Eagles News: Nakobe Dean has a chance to surprise some people

Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles links …

Mailbag: Which Eagles players might overperform, underperform expectations? – PhillyVoiceQuestion from @barackchain: One player to overperform expectations, one player to underperform? After watching Nakobe Dean make plays all summer, I feel like he has a chance to surprise some people who have already checked out on him. Then again, over the last dozen or so years of covering Eagles training camps I’ve seen plenty of linebackers make plays during the summer only to play poorly during the fall. Dean also has to prove that he can stay healthy. We’ll see, but Dean had the best summer of his career, by far. As for underperforming to expectations, it depends on whose expectations we’re talking about. The team paid Bryce Huff $17 million per year, so it’s going to be hard for him to prove that he is worth all that money. However, I’m not so sure fan expectations for Huff are super high. I do think there are some fans who think Mekhi Becton is going to come in and just start tossing guys around, but I think that his adjustment to a new position might not be so smooth initially.

Eagles depth chart: Some interesting notes ahead of Week 1 – BGNBased on Covey being listed behind him, Dotson is slotted (pun intended) for the slot role on this chart. But, as BGN’s own Jonny Page highlighted, Dotson isn’t just a slot receiver. He might even be better on the outside. The Eagles will likely rotate their slot options under Kellen Moore … but DeVonta might actually be the leader there.

In Roob’s Eagles Observations: How many touches make sense for Saquon Barkley? – NBCSP1. It’ll be fascinating to watch how the Eagles use Saquon Barkley, how many touches he gets, how often he gets spelled by Kenny Gainwell or Will Shipley and what he’ll look like when he’s not the only weapon on the field for the first time since his rookie year. Not counting 2020, when he missed almost the entire season, Barkley averaged 20.3 touches per game with the Giants, with a high of 22 touches per season in 2018 and 2022 and a low of 15.6 in 2021. If you’re Kellen Moore you’re looking for the perfect balance between protecting Barkley and doing everything possible so he’s healthy come December and January and also trying to maximize his ability. I think 22 is way too high. Considering wear and tear and injuries and a desire to keep him healthy all year and also considering the other weapons Moore has at his disposal, I feel like somewhere around 18 per game makes the most sense. Miles Sanders and D’Andre Swift both made the Pro Bowl the last two years at around 16 ½. Barkley is more of an every-down back than them, so he needs to be higher, but anything beyond 18 and you’re probably going to get diminishing returns. The number will fluctuate, but based on his career average of 5.3 yards per touch, 18 touches gets him to run around 95 scrimmage yards per game. And with the other weapons on this offense and the best o-line he’s ever played behind? He should surpass that 5.3 figure if he stays healthy. Now you’re looking at about 1,700 scrimmage yards, which only Christian McCaffrey hit last year. The Giants had to over-work Barkley because they didn’t have any other threats. They had no choice. He was their only hope. The Eagles don’t have to worry about that. A.J. and DeVonta have to get their seven or eight targets per game, Dallas Goedert needs four, Gainwell will get a handful too, and you’d like to see Jahan Dotson involved as well. Moore loves spreading the ball around and with these skill players there’s no reason not to. There’ll be plenty of opportunities for Barkley to shine. And just as importantly, plenty of opportunities for him to recover.

2024 NFL rookies guide: Stat leaders, fantasy picks, top QBs – ESPN+Miller’s top Defensive Rookie of the Year candidates. 2. Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Philadelphia Eagles (+1400). It remains to be seen exactly what Mitchell’s role will be in Year 1 with the Eagles, but in preseason snaps and training camp battles, he has proved to be the sticky cover man the team expected when taking him in the first round. Mitchell has been aligning some in the slot, where his quick feet and fast processing skills are a huge asset. With six interceptions in his final two years at Toledo, Mitchell’s ball skills are developed enough to see him quickly flipping the field with his hands.

The Chiefs made 6 roster moves on Friday – Arrowhead PrideIt has also been reported the Chiefs are signing former Philadelphia Eagles defensive tackle Marlon Tuipulotu to their practice squad. The former sixth-round pick appeared in 28 games over three seasons before being released earlier this week. That move has not yet been made official; we don’t yet know the corresponding move the team intends to make.

Veterans Jalen Reagor, Trysten Hill among Patriots’ latest additions to practice squad – Pats PulpitReagor, 25, had been released as a vested veteran. The No. 21 overall pick in the 2020 NFL draft first arrived in Foxborough as the practice squad formed last August after appearing 45 games, including 24 starts, with the Philadelphia Eagles and Minnesota Vikings. Reaching the limit in elevations before being promoted to the 53-man roster, Reagor finished 2023 with 138 receiving yards, 17 rushing yards, 221 return yards and a 98-yard touchdown across 11 contests. The 5-foot-11, 197-pound former TCU standout was retained on a one-year deal in March.

Steelers add WR Quez Watkins to practice squad – Behind The Steel CurtainWatkins spent the summer with the Steelers, notably struggling as a returner and failing to make a splash as a wide receiver. However, the former Eagles pass-catcher has good speed (4.35-second 40-yard dash time) and solid career production, putting together a 647-yard season with Philadelphia in 2021. He has 1,249 career receiving yards and six career touchdowns.

How the Cowboys front office is trying to cheat the system to help them get over the hump – Blogging The BoysSo, the net result is that the front office attempts to take matters into their own hands and squeeze out cheaper deals from their star players to have an added advantage. Why would they do this? Because years of having one of the top rosters in the league hasn’t been enough to win in the playoffs. Whatever is holding them back, the front office is trying to fix it by stretching their dollar to create an even stronger team. Expecting their star players to accept less than they’re worth to help the team have more cap space is not only unfair to that player, but it also disrupts the market value of other players in the league. While it might be well intended for the greater good of the team, it’s shady. The team has gotten away with getting great deals before from players like Zack Martin, DeMarcus Lawrence, and Tyron Smith (twice), but they can’t keep doing that forever. Sometimes you have to pay a player what they’re actually worth. For years, the Joneses have sat in their suite and watched helplessly as another high-expectation season comes crashing to a halt. They have no control over how the players perform in those games or how the coaches coach. All they can do is provide the best possible roster. And while many disagree with their approach, the front office continues to look for an edge, and like it or not, this remains the Cowboys’ way.

Are the Giants better in 2024? They better be – Big Blue ViewAs I have detailed, I think the Giants made some worthwhile changes. I think the organization is set up in a more functional manner than it has been in many years. I think they prepared better this offseason than they did the previous year. It all, though, comes back to those pesky wins and losses. Will there be enough in the ‘W’ column? The over/under you commonly see for the Giants is 6.5 wins. I can see scenarios where the Giants are over that number. I can also see scenarios where they are under. If I was a betting man — and I’m not — my money would be on the over. Now, I haven’t drunk as much blue Kool-Aid as Dunne, who is tossing around the idea of winning the NFC East in 2024 and competing for championships not long after that. I do think, though, that Schoen and Daboll have — after a couple of years of digging their way out from under the rubble — have set the Giants on a good path. Now, all the players need to do is win enough games to prove it.

One thought about each player on the Commanders roster – Hogs HavenOlamide Zaccheaus. I feel like the captain of the OZ fan club. I loved this signing when it took place and I’ve spent the past 5 months broadcasting my belief that Zaccheaus will be a great flexible receiver who will enhance the Commanders offense. I think he’ll get 40+ receptions and 500+ yards this season.

Why Josh Jacobs is the biggest steal in 2024 fantasy football drafts – SB NationIt seems that fantasy drafters are worried about Jacobs’ workload, but that’s exactly why Green Bay was interested in giving him more money than a stalwart in Jones. “When you look at his body of work, his play style, his running style,” Lefeur said, “I think he’ll excel whether we run outside zone, the gap schemes he’s been super productive with, and like I was saying earlier, I think there’s some things that we can do with him in the pass game as well.” He added in August, “I just get so excited that he can do it all.” The Packers are replacing Jones’ speed and Dillon’s power with one player. Jacobs can execute any rushing concept and stay on the field as a blocker or receiver in passing situations. Lefleur may monitor his snap share, but he won’t give valuable touches to any other back on the roster. Jacobs led the NFL in rushing yards in 2022, and after one forgettable season, he has a chance to do it again. Workhorse backs in ascending offenses are rarely available after Round 2 of fantasy drafts. Invest in Josh Jacobs now before his price goes up.