle, he was selected in the 2018 draft. When he plays, we can put our trust in him. When he’s healthy, he’s good, but that’s the issue. He’s never well.
Just 13 games have been played by him in the previous two seasons. He’s staring over his shoulder now. Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean’s arrivals could be seen as some writing on the wall.
Zack Baun, quarterback
Of the 17 games Zack Baun played with the New Orleans Saints the previous season, six of them were starts. His efforts paid off with 30 tackles, two sacks, four more QB hits, and an interception. He could be able to run for city council in Philadelphia if he can accomplish something like there.
Here, there’s plenty to get enthusiastic about. Although Baun will make the squad, we’d imagine his chances of sticking around past this season are minimal with the two young linebackers on the roster (Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.) and the other veterans (Devin White and Oren Burks) who are also under contract.
That being said, it’s not impossible to accomplish this.
Matt Hennessy, a lineman on offense
Matt Hennessy needs to make the roster in order to be eligible for an extension. That cannot be guaranteed. Two interior offensive lineman, Trevor Keegan and Dylan McMahon, were selected in the draft. Second-year prospect Tyler Steen is highly regarded by them.
Even if Hennessy makes the club, he may fall prey to the numbers game and feel more like a stopgap than a long-term fix.
Uzomah, C.J., tight end
We’ll voice what everyone else finds out. We have never felt, as a result of C.J. Uzomah’s acquisition, that his embrace of an Eagles shirt portends big things to come.
It’s about time Philadelphia decides how it wants to respond to Dallas Goedert’s contract extension. Perhaps the team’s second-best tight end is Uzomah. No offense to Grant Calcaterra, but C.J. is superior to Albert Okwuegbunam, E.J. Jenkins, and McCallan Castles.
But just like the other guys on this list, it will be difficult to make money over the long run. It doesn’t seem like the start of a long-term professional partnership to me.
Gainwell, Kenneth, running back
Let us state up front that we genuinely think Kenneth Gainwell is a better person than a lot of people think he is. His status as a running back is the issue. This implies that he fills a position that is highly penalized in football and is viewed as disposable by many teams.
Saquon Barkley recently inked a three-year contract with Philadelphia. You may have heard. Will Shipley was also added in the NFL Draft.
Yes, Kenny G will not be making any money.
This is our audacious forecast. He is going to be the new Boston Scott, a player Philly likes but only signs for a single year every year.
Zech McPhearson, cornerback Darius Slay, Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Avonte Maddox, Kelee Ringo, and Isaiah Rodgers are all noteworthy players. Will Zech McPhearson even be included on this squad? I take it Josh Jobe is the superior player on special teams?
We think Zach is having problems, but as we’ve said before, nothing is guaranteed after the season even if he makes the roster. There seems to be a strong ticking sound coming from the clock.
Not to be forgotten: Patrick Johnson
Whatever you may think of Patrick Johnson, he’s still around. He contributes well to special teams, just like Jobe, and it could prove to be his savior.
Over the last three seasons, he has given Philly’s club 868 special teams snaps. Is that sufficient justification to keep him on staff? Remember that there’s a young draftee standing over his shoulder right now.