The Eagles Have Earned An A Draft Grade, Signed Free Agents, and Extended Key Veterans. Now It’s Jalen’s Turn.
What a difference a year can make. Even when the result is the same.
Two years ago, a resilient Jalen Hurts left the field after Super Bowl LXI amid a shower of red and white confetti. He had trained his mind to believe that anything that you “win or you learn.”
One year later, a dejected Eagles team down 32–9 in the fourth quarter didn’t look like they were winning or learning at Raymond James Stadium.
Sometimes in order to move forward to have to take a step back.
Hours after the Eagles ended their season in the NFC Wildcard Playoff Round last year in Tampa Bay, the plan for immediate improvement.
As the winter months progressed, the plan took shape.
Last weekend, the Eagles earned one of the best grades in the NFL at the Draft by adding key talent. In the first round they drafted Toledo cornerback Quinyon Mitchell. In the second round, they added another defensive back Cooper DeJean. In the third round they drafted Jalyx Hunt an outside linebacker from Houston Christian. In the fourth round, they drafted Will Shipley from Clemson. In the fifth round, the Eagles added wide receiver Ainais Smith from Texas A&M, Jeremiah Trotter, Jr. from Clemson, and Guard Trevor Keegan from Michigan. Philadelphia’s draft selections ended in the sixth round with wide receiver Johnny Wilson from Florida State, Guard/Center Dylan McMahon from NC State.
Right after the Draft, the Eagles added the lowest amount of UDFA’s in recent memory but still walked away signing Gottlieb Ayedze, OL, Maryland, Anim Dankwah, OT, Howard, Andre’ Sam, S, LSU, Kendall Milton, RB, Georgia, Gabe Hall, DT, Baylor, McCallen Castles, TE, Tennessee.
Then the Eagles stiffened the competition by sending additional invites to rookie minicamp.
The Eagles rookie minicamp also has ten additional invites Princeton QB Blake Stenstrom, Ohio State/IPP WR Praise Olatoke, Georgia Southern TE Jjay Mcafee, Wake Forest LB Jacob Roberts, Grambling State CB Cedric Anderson, Ferris State CB Shon Stephens, Clemson CB Sheridan Jones, Mercer CB Tavion McCarthy, UCLA S Kenny Churchwell III, IPP P Harry Mallinder.
The Eagles also spent some some significant dollars extending/signing key veterans including Devonta Smith, A.J. Brown, Rick Levato, Jake Elliott, Brandon Graham, Landon Dickerson, Avonte Maddox, Jordan Mialata, and Reid Blankenship.
The Eagles have also brought in 9 new coaches including Offensive Coordinator Kellen Moore and Defensive Coordinator Vic Fangio to support Nick Sirianni.
All of these changes, however lead us back to one place. The Eagles $255 Million man, the quarterback who will now be under center for the Eagles until 2028. This is his team. His offense. This is his time to lead the Eagles back to the last possession in the Super Bowl with an opportunity to win the game, not standing on the Raymond James Stadium sideline with no answers.
For the Eagles and the City of Philadelphia, we know what Jalen can do.
For Hurts, it’s time to deliver.
The post A Time to Deliver appeared first on Philadelphia Sports Nation.