Weapon X Mailbag: Would the Eagles draft Trevor Lawrence?

Well, things aren’t looking great right now. Let’s get right to the mailbag questions before my brain explodes.

@FillySportsJoe: If they end up with the worst record do the Eagles take Trevor Lawrence?

Jeez, we are in dark timeline. Imagine fielding this question three weeks ago! If the Eagles get the first-overall pick, Howie Roseman would obviously take Florida tight end and Philly native Kyle Pitts (#FromHere) and make 13 personnel the Eagles’ base formation. Just kidding (I think).

Listen, if you finish with the worst record in football while starting the guy you think is your franchise quarterback, he ain’t your franchise quarterback! It’s that simple.

If things continue on this train wreck trajectory, you’d have to see what you have in Jalen Hurts, right? I was high on Hurts during the pre-draft process (though, understandably, not for the Eagles specifically). I thought that a Dak Prescott-like career was on the table. I’d rather roll with the supposed generational quarterback prospect in Trevor Lawrence over a maybe-Dak, but the Birds owe it to both Hurts and themselves to find out if he can cut in Philadelphia.

Let me reiterate: I can’t believe we’re having this conversation in late September and I can’t believe that it’s relatively realistic that they’re the worst team in the NFL. Yes, if they have have the first-overall pick, take Sunshine.

It looks to be a lock that the Eagles will finish with a top-10 pick. For what it’s worth, here are other guys for you all to keep your eyes on (though some have opted out of this college football season):

Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU

Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama

Devonta Smith, WR, Alabama

Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech

Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon

Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State

@TheNotoriousGVB: Obviously would never wish for anyone to get sick, but with the COVID outbreak with the Titans, how should we feel about a hypothetically cancelled season? Should we welcome sweet release or do we loathe ourselves so much that we need to see this 0-2-1 start to the end?

I’m going to preface this by saying that I clearly do not want people to contract COVID-19 and I want the NFL season to proceed successfully.

If the season has to be canceled though, the only fair thing to me would be for the NFL to reset every roster and have a fantasy draft. The teams with the worst records pick first in a non-snake format and things progress from there. If a team has a tie in their record, that tie counts as two losses.

That feels like the correct solution if the season goes down the drain.

@j_vols: How much blame should be on Schwartz because of the defensive struggles & poor LB play. Especially since we let LJ Fort go.

It feels like every week we’re treated to a new L.J. Fort highlight.

On Monday night, he had a huge sack on fourth down against Patrick Mahomes for the Ravens too. Ugh.

There’s a difference between wisely not pouring big resources into the linebacker position and then having non-NFL players out there on the field. The Eagles are in the latter category currently. When they finally do take a ‘backer on Day 2 like Davion Taylor, the dude can only get on the field with the special teams unit. We can’t win!

The sway Jim Schwartz wields over defensive personnel decisions has been debated, which is yet another flaw in the Howie Roseman era: the constant deflection of blame. If Schwartzy can’t get Taylor on the field when Natan Gerry looks like an absolute zero, what are we doing here?

@helloitmejer: How many players from 2020 NFL Draft will be significant contributors by year 3? How many will be re-signed? How well does Justin Jefferson have to do this year to admit it was a mistake to pass on him?

Yet again: what a dark timeline we are all in.

I’m in on Jalen Reagor from a pure talent standpoint; however, he’s already suffered two injuries in less than two months. It’s a given that he’s now a prisoner to the Eagles’ injury bug curse. I’ll say he’ll be a significant contributor still.

Here comes the millionaire dollar Jalen Hurts question. If Hurts is still in this Taysom Hill-lite role, I would not consider him to be a legit player on this team. If he’s the signal-caller though? Hmm.

Odds are that Hurts won’t be the Eagles’ starting quarterback in 2022 (maybe it’s Carson Wentz. Maybe it’s Trevor Lawrence. Maybe it’s Nick Foles!). Again though, I’m intrigued by him as a pro quarterback and I’d love for him to get real reps behind center this season if Wentz continues to crater.

For the sake of this discussion, I’m going to say no though.

Davion Taylor? That was a bad pick the moment it was made. Next.

Everyone loves the idea of K’Von Wallace. We haven’t had a chance to see him on the field much, but it’d be great if Wallace got more run with the way this season from hell is unfolding. If he’s the third safety in 2022 being used in Big Nickel packages, does that count as being a significant contributor? Maybe? Maybe not? I’ll err towards no though.

Jack Driscoll? Yes! I’m in on him! Whether he’s at right guard, left tackle or maybe even right tackle depending on how the next few years unfold for Lane Johnson, I think Driscoll’s a player in this league. The Eagles only seem to find true value in the draft with lineman on Day 3. Driscoll could be yet another one of those dudes.

John Hightower? I was so hype on the guy going into this season, but it’s probably a no. He’s a fifth rounder and the Eagles will continue to add young talent at wideout through the draft in the next couple of drafts, plus whatever happens in free agency. It’s a win if he’s a WR4, but I wouldn’t chalk that up as being a “significant” part of the roster.

Shaun Bradley? No.

Quez Watkins? He’s in a similar position to Hightower, but already in a hole after not being on the squad to star the season (though he may be coming off IR as a reinforcement...). I’ll say no.

Prince Tega Wanogho? You can’t hit on every Day 3 lineman. If I had to bet one of Driscoll or Prince sticking around, I’d lean towards Driscoll.

Casey Toohill? Sorry, Costco brand Connor Barwin, but it’s a no.

So... that leaves us with two real contributors in Reagor and Driscoll and a big time maybe with Hurts. Not super encouraging! God, this team sucks the frigging life out of me.

As for Justin Jefferson, I’m not going to go all gaga over one game. Yes, J-Jeff looked excellent, but through the first two games of their respective rookie campaigns, Reagor had more yards. It’s early! The injury issues with Reagor are brutal and it’s hard for a Year 1 wideout to make up that lost time, but his physical traits (plus the toughness he’s already showcased) are still quite enticing to me. I like me a Jalen Reagor.

@FlyGoalScoredBy: question: i’m sad

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