Eagles News: “The Eagles, on paper, are stacked on offense, and they’re not even done”

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Howie Roseman reels DeSean Jackson back to the Eagles. Is the receiver still a big fish? | Jeff McLane - Inquirer
The Eagles, on paper, are stacked on offense, and they’re not even done. Aside from their top three receivers, they have tight ends Zach Ertz – the NFL’s reigning leader in catches at his position – and Dallas Goedert, a budding talent with more snaps and targets in his future. A running back with pass-catching ability will also be added to the mix this offseason. But the Eagles have lacked a true home run threat, someone who can consistently create space underneath, since Jackson left. Agholor was drafted a year later, but despite his above-average speed, he was initially unable to thrive on the outside. Torrey Smith wasn’t a bust in 2017, and it’s hard to argue with a Super Bowl conclusion, but he didn’t match expectations. Mike Wallace was signed last year to essentially replace Smith, but he broke his fibula in Game 2 and never saw the field again. The trade deadline move for receiver Golden Tate did nothing to address the deep-ball need, especially when Agholor was unable to adjust to more snaps on the outside.

DeSean Jackson traded back to Eagles (with a contract extension), report says - BGN
The Philadelphia Eagles are trading for Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver DeSean Jackson, according to a report from NFL insider Ian Rapoport. ESPN’s Chris Mortensen has details on the compensation: EAGLES RECEIVE — DeSean Jackson, Buccaneers seventh-round pick in 2020. BUCCANEERS RECEIVE — Eagles sixth-round pick in 2019.

The Kist & Solak Show #84: DeSean Jackson Returns! - BGN Radio
Michael Kist and Benjamin Solak record in the middle of a news storm to discuss Howie Roseman’s busy day! DeSean Jackson is back thanks to a trade with the Bucs & Malik Jackson gets a brand new bag! PLUS news on Jason Peters & Stefen Wisniewski! Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Impact Players - Iggles Blitz
As for DeSean Jackson, he brings elite speed to an offense that was slow in 2018. The Eagles had 52 receptions of 20 or more yards. They had 9 receptions of 40 or more yards. Jackson had 5 catches of 40 or more yards. To be fair, so did Nelson Agholor. But Agholor averaged 11.5 yards per reception. He was boom or bust, and that also tells you there was probably more luck involved with his total. Jackson averaged 18.9 yards per reception. He delivered big plays on a regular basis. One of every three catches went for 20 or more yards. Jackson’s speed on the outside can open up the middle of the field for Ertz, Goedert, Jeffery and anyone else running a pass route. Jackson’s mere presence on the field has an impact. Andre Waters used to say that Wes Hopkins had an effect on receivers just by walking out there. They knew to keep their eyes on number 48 or he would make them pay. The flip side of that is DBs needing to know where Jackson is. If they hesitate or blink, he’s gone. Speed kills.

The Philadelphia Eagles secure the blind side for at least one more year, sign LT Jason Peters to a one-year extension - PFF
He was still his usual, stout self in pass protection, however. On 587 pass-blocking snaps across 18 games, Peters allowed three sacks, nine hits and 26 hurries for a pass-blocking efficiency of 96.5 that ranked 25th among the league’s left tackles. His pass-blocking grade of 75.9 ranked 21st. While it was clear by his 2018 showing that Peters is starting to slow down, he remains one of the league’s best options to man the blind side. The Eagles and Carson Wentz will undoubtedly rest easy tonight, knowing that they have the security of Peters for at least one more year.

Jason Peters returns at left tackle for 2019 season - PE.com
As Roseman said, Peters is not normal. His preparation is meticulous and, combined with extraordinary natural talents, Peters has been the NFL’s best left tackle of his generation and he’s clearly got more good football to play. Being healthy at this stage of the offseason is a big step forward for Peters, who admitted last season that he wasn’t “playing at a high level like I want to play,” as he recovered from the knee injury and had to fend off the other aches and pains and injuries. There aren’t many, if any, 37-year-old left tackles who have the ability to improve their performances from the previous season, but Peters hopes a full offseason of good health will give him a chance to do just that. There is a lot to look forward to, then, with Peters coming back. He’s primed for more football at left tackle, and the Eagles are glad to have him back for 2019.

Grading the Eagles’ offseason moves: DeSean Jackson, Malik Jackson and Jason Peters moves address key needs - The Athletic
Is it a complete home run? No. Jackson is 32 and has missed six games the past two seasons. He likes when quarterbacks throw him the ball and can get upset when that doesn’t happen. But the Eagles know exactly what Jackson is like in the locker room and feel comfortable adding him to the mix. Suddenly, this offense is looking close to complete. The Eagles can pair Jackson with Jeffery on the outside. They have Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert to work the intermediate part of the field and will have to make a decision on what to do with Nelson Agholor. Add a running back (or two), and Carson Wentz and company will be well-positioned for a big rebound season in 2019.

Barnwell’s 2019 NFL free-agency and trade grades: Tracking every big signing and move - ESPN
Four-plus years after being ignominiously released by the Eagles in May 2014, Jackson’s returning home to Philly. By trading for the player on whom they once used a second-round pick, the Eagles fill a hole they’ve struggled to nail down since Carson Wentz arrived in town in 2016. While Wentz ranks eighth in Total QBR since the start of 2016 on throws within 15 yards of the line of scrimmage, the fourth-year passer is 22nd in the same category on throws 16-plus yards downfield. The Eagles have tried to create downfield opportunities by adding options such as Torrey Smith and Mike Wallace, and Mack Hollins showed some promise during his rookie campaign before getting hurt last year, but none of them can compare to Jackson as a deep weapon. The on-field fit is perfect. With Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz and Jackson, the Eagles have a classic X-Y-Z receiving corps. There isn’t the overlap in skill set and desired role there was last season with Ertz, Golden Tate and Nelson Agholor, the latter of whom is likely to be a trade candidate after Jackson’s arrival.

DeSean Jackson Trade: The Eagles Know What They’re Getting - MMQB
Under offensive architect Doug Pederson, receivers rarely operate in isolation; almost every route is part of a greater route combination. A receiver who can take the top off a defense stretches those route combinations, creating space where it didn’t previous exist—especially against zone coverage. In Jackson’s case, the effect is amplified because he has quick, immediate speed, not build-up speed. Safeties not only must play deeper against Jackson, they must align deeper. Life gets easier for everyone on Philly’s offense. Grade: A-.

Early Eagles moves show where Howie Roseman’s priorities are - NBCSP
The biggest thing Andy Reid left behind when he was fired after the 2012 season was a philosophy that he never strayed from. To build from the inside out. To make the offensive line and defensive line the biggest priority aside from QB and worry about everything else next. After taking Donovan McNabb in 1999, Big Red had 11 more first-round draft picks, and eight of them were linemen. Some were Pro Bowlers, like Corey Simon and Fletcher Cox, some were disasters, like Danny Watkins and Jerome McDougle. But the philosophy was spot on. And Howie Roseman was there every step of the way watching and learning. Doug Pederson was there for some of that too, and he and Roseman are in lockstep on this: Get yourself an elite quarterback, figure out how to protect him, then figure out how to attack the opposing quarterback, and you’re well on your way to building a championship contender.

Odell Beckham trade speculation just won’t die - Big Blue View
Giants GM Dave Gettleman repeated his “We didn’t sign Odell to trade him” mantra during the recent NFL Scouting Combine. Despite how some may want to read that, those words do not mean “we won’t trade him.” Going back to Jay Glazer’s prediction a few weeks ago that Beckham would be traded, too many reputable NFL writers and analysts have now gone down this road to believe that there is nothing behind all this chatter.

Report: Cowboys defensive end DeMarcus Lawrence feels “disrespected” - Blogging The Boys
Tank has produced for the Cowboys over the last two years, there’s no denying that. According to a report from NFL Network’s Jane Slater he feels “disrespected” by the process that this has all been.

NFL Free Agency: Landon Collins signing 6 year, $84 million deal with Redskins - Hogs Haven
Contract details have not been released yet, but the Redskins only had around $13 million in cap space coming into free agency. They are attempting to trade several players like Zach Brown, Mason Foster, and Stacy McGee. There are also several players currently under contract who could be cut to clear up cap space.

Jaguars were only real suitors for Nick Foles, paid him for respect - Big Cat Country
According to Mike Garafolo of NFL Network there were no other significant suitors for Nick Foles, but the Jaguars wanted to make it clear that Foles is the starter and the leader for the team. The big reason for the Jaguars paying so much for Foles and deciding against low balling, regardless of the market, is because they were concerned of how that would be viewed in the locker room. Now that they are paying Foles clear-cut starter money it should give him more credibility and respect in the Jaguars locker room. $1 million = 1 respect.

The Jaguars paid $130 million for QBs in two seasons and ended up with Nick Foles - SB Nation
The Jaguars and quarterbacks generally don’t go well together. A year after giving Blake Bortles a deal that was worth an average of $18 million per year, they signed Nick Foles to a deal that’s worth an average of $22 million per year. While the idea of signing a former Super Bowl MVP sounds good on paper, the reality is that Nick Foles and Blake Bortles have pretty much been the same player over the last two seasons — outside of the NFC Championship game and Super Bowl 52. Here’s how the two players compared since the start of the 2017 season.

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