What Now?

With a retirement of a Hall-of-Famer and the trade of a Pro Bowler, the Philadelphia Eagles’ offensive line has been radically reshaped in a span of 24 hours.

On the latest episode of “Inside The Birds,” Adam Caplan and Geoff Mosher discussed the impact of the o-line changes. 

GETTY IMAGES: Philadelphia Eagles OL Willie Lampkin is expected to be placed into the starting lineup following the trade of Cam Jurgens.

Cam Jurgens

Adam Caplan: “The urgency that the Ravens had got this trade done. It’s a massive overpay. I’m sure Eric DeCosta, who is good friends with Howie Roseman, felt that the tape that he saw was not reflective of Cam at center because he’s playing left guard now. They’re not down one, they’re down three centers…Howie had leverage in this situation.”

Geoff Mosher: “I think people are correlating something that shouldn’t be correlated. This is not a fire sale. From what I understand just talking to some other teams, it’s not like everybody in the NFL knew Cam Jurgens was available. This was a situation where the Ravens needed a center, they called Howie and were willing to overpay. If Cam Jurgens was playing at a really high level, this trade probably doesn’t go down, even for a second pick…That doesn’t mean the Eagles are punting on the year, but this is not a situation where the Eagles are actually improving for the short term either. You are going to go into London and you are just about 24 game weeks from your greatest offensive line in history and now you are only going to have one of those five guys.”

Willie Lampkin

Caplan: “Willie Lampkin was an undrafted free agent, sort of a phenomenon…The Eagles front office loves him.”

Mosher: “I thought Willie Lampkin was awesome in the preseason and he’s a great story. There’s a difference between being a great story and then becoming a starter. I struggle to see how him at his size can be more of a power player at guard…I did think Lampkin had a good base and fundamental. He uses his leverage really well and that can compensate at times for raw strength. But when you’re in there every single snap and going up against a very good defense, to expect this guy to go into left guard, a position that is not his own natural position, and do better.”

Drew Kendall

Caplan: “I just can’t see them moving Kendall to left guard, it should be Lampkin. Kendall is not a natural guard, that’s a power position, his future’s at center. That’s what this is going to be about the rest of the season, can he be Cam’s replacement? They didn’t know it would be this way.”

Markel Bell

Caplan: “I had an offensive line coach who really likes Markel tell me that this would have been a redshirt year for him, he thought he needed to grow into his long body to reconfigure it. He has a great attitude, wants it badly, very impressive young guy, but he’s a third-round rookie who’s going to have to work his way through it.”

– Benjamin Paul is a staff writer for InsideTheBirds.com.