Eagles News: Philadelphia’s biggest 2020 offseason need

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links ...

Offseason needs for all 32 NFL teams in 2020 - PFF
Philadelphia Eagles: A field-stretching wide receiver. Secondary needs: cornerbacks, safety. The Eagles’ 2019 season was defined in large part by their attrition, particularly at offensive skill positions down the stretch. A lack of wide receivers, and specifically Desean Jackson, due to injury created a season in which running back Miles Sanders led the team in receiving yards on passes 20 or more yards downfield. It’s hard to have an effective passing game when that is your reality. Jackson should be back and healthy in 2020, but the Eagles could still benefit by adding a speedy receiver or two this offseason. On the other side of the field, the Eagles’ coverage was one of their bigger weaknesses. The cornerback position provided subpar play for much of the year. Rasul Douglas, Avonte Maddox, Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills all finished the season with PFF grades below 60.0, and Darby had one of the worst coverage lines of any cornerback in the league with 17 yards allowed per reception and a 117.9 passer rating into his coverage. Adding cornerbacks and safeties who can positively impact the most important aspect of defense in today’s NFL — coverage — will be key for Philadelphia this offseason.

Top 5 positions of need for Eagles heading into 2020 offseason - NBCSP
1. Wide receiver. This one is pretty obvious to me. Carson Wentz this season became the first quarterback in NFL history to throw for 4,000-plus yards without a receiver to hit 500. The receiver position needs a massive overhaul. Alshon Jeffery is dealing with a serious injury and the Eagles made the mistake of guaranteeing his 2020 salary last offseason. “In terms of Alshon, we had a conversation with Alshon before the season, and he took a pay cut in exchange for guaranteeing,” Roseman said. “For us, we were trying to create as much flexibility going forward with our roster to create cap space to improve the football team.” Oops. Now, they might be stuck with him. Although, I might try to find a way to trade him for less than nothing (send a draft pick with him) to get him off the roster.

What the Eagles should do at running back - BGN
Outlook: Howard was on pace to early some real consideration in free agency prior to his injury. It’s hard to imagine that’ll still be the case after he didn’t play in the second half of the season. Howard has a strong track record of production with 897 career carries for a 4.3 average and 30 touchdowns. He’s also only 25 years old. Maybe there’s a team out there that gives him considerable money and a role that’s bigger than what he’ll have in Philly. If not, though, he could return to the Eagles at a reasonable price on a one-year contract. Sanders is an ideal complement to Sanders and Scott given his physical running style.

The QB Scho Show #49: Championship Game & Senior Bowl Prep - BGN Radio
Michael Kist and Mark Schofield get you prepped for the Championship Games and the Senior Bowl with extra thoughts on LSU QB Joe Burrow & LSU passing game coordinator (and new Panthers OC) Joe Brady! Powered by SB Nation and Bleeding Green Nation.

Three free agents who make sense for the Eagles, version 1.0 - PhillyVoice
In recent years, fewer and fewer young, attractive players have entered free agency coming off their rookie contracts, as teams have done a better job locking up their own guys. Robby Anderson would be an example of that, as he will turn 27 in May, and should be entering his prime years in the NFL. Anderson would go a long way toward fixing the Eagles’ lack of speed, and hey, if DeSean Jackson can stay healthy in 2020, there’s nothing wrong with employing two receivers who can stretch the field, especially in a two-TE offense. Anderson will be expensive. The best comparison for on-field production is Sammy Watkins, who signed as a free agent with the Chiefs in 2018 for three years, $48 million, or $16 million per season.

How the Eagles can fix the wide receiver position: Breaking down their options via free agency, trades and the draft - The Athletic
Typically, it wouldn’t be prudent for a team picking in the 20s to wait to fix a position until the draft because of the unknowns about how the board will fall. This year is different. The Eagles’ wide receiver depth chart is not barren; it’s just uncertain because of inconsistent performance, age and injuries. But if Jackson is healthy, Arcega-Whiteside improves to a replacement-level player, Ward gives them his December production as a baseline and they can add one or two draft picks, that’s an upgrade over where the Eagles finished the season (regardless of Jeffery’s status). Keep in mind the Eagles will play most of their offensive snaps with two tight ends next season. There will be times when they need to go with three- or four-receiver sets, but their No. 3 receiver might play among the fewest snaps of any third receiver in the league, if Ertz and Goedert remain healthy. They should be opportunistic in March — strike if Anderson (or another free agent) is available at the right price, explore a low-cost option or an appealing trade opportunity — but they shouldn’t seek to fill the depth chart. Address the position in the draft.

NFL players considering retirement in the 2020 offseason: 16 who could walk away - ESPN
Center Jason Kelce. Word got out that Kelce, 32, was pondering retirement last offseason following a grueling, injury-filled year. He returned to have an All-Pro campaign in 2019, but questions about his future understandably came up as the season was winding down. “I mentioned it last year. This is something that goes through your head and has been for three or four years, so I don’t want to say this offseason was any different at all [than the previous ones],” Kelce said. “The bottom line is I’m a Philadelphia Eagle. I’m playing until I’m not, and the only reason this ever got mentioned is because the media found out and leaked it.” — Tim McManus

Didinger: Harold Carmichael finally gets his due - PE.com
It was the seventh round of the 1971 NFL Draft. At that point, there was no ESPN and no one had heard of Mel Kiper, Jr. The NFL Draft was not the media colossus that it is today. As a reporter covering the draft for the Philadelphia Bulletin, I was in the press room at Veterans Stadium when Jim Gallagher, the Eagles’ publicity director, came through distributing one-page bios on the team’s latest draft pick. It was some kid named Harold Carmichael. I glanced at the sheet and immediately saw what appeared to be a mistake. ”Hey, Jim,” I said. “This has to be wrong. It says here this guy is 6-foot-8.” ”That’s what they told us,” Jim said. “I called the school just to be sure. They said he’s 6-8.”

Bears hire former Jags, Vikings OC John DeFilippo as new QB coach - Windy City Gridiron
The Bears have made a few more moves to their offensive coaching staff. ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported on Wednesday that Chicago has hired John DeFilippo to be their new quarterbacks coach. Current quarterbacks coach Dave Ragone has also been promoted to the role of passing game coordinator. DeFilippo brings an impressive resume to the Bears’ coaching staff, having been interviewed for the team’s head coach position in 2018 before they decided on hiring Matt Nagy. He most recently served as the offensive coordinator for the Jaguars this past season, and he held the same role for the Vikings for much of the 2018 season.

Report: Joe Moorhead expected to be named Oregon Offensive Coordinator - Addicted To Quack
[BLG Note: Another potential Eagles OC candidate off the board.]

Report: New York Giants interviewing Jason Garrett for offensive coordinator - Big Blue View
The Giants are thought to be looking for an experienced coordinator with head coaching experience. They interviewed Mike Shula, who held that role under Pat Shurmur, earlier this week. Former Cleveland Browns coach Freddie Kitchens is also said to have drawn interest from Judge. Garrett went 85-67 during his time in Dallas, guiding the Cowboys to the playoffs three times. He was offensive coordinator in Dallas for three seasons before becoming head coach. After Judge’s introductory press conference last week, co-owner John Mara had expressed a preference for Judge, a 38-year-old who has never been a head coach at any level, having a former head coach on his staff.

Report: Jason Garrett interviewing for Giants vacant offensive coordinator job - Blogging The Boys
Garrett has a long history with the New York Giants, and a long history with the state of New Jersey. Garrett played for the Giants from 2000-2003, and went to school at Princeton University which is located in New Jersey. Garrett was rumored to being tied to the Giants for their head coaching job mid-season if the Giants were to move on from Pat Shurmur. While that role has been filled, Garrett could be on his way to the Big Apple to run the offense with Daniel Jones and Saquon Barkley.

The Titans have been secretly fun long before this surprising playoff run - SB Nation
The Titans don’t really make sense as a conference finalist in 2020. Their starting quarterback has thrown for 160 total yards in two playoff wins. Only one player on the roster had more than 43 catches during the regular season. Their defense is anything but dominant, ranking smack-dab in the middle of most efficiency ratings and finishing 21st in yards allowed this fall. But buried underneath two of the NFL’s most pass-heavy offenses in the conference championship games is Tennessee, capable of grinding the bones of your favorite team into dust. The Titans went from early-season afterthought to the doorstep of an NFL title opportunity thanks to Ryan Tannehill (a quarterback the Dolphins didn’t want), the broad shoulders of tailback Derrick Henry, and a roster with 51 other guys ready to step up and make a play — and then roast their opponent afterward.

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