INDIANAPOLIS – Nothing has changed with how the Eagles perceive quarterback Jalen Hurts as the starter for the 2022 season.
Both Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and head coach Nick Sirianni said Wednesday at the NFL scouting combine that the goal is surrounding Hurts with better players, whether it’s through the three first-round draft picks, or the money the Eagles will have available in free agency.
That process is beginning this week with the evaluation of prospective draftees at the combine. It continues when free agency begins on March 16, the start of the new league year.
And it will culminate with the NFL draft from April 28-30.
Here, then, are five takeaways from Roseman and Sirianni’s press conferences:
1. Why Hurts will remain QB
It’s one thing to speculate on the possibility of trading for someone like Seattle’s Russell Wilson or even Houston’s Deshaun Watson, who is facing 22 civil lawsuits and likely an NFL suspension for sexual misconduct.
For the record, Seahawks coach Pete Carroll spoke at the podium next to Roseman and said the team has no intention of trading Wilson.
Besides, it’s another thing to pull off a megadeal like that. And the Eagles have to decide if that’s something they want to pursue anyway.
Roseman said he wouldn’t comment about players on other teams. But he once again supported Hurts as the starter.
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“We have Jalen Hurts, who’s a 23-year-old quarterback, who led his team to the playoffs, and he’s going to get better and better and better,” Roseman said. “He’s going to do everything possible to get better, and we have to do our part in that.”
That begins with surrounding Hurts with better players.
Sirianni said it also consists of Hurts improving his decision-making and his accuracy. Hurts completed just 61.3% of his passes last season, ranking among the bottom of NFL starting quarterbacks.
“When we looked at all at all our tape and we evaluated our tape again … you can see the progression of him getting better throughout the year in different things,” Sirianni said. “He led us to the playoffs, and obviously, we want to go further than that, and we’re really confident that Jalen is a guy that can help us do that.”
2. The draft vs. trades vs. free agency
The Eagles are in a unique situation both with the three first-round picks and in the money they’ll have in free agency. As of now, the Eagles are projected to be about $21 million under the salary cap.
They can clear more space to add a difference-maker at a key position. And they can also trade one of their picks for such a player.
That’s why Roseman said it’s not a guarantee that the Eagles will use all three of those picks.
“It’s not just those picks,” Roseman said. “It’s utilizing the cap space on guys that fit our scheme. It’s utilizing the other draft picks on guys who fit our scheme. It’s if we make a trade, finding guys that fit what we are trying to do offensively and defensively and going from there.”
3. Trading Andre Dillard?
Andre Dillard was the Eagles’ first-round pick in 2019, but he lost a competition to Jordan Mailata for the starting job at left tackle.
Dillard did start five games last season, and there is a premium for offensive linemen in the NFL. So it’s possible the Eagles could trade Dillard for a draft pick in Rounds 2-4.
Roseman didn’t miss the chance to say how much Dillard wants to play, knowing that won’t happen with the Eagles unless Mailata or right tackle Lane Johnson get hurt.
Roseman also made it seem like he won’t just give Dillard away.
“It’s hard to find offensive linemen who can move and who can bend,” Roseman said. “The amazing thing is Andre is working out every day right now … He looks great. Upper body, lower body, he’s really determined. He wants to play.”
“But having a really good offensive line is important. Having depth on the offensive line is important.”
4. At least Kelce got his beer
Sirianni said he took the first step towards ensuring that center Jason Kelce will return for a 12th season.
“The keg has been sent to his house, and I think it got delivered today,” Sirianni said with a laugh.
Kelce, as he has for the past four offseasons, is contemplating retirement. But there are several indications, beyond the keg delivery, that Kelce will decide to return.
For one, Kelce made it through last season healthy and was named to the Pro Bowl for the fourth time in his career. Second, he has said often that he thoroughly enjoyed this season and his teammates.
The Eagles still have to prepare for contingencies in case Kelce does retire. That could include either moving guards Landon Dickerson or Isaac Seumalo to center.
“Obviously, we think through everything,” Sirianni said. “We have some good options there. We’re exploring even more options through free agency and the draft. It’s not something we have to decide right away. But we feel like we have good options.”
The best option, of course, is Kelce returning, and Sirianni took the first step with the keg delivery.
5. From rock, paper, scissors to hoops
When the Eagles met virtually with draft prospects last spring, Sirianni said he engaged in rock, paper, scissors competitions.
This year, the Eagles brought a mini basketball hoop to Indianapolis and had draftees take five shots. Sirianni said the hoop had a Villanova logo on it.
“I only made, like, two out of five,” North Carolina quarterback Sam Howell said with a laugh. “So, I’m probably not high up on their board right now.”
To Sirianni, there’s a reason for the competitions.
“Last year, I don’t I don’t think everyone liked my rock, paper, scissors (games),” Sirianni said with a laugh. “But in all seriousness, if we can figure out when we get in there, a little bit of their competitiveness, that’s a plus, right?
“Do you always get that answer, shooting five baskets before they start off? No … You might come away from that and say, ‘I didn’t get anything from that.’ But one thing that we do realize is that it is a good icebreaker, it does lower the guard of the player a little bit.”
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
