Birds In 2021 – Better Or Worse Than ’20?: Q&A With Quintin Mikell, Jason Avant

On the latest “Q&A on Inside The Birds,” former Eagles safety Quintin Mikell and former Eagles wide receiver Jason Avant previewed most of the NFC East and discussed where the Birds fit in the picture as division title contenders.

After going through the offseason moves, Mikell and Avant had trouble figuring out if the Eagles truly can compete with Dallas, Washington and New York for division supremacy or if the Birds are more likely to be going through growing pains this year for the promise of a better tomorrow.

The Eagles need vets such as Brandon Graham, 55, and Fletcher Cox to produce to stay afloat in the NFC East.

Said Mikell: “If you’re expecting a playoff team, I don’t know if we’re there yet, but I do think we’re gonna see some improvements.”

Added Avant: “I agree with you, to some extent. You can’t say you didn’t get better when you got three first-round picks next year. however when you look at the landscape of the NFC East … the Eagles, I think when it comes to draft capital we’re in a better position. Have we gotten better for this particular year? No.”

Avant said he’s pleased with the first-round and second-round picks of DeVonta Smith and Landon Dickerson, which is why he sees a better future than present.

“I love their future,” he added, “but their current situation, I don’t necessarily know the team has gotten better for the 2021 season. I’m not trying to be ‘Dr. Doom and Gloom.’

“The Eagles always have heart and alway have fight so they’re going to fight and be in position, but did we get better this offseason? I can’t say we’ve gotten better for the 2021 season. Maybe the 2023 season but not the 2021 season.”

Mikell noted the additions of complementary players such as Anthony Harris, Eric Wilson and Ryan Kerrigan to help compensate for the absence of difference-makers.

“I think it’s gonna be a better season than we had last year, competition-wise and fire-wise,” Mikell added. “I can see us 9-8, that’ll be a successful season.”

“Now, you know we live in Philadelphia, 9-8 is gonna get someone fired,” Avant shot back. “But it is realistic they could possibly go 9-8, 10-7, something like that – or it could be worse than that.”

– Geoff Mosher (@geoffmoshernfl) is co-host of the “Inside the Birds” podcast and staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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