Making Their Marks

Another phase of the offseason concluded over the weekend, as the Eagles turned the page from rookie minicamp and shifted focus to the next phase of the cycle,  OTAs (Organized Team Activities).

Sure, rookie minicamp might register as a mere footnote in the general landscape of an NFL offseason, but the onboarding process and introduction to coaches is a vitally important component of the offseason.

GETTY IMAGES: New Eagles QB Kyle McCord already has a rapport with new Eagles QBs coach Scot Loeffler.

The takeaways from the on-field portion of practice weren’t nearly as extensive as the insight that was gleaned from the podium availabilities, which on Friday included quarterback Kyle McCord, linebacker Smael Mondon Jr., EDGE Antwuan Powell-Ryland, tackles Myles Hinton and Cameron Williams, cornerback Mac McWilliams, center/guard Drew Kendall and defensive tackle Ty Robinson.

But there were three players in particular who offered answers I found to be interesting:

McCord-Loeffler Connection

Deep into draft weekend, the Eagles remained hard at work, ensuring no stone was left unturned when it came to swinging for upside and furnishing the roster with legitimate competition.

When the sixth round rolled around, and the Eagles were on the clock with the 181st pick, they made the decision to bolster quarterback depth by adding a fourth arm in the form of Mt. Laurel, N.J., native and St. Joseph’s Prep alum, Kyle McCord.

McCord, who last season at Syracuse led the FBS in passing yards (4,779) in his lone season there, embodies a gunslinger mentality. While he isn’t exactly fleet of foot, McCord offers intrigue as a rhythm and timing-based thrower accompanied by the aggressiveness to thread passes into narrow windows.

The sample size is minimal, to be sure, but at the podium McCord exuded poise and confidence. And during the portion of practice open to media, he appeared to be in command, delivering touch throws to his running backs. But perhaps the most interesting takeaway from his news conference was his connection to new quarterbacks coach, Scot Loeffler.

“We go way back,” McCord explained. “When I was in eighth grade, [Loeffler] was at Boston College, and he offered me a scholarship in eighth grade. So, I’ve known him forever.”

But McCord didn’t even learn of the scholarship offer until a few months later, as McCord said his high school coach decided to withhold that pertinent information, believing he McCord wasn’t yet deserving.

Even though the stars didn’t align in terms of pairing McCord and Loeffler together at the collegiate level, Loeffler, McCord said, was one of the few coaches he didn’t play with whom he still conversed.

Given the circumstances, one would assume Loeffler offered a ringing endorsement in the war room. Everything would come full circle eight years later.

“He was on the draft call,” McCord said. “And there was just so much emotion when I first got the call, and then hearing [Loeffler’s] voice, I was like, ‘Oh, man. That’s crazy.’ Seeing how far we’ve come.

“I think it was 2017 is when I first met him, and now, whatever it is – eight years later – reuniting. So, it is pretty cool just to kind of see that come full circle.”

The McWilliams Mentality

In light of the Eagles’ recent success at drafting at cornerback, coupled with the losses of Darius Slay and Isaiah Rodgers, it would’ve been conceivable to believe the Eagles would take a cornerback with one of their first three picks.

But that sentiment never came to fruition, though the team did add to the room on Day 3, selecting UCF cornerback Mac McWilliams with the 145th overall pick.

The 5-foot-10, 191-pound McWilliams showcased a palpable competitiveness and hardened resolve at the college level, holding his own against top-shelf wide receivers such as Travis Hunter and Tetairoa McMillan.

Scan through his tape and you’ll quickly learn McWilliams, who also clocked a blistering 4.41 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine, never backs down. He also does a sound job of attacking the catch point and playing through the catch.

During his first day on the job, McWilliams revealed that he repped at outside cornerback in Vic Fangio’s defense, where he also aligned during the 2024 season. That McWilliams performed at such a high level both last season and at the Senior Bowl despite boasting sub-30-inch arms speaks to his instincts, coverage acumen and mindset. And he’s never been one to allow his size to become a deterrent.

“I’ve always been the littlest guy, so just having the right mindset and taking everything for what it is,” he said. “All my life, I knew I was always gonna be undersized. I knew I wasn’t gonna grow as much as I wanted to. So, just always having that dog in me. Just thinking above, never thinking too low.”

McWilliams joins a young cornerback room that includes Quinyon Mitchell, Cooper DeJean, Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks. While opportunities for reps this summer figure to come at a premium for most Day 3 picks, McWilliams should benefit from having inside-outside versatility.

While it highly improbable McWilliams elbows his way into the starting conversation opposite Mitchell, don’t expect him to concede to some of the more physically imposing wideouts he’ll see in camp. That simply isn’t part of his makeup.

“I try really not to think about it,” he said. “I go out there with the same mindset. I’m the biggest out there. That’s my mindset. That’s how I feel. So, just having that mindset, I really feel like it (helps) me a lot.”

GETTY IMAGES: EDGE Antwaun Powell-Ryland, the Eagles’ last draft pick, isn’t concerned about his short arms.

Powell-Ryland ready to seize opportunity

As if racking up 25.5 sacks and six forced fumbles over his final two college seasons wasn’t noteworthy enough, the intrigue surrounding Powell-Ryland amplified when he spoke about his relationship with a certain two-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year, Bills legend Bruce Smith.

Smith, by the way, is a Norfolk, Va., native and Virginia Tech alum.

When Powell-Ryland transferred from Florida to Virginia Tech in 2023, he was welcomed into the fold by Smith with open arms, serving as a mentor of sorts from afar.

But perhaps the most prominent podium takeaway from Powell-Ryland’s availability was his unflinching nature. He appeared unmoved by the preconceived notions regarding his frame and dimensions. And he certainly didn’t radiate the demeanor of someone simply content with being drafted.

Now that his foot is in the door, Powell-Ryland is on the hunt for more.

“As long as I get a shot, that’s all I need,” he said. “I’m not really worried about how big my arms are or how big I am. I’m a ball player. You put on the tape, you’re going to see it.”