No Rush To Return Howard

With the Eagles in offseason mode, it’s time to examine the roster ahead of free agency and the draft

On the latest Inside The Birds podcast, Geoff Mosher and Adam Caplan discussed the Eagles’ offense, looked at contract statuses of key players, and projected future expectations and movement at each position.

Getty Images: Will the Eagles bring Jordan Howard back again?

Hurts Future

Adam Caplan: “I would be very surprised [if Hurts wasn’t the starter] because you put this out there that Hurts is your guy. I understand that drafting a quarterback theoretically in the first round would not be a surprise had they not said this. They’ve been so hell bent that he’s the guy. You can’t just say that because the first-round quarterbacks more often than not are going to take over.

Geoff Mosher: “I think it’s a bad look to your fan base, it’s a bad look to your locker room, if you’re lying that much [about Hurts’ fate] and are that obvious about it.”

Jordan Howard

Mosher: “I sign Jordan Howard to a one-year veteran minimum deal, have him compete in camp but I’ve already got [Miles] Sanders, [Kenny] Gainwell, [Boston] Scott, [Jason] Huntley and I’m probably going to draft a kid. Maybe [draft] a kid like Howard, with some size to him. Not in the first or second round but I’m going to draft a kid sometime on Day 2 or day 3 – most likely Day 3 – and then just have Jordan Howard compete. I’m not trying to downplay Jordan Howard’s significance, but again, if I’m going to be a run-heavy team, I’m looking for a bigger role this year out of Gainwell, I’ve got Miles Sanders, I’ve got Boston Scott, I’m gonna draft, I’m going to re-sign Jordan Howard in case he can beat somebody out. But I’m not giving this guy a three-year deal by any stretch of the means. I’m not giving him a two-year deal. I’m just signing him for the veteran minimum and if somebody else wants to offer him more, thank you Jordan Howard, you’ve been great but you can find another Jordan Howard.”

DeVonta Smith

Mosher: “DeVonta Smith, the big thing for him in the offseason would be to put on weight, not a lot of weight, just get stronger like you naturally would.”

Caplan: “I wonder with his frame because he’s somewhere around 170 pounds, he might even be less than that. DeSean [Jackson], it took him many years but the last time I saw him up close at Rams camp this past summer when the Cowboys came in, I saw his legs filled out. He used to have pencils for legs and now he’s filled out. I’m sure he’s only 170 something, maybe 175. But he was in the low 160s when he was drafted. But nevertheless, you’re absolutely right, he’s got to put weight on.”

LG Outlook

Caplan: “Left guard, this is where they have the issue. [Issac] Seumalo is only signed through this season, 2022. [Landon] Dickerson is signed through 2024. Dickerson has to start, there’s no ifs, ands or buts. There’s no discussion he’s starting. The question is what do you do with Seumalo? Is he going to compete for the center job if [Jason] Kelce doesn’t come back? What do they do? Because he’s a valuable guy, but he’s been hurt a lot. Good player. Great find for them. Great story.”

– Justin Morganstein (@jmotweets_) is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.

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