By GORDON GLANTZ

GORDONVILLE — It happens every August.

Eagles fans – even in the afterglow of the ultimate prize – are ready for some football, even if it comes in the form of a messy version of the real thing that is preseason.

Excitement often turns to disappointment, as starters – and even familiar names further down the depth chart – don’t get much meaningful playing time.

But before you threw up your hands during Thursday’s preseason opener (7 p.m.) against the Steelers and send your bowl of pretzel sticks tumbling to the floor, wondering who these guys are up on your TV screens, take it from this guy that all is not lost.

In the midst of the madness and chaos, where yellow penalty flags go flying by like beach chairs in a tornado, there are some players in Eagle green who are not just dressed up for Halloween.

You need not re-watch the movie “Invincible” about the ultimate story of an undrafted free agent, Vince Papale, for inspiration. As recently as 2014, I picked an undrafted free agent – an undersized tight end from Florida named Trey Burton – out of the chorus and predicted he would be pegged for a solo. With the “Philly Special” – and a lot of other clutch catches and special teams efforts – in our heads, we know how that worked out. Burton has parlayed that success into greener pastures – literally and figuratively – as he signed with the Chicago Bears in the offseason to a contract that will made him the eighth highest paid tight end in the league.

Last year, as a public service, I provided a list of five players to watch in preseason. My only mistake – one that will not be repeated – was not doing it alphabetically, as Corey Clement would have been listed first instead of fourth (behind David Watford, Aaron Grymes and Joe Walker and in front of Randall Goforth).

A year later, Walker is still on the team as a backup middle linebacker after starting a handful a games last year. Goforth was released just before training camp began.

Clement, meanwhile, was a vital role player in the offense all season and saved his best for last, with four catches out of the backfield for 100 yards and a touchdown in the Super Bowl.

A good portion of the 53-man roster seems locked down with returnees, offseason signees and draft picks. Still, there a spots – even of the developmental variety on the practice squad – to be had.

Let’s take a look – in alphabetical look – at some candidates to catch your wandering August eye:

Josh Adams, RB: The Eagles have a crowded backfield picture, and the top three – Jay Ajayi, Clement and Darren Sproles – are roster locks who are likely to see much action. For what may be just one active roster spot behind them, there is a posse of Wendell Smallwood, Matt Jones and last year’s draft bust, Donnel Pumphrey. Adams, as an undrafted free agent (despite being considered a mid-round pick going into the annual cattle call), would seem to be fodder. However, the Bucks County native has some pedigree. He had a strong senior year at Notre Dame (1,430 yards to give him a fifth-best of 3,198 for his Irish career) and, at 6-foot-2, 213 pounds, strikes a noticeable pose. While he may have to wait it out a year on the practice squad, the Central Bucks South grad will get plenty of touches in the first two preseason games.

Rashard Davis, WR: After posting insane punt return numbers at FCS James Madison as a senior, the diminutive Davis (5-9, 175) was waiting tables in Charlottesville, Va. – right before the tragedy there – when the Eagles called after Sproles went down for the year. He was on and off the practice squad, but will get plenty of chances to field punts – and turn heads – while Sproles sits out the preseason. His time on the back end of the roster likely means Davis was schooled on the nuances of playing the slot, so he could make inroads as the fifth or sixth receiver there. A lot a guys – from last year’s fifth-round pick Shelton Gibson to converted quarterback Greg Ward Jr. to frequent Eagle Bryce Treggs – will be battling for one or two spots behind a locked in top four (Alshon Jeffery, Nelson Agholor, Mike Wallace and Mack Hollins) and maybe another one or two on the practice squad. Don’t be surprised if the shortest guy is left standing.

Joe Ostman , DE: It is not an exaggeration to say that Ostman, despite not having projectable NFL athleticism, was one of the best defensive players in college football. Just last year, Ostman (6-3, 255) had 19½ tackles for a loss (45½ for his career) and 13 sacks (26 career). He was considered a Day 3 pick who might be best suited as an outside linebacker in a 3-4 alignment. Here, with a wide-9 attack, he is a low-risk/high-reward longshot for the active roster at one of team’s deepest positions, but he will get a long look and could earn training time on the practice squad (and a second I-told-you-so mentioned here next year). Without much raw athletic ability, his high motor clearly runs on a lot of fuel, and Philly rightfully loves that as much as mustard on a soft pretzel.

Tre Sullivan, S: Even with Corey Graham back in the fold and Chris Maragos returning from injury, don’t be surprised if a safety you never heard of before lands on the final 53-man roster and another on the practice squad. Despite playing at Division III Shepherd, Sullivan was in camp last year, hit everything that moved and was promptly brought back for another chance to refine his game. Two other rookie free agent safeties – Jeremy Reaves and Stephen Roberts – are in the mix, but Sullivan may have an edge in his second camp.

Toby Weathersby, OT: Two guarantees. One, the media focus will be on seventh-round pick Jordan Mailata, who never played a snap of football before being drafted. Two, the more prepared player for right now will be Weathersby (6-4, 317), who played big-time college football at LSU. What that will mean when the final cuts come is hard to say, but if you look who is plowing holes for the likes of Adams to run through, it just might be No. 74.

This article originally appeared at phillyphanatics.com.

By GORDON GLANTZ

GORDONVILLE — Is there a downside to being the defending Super Bowl champions?

Since no team has repeated in 13 tries, overcoming the odds would be one negative, but not on a par with trading it away for experiencing the ultimate thrill of victory.

A related downside is that most defending champions, even during the salary cap era of more turnover, head into that repeat season without a whole lot of healthy roster competition – or intriguing storylines – when the training wheels come off for training camp.

Nonetheless, while starting jobs may not be at stake, there will be roster battles for the world-champion Birds when the blocking sleds and Gatorade bottles come out.

In the case of the Eagles, some intrigue involves key players returning from injuries that kept them on the sidelines while earning rings for the run to glory.

Is that enough to make the 2018 preseason read like more of a page-turning mystery?

Let’s take our annual position-by-position look and search for clues:

OFFENSE

Quarterback: Still not sure why Carson Wentz missing the final three games of the regular season – especially when the final game meant nothing – disqualified him from MVP consideration, especially when it would not have if he missed the first three games and then came on strong, but that’s just a quirk in the system. The truth, while not getting too biblical here, is that Wentz was like Moses, leading us to the precipice of The Promised Land, while Nick Foles – Super Bowl MVP – was Joshua, who led the people there (after Moses died). The good news for the Eagles is that, while some trade offers for Foles were entertained, the trigger was not pulled. They have the best insurance policy this side of Lloyd’s of London. Nate Sudfeld, who some dumb-dumbs out there wanted to start in the playoffs after an OK performance in the regular-season finale, returns in an apprentice role while some guy named Joe – Joe Callahan – is the fourth arm with a ceiling of maybe sticking on the practice squad.

Running Back: This is the most crowded picture heading into camp and an area of the most intrigue. Counting on the healthy return of Darren Sproles, the Eagles will have a three-headed backfield of Jay Ajayi as the main ballcarrier and Corey Clement as the do-it-all No. 2 and Sproles hoping to reprise his role as the quintessential third-down back. How many backs will be carried is the main question? The choices range from dinged-but-talented Wendell Smallwood, last year’s fourth-round disappointment Donnel Pumphrey, journeyman Matt Jones and undrafted rookie out of Notre Dame – by way of CB South High School – Josh Adams. Sproles never played much in preseason before, so it’s doubtful he will this year. Ajayi has a bad wheel, so he won’t see the field much, either. The coaching staff will likely not want Clement, last year’s feel-good story out of camp who ended up with 100 receiving yards and a touchdown catch in the Super Bowl, carrying too much of the preseason load. That leaves the others with plenty of touches to separate the contenders from the pretenders for what could be one roster spot.

Wide Receiver: Because of the nature of preseason, where defensive units are usually hodge-podge messes playing vanilla coverage, this is often a time when no-name wideouts get a little bit of love – especially from those who can’t count up to 53 and don’t realize that eight receivers can’t make a roster. This year, with the Eagles, the main four spots are set with Alshon Jeffery and newcomer Mike Wallace outside, Nelson Agholor in the slot and emerging second-year man Mack Hollins, a special teams standout, all mortal locks. The question then becomes how many more receivers are kept? The answer may hinge, in part, on how many running backs are kept and/or how much the coaching staff plans to use tight ends in non-traditional ways. The next group of choices include another well-traveled veteran in Markus Wheaton, last year’s fifth-round pick Shelton Gibson and 49er-turned-Eagle-turned-Brown-turned-Eagle Bryce Treggs. Greg Ward Jr., who was on the practice squad last year as a converted quarterback, is a sleeper to back up Agholor in the slot while Rashard Davis could make a name for himself as a return man. There will be a lot of interest in a local player, Tim Wilson, who played at East Stroudsburg, but the beat writers would be best served to get their mandatory feature stories filed on him before the first cuts are made.

Tight End: The Eagles didn’t bring back Brent Celek and had no choice but to let Trey Burton walk in free agency, where the Bears made him the eighth-best paid tight end in the league. Behind emerging superstar Zach Ertz (left), veteran Richard Rodgers was signed from the Packers to ostensibly replace Celek while Dallas Goedert was drafted in the second round to replace Burton. That leaves little roster space for a plethora of tight ends in camp. Billy Brown was a record-setting possession wide receiver in college, albeit at Division III Shepherd, and spent last season learning the tight end trade while on the practice squad. Adam Zaruba is a total project as a Canadian rugby player, while Joshua Perkins is a hybrid tight end/receiver who has been on the practice squad of the Falcons.

Offensive Line: If the Eagles don’t have the best offensive line in football, the unit is pretty close. Pending Hall of Famer Jason Peters returns at left tackle after missing more than half the season with what was presumed to be a career-ending knee injury. On the other side, Lane Johnson, is widely considered the best right tackle in the league. In addition to his speech for the ages at the Super Bowl parade, center Jason Kelce had an All-Pro season while guard Brandon Brooks – playing between Kelce and Johnson, earned a Pro Bowl nod. Stefen Wisniewski settled the unit down when he became the starter at left guard. Locks to make the team are third-year man Halapoulivaati Vatai, who will go from starting at left tackle on a Super Bowl winner to the bench as the third tackle, and versatile third-year man Isaac Seumalo. It will then come down to how many more linemen the Eagles feel they need to keep, which may also be about how heavy they want to go at other spots. Likely to see plenty of preseason snaps, along with returnee at guard Chance Warmack and tackle Taylor Hart, are rookie sixth-round pick Matt Pryor, a guard-tackle, and seventh-round Jordan Mailata. Measuring in at 6-8 and 345 pounds, Mailata is an Australian rugby player learning football. Others to watch are Darrell Greene, a pure guard who has been close to making the team and has instead been on and off the practice squad since 2016, and center Jon Toth, who was added to the practice squad last season.

Smelling Salt Alert: The Eagles are to be commended for going out of the box in selecting Mailata. However, reality sets in. No way he’s ready to play this year, but there is no way he won’t draw interest from another team if placed on the practice squad. They could concoct an injury and place him on IR or PUP (Physically Unable to Perform) or they could make him the 53rd player on a 53- man roster. That would mean going light another position, and that could take a bite out of the skill positions. If Goedert is all he is made out to be, Rodgers could be axed and two of the “other” tight ends could be stashed on the practice squad to supplement. Same thing at receiver. Beyond Hollins, there really is no reason to keep more than four on the 53-man roster – especially if Ertz, Goedert and Sproles line up outside – and don’t be shocked if Pumphrey is made into a hybrid running back/slot receiver and no other backs make the team beyond Ajayi, Clement and Sproles. Any combination of these scenarios would allow for 10 – or even 11 – offensive linemen.

DEFENSE

Defensive End: Brandon Graham, after his crucial strip sack of Tom Brady in the Super Bowl, should probably be signed to a lifetime contract. Not realistic, but it’s a thought. As it is, while never having to pay for a meal in this town again, he returns at defensive end while the guy who recovered Brady’s fumble, then-rookie Derek Barnett, moves into the starting lineup in place of Vinny Curry (now with the Buccaneers). Perennial Pro Bowler Michael Bennett comes in from Seattle and will likely line up a lot inside, as did Curry, on passing downs. Chris Long, coming off of back-to-back Super Bowl rings with the Patriots and Eagles, decided to play one more year. That was enough to keep deep reserve Steven Means in the house while drafting Josh Sweat in the fourth round and signing Joe Ostman as a priority undrafted free agent.

Defensive Tackle: As healthy as the end position looks, the inside is in a bit of a state of flux. Starter Timmy Jernigan is going to miss training camp and the start of the season with a herniated disc in his back. Meanwhile, Beau Allen has moved on to line up alongside Curry with the Bucs. That appears to leave less support for All-World tackle Fletcher Cox. Massive veteran Haloti Ngata (6-4, 340) was signed from Detroit to ostensibly fill the role of place of playing 15-20 snaps per game left by Allen’s departure. In the short-term, Ngata may even be an upgrade. However, even with Bennett and Graham able to slide inside on passing downs, a temporary starter will need to be found from a secondary group of guys who have only shown brief flashes – Destiny Vaeao, Elijah Qualls and Aziz Shittu. A dark horse, with a strong camp, could be Winston Craig.

Linebacker: A year ago, Mychal Kendricks asked to be traded. His wish wasn’t granted, and he ended up playing extra snaps after talented-but-brittle middle linebacker Jordan Hicks suffered yet another season-ending injury. This year, with Hicks reportedly well again and Nigel Bradham remaining in the fold, Kendricks was released outright. In his place will be either Corey Nelson, a free agent from the Broncos, second-year man Nathan Gerry or third-year man Kamu Grugier-Hill. Meanwhile, another player with injury issues – but effective when healthy – is Joe Walker, who will play behind Hicks in the middle. If all stay healthy, we are looking at a young and talented group with Bradham as the veteran anchor. Even Nelson, after four years in Denver, is just 26.

Cornerback: This is the year it goes completely over to the younger players to sink or swim. Ronald Darby, acquired from Buffalo last year – ostensibly to be the No. 1 corner – was a 2015 draft pick by the Bills. Jalen Mills, in his third year, returns on the outside while the slot corner job will go to either Sidney Jones, who was drafted in the second round last year despite a torn Achilles, or one of the following: offseason standout De’Vante Busby, fourth-round pick Avonte Maddox or street free agent DJ Killings. Rasul Douglas, who held his own as a spot starter after being drafted in the third-round last year, is more likely be a sub outside or get a look as a hybrid corner/safety to take advantage of his size (6-2, 209).

Safety: While set with starters Malcolm Jenkins (left) and Rodney McLeod, some of the most compelling intrigue, in terms of competition, may come behind them – not only in who makes the team but in terms of how many safeties are kept. Will it be four? Will it be five? It’s up to the players themselves. The Eagles are reportedly infatuated with hard-hitting Tre Sullivan, who made an impression last preseason by knocking a Green Bay Packer out of a game with a lethal hit. Meanwhile, Jeremy Reaves and Stephen Roberts were both aggressively pursued and signed after going undrafted and should be getting long looks. A year ago, it was corner-safety hybrid Randall Goforth, who spent the year on IR and who will also be in the mix. What will this mean for Chris Maragos, the veteran special teams demon who was sidelined with a knee injury, remains to be seen.

Smelling Salt Alert: Ever since rosters have been at 53 players, there have been handshake agreements between offensive and defensive coordinators to each get 25 slots, with the other three going to special teams for a kicker, a punter and a long snapper. However, there are some extenuating circumstances going on. In addition to the self-created Mailata conundrum, it remains to be seen what will happen with Bennett after allegations surfaced over a strange off-field situation at Super Bowl before last. On top of that, there is the scenario with Jernigan. This all could mean the season starting with 26 defensive players and 24 on offense. At linebacker, expect Nate Gerry – drafted to be converted to linebacker after playing safety at Nebraska – to be one of the most improved players on the team. However, don’t be surprised if there is a revolving door of veteran linebackers coming through after they are released by other teams. After losing free agent Paul Worrilow for the season, the Eagles already grabbed the well-traveled LaRoy Reynolds for a look. While a defensive tackle job is up for grabs, expect the Eagles to take advantage of their depth at defensive end and keep six (Graham, Barnett, Bennett, Long, Sweat and Means). The secondary, particularly safety, will be intriguing. Do they play it safe and keep Maragos, and maybe even bring back Corey Graham, or do they open it up some younger guys (Sullivan, Reaves, Roberts). And be prepared to be a bit disappointed in Jones, as he is ostensibly still a rookie, while Darby may turn some heads after playing on one leg down the stretch last season.

SPECIAL TEAMS

Kicker: Jake Elliott

Punter: Cameron Johnston

Long Snapper: Rick Lovato

Smelling Salt Alert: There is no competition for any of these guys, and there probably won’t be. This doesn’t mean all is well in the land of specialists. As stoic as Elliott was a year ago as a rookie, second-year kickers have often struggled. One bad kick leads to another bad kick and, suddenly, there is an issue from the shoulders up. And while Johnston – a 26-year-old from Ohio State by way of Australia – showed a strong enough leg last preseason to get an invite back to replace Donnie Jones, he and Elliott will need to develop a rapport as holder and kicker. Lovato, on the other hand, was just about flawless as year ago.

This analysis originally appeared at phillyphanatics.com

 

By GORDON GLANTZ

GORDONVILLE — How do we evaluate the 2018 draft of the Super Bowl champions – yeah, that’s right, I said it – Philadelphia Eagles? There are multiple lenses through which to view it.

Given the Carson Wentz trade, and those used for others of the title puzzle, this year’s crop is small.

Do we factor in last year, when Sidney Jones was taken in the second round with a mind toward red-shirting while rehabbing his shredded Achilles as part of this year’s class? Do we include corner Ronald Darby (acquired for a third from Buffalo) and running back Jay Ajayi (fourth from Miami) as classmates of Jones?

That’s certainly what de fact general manager Howie Roseman would like for us to do.

Do we wait another year, to see who is selected in picks bartered for – including a second next year for moving out of the first round this year – before we take a full snapshot?

Roseman wouldn’t mind that either, and this might be the right offseason to sell it.

While the big picture is generally the best picture when evaluating drafts, there is really no way to look at the 2018 Class but within a vacuum – at least until further notice.

So, let’s get to it:

SECOND ROUND (49th Overall)

DALLAS GOEDERT, TE, SOUTH DAKOTA STATE

Why They Did It: Twin reasons. With Trey Burton moving on to the Chicago Bears, any and all plays and formations involving him in the existing playbook were in jeopardy of gathering dust – even though Burton was somewhat underutilized (60 grabs over the span of the last two seasons) and undersized (6-foot-3, 235 pounds). Goedert (6-5, 256), who draws comparisons to starting Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz and Kansas City Pro Bowler Travis Kelce, perhaps with a touch of Carolina’s Greg Olsen thrown in, has the potential to line up in various spots – similar to Ertz – and create match-up nightmares for opposing defenses. Just like a year ago, when the Eagles were correctly fixated on defensive end Derek Barnett, they played their hand perfectly in landing Goedert. Roseman traded out of the first round, picking up an extra second-rounder next year, and then moved in front of the Dallas Cowboys to select him.

What Would I Have Done? Same thing.

On Notice: Hard to say what the Eagles do, roster-wise, at tight end now. They could carry only two on the active roster. That would be good news for the likes of Billy Brown and Adam Zaruba, who could be warehoused on the practice squad, but bad news for veteran Richard Rodgers. Rodgers is playing at the veteran’s minimum on a one-year deal, so it would be neither a major cost to keep him for insurance nor to cut him loose and deploy a reserve offensive lineman in blocking situations.

FOURTH ROUND (125th Overall)

AVONTE MADDOX, CB, PITTSBURGH

Why They Did It: Even though the Eagles are awash in young corners (Darby, Jones, Jalen Mills and Rasul Douglas), none are proven in the slot. Last year’s slot corner, Patrick Robinson, was stoic in the role (until seemingly getting amnesia on how to play the position in the Super Bowl), but has moved back to his original team, the Saints, after one year here. The Eagles acquired Daryl Worley in exchange for Torrey Smith, but he was released after a bizarre brush with the law. Meanwhile, another possible stopgap inside, Jaylen Watkins, signed with the Chargers. Maddox was far from a desperation pick, though. He was generally rated right around where he was picked, with his size (5-9, 184) being the main reason for the slide out of Day 2 (second and third rounds). Although he was dinged up at times in college, Maddox never shied away from contact and gained a reputation as a sure tackler in the open field. He brings unteachable traits – 4.34 speed in the 40, natural ball skills and high character marks. While Mills or safety Malcolm Jenkins may work in the slot early in the season, Maddox could find his place by either season’s end – or 2019 – while contributing on special teams (even as a kick returner). Because he is quick-twitch type of player, Maddox might have been circled by the Eagles because they have six guaranteed games against three division rivals with smallish-pain-in-the-butt slot receivers – Sterling Shepard (Giants), Jamison Crowder (Redskins) and Cole Beasley/Ryan Switzer (Cowboys).

What Would I Have Done? Since they went the tight end route in the second round, I would have been all over Southern Mississippi running back Ito Smith, who ended up going one pick later to the Atlanta Falcons. Yes, they re-signed Darren Sproles to reprise his scatback role, but one must consider the future.

On Notice: Any of the corners – DJ. Killings, De’Vante Busby and undersized converted safety Randall Goforth – hanging on the back end of the expanded roster hoping to secure a spot were dealt a blow in their hopes of staying employed after the summer.

FOURTH ROUND (130th Overall)

JOSH SWEAT, DE, FLORIDA STATE

Why They Did It: Sweat is a talented player that could have easily gone on Day 2. He doesn’t fit every system, but is ideal for Jim Schwartz’s Wide-9 look and would be a difficult blocking assignment for most tight ends. Despite this exciting possibility, Sweat had a serious knee injury in high school and was never 100 percent throughout his college career before foregoing his final season. There are also lingering questions about his motor that scared some teams away.

What Would I Have Done? I guess this championship has made me too giddy to be too critical – at least for a year – so this choice of a player with Sweat’s long-term upside seems logical enough to make Mr. Spock blush.

On Notice: The social media trolls immediately starting punching bus tickets out of town for Brandon Graham and Michael Bennett. But Graham, pretty much the only defensive hero of the Super Bowl, isn’t going anywhere just yet. Bennett, though facing some legal issues of his own – not to mention possible consequences from the league – was brought in more to kick inside on passing downs, which is not what Sweat does at 251 pounds. The more likely candidate to be pushed off the roster – unless Sweat is stashed on IR to get bigger and a bit healthier – is underused Steven Means, who is a better player than most realize. With Chris Long earmarked to retire after this season, Sweat could be pegged to eventually assume his role as a stand-up rusher on passing downs before eventually replacing Graham 16 football lifetimes from now.

SIXTH ROUND (206thth Overall)

MATT PRYOR, OT, TCU

Why They Did It: Because you can’t get enough offensive lineman into the stable for a master trainer like offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland to work with. Stoutland has enough sway to pick and choose who he wants and why, and few questions are asked beyond that. He saw something he liked in Pryor, who once weighed nearly 400 pounds and has a rap for getting lazy at times, and that was good enough for the trigger to be pulled. At the end of the day, the got guard-tackle versatility in a big body (6-7, 332) who is surprisingly athletic.

What Would I Have Done? With Notre Dame running back Josh Adams on the board, I would have bolted to the podium so fast that, well, I probably would have fallen on my face (that still has a smile etched on it from Super Bowl Sunday). Turns out, Roseman still corralled Adams after the draft anyway.

On Notice: Well, it seems like Halapoulivaati Vatai is not on permanent notice as the heir apparent to Jason Peters for reasons I can’t explain. However, Roseman spoke glowing of Pryor’s inside-out versatility – mostly on the right side of the line. To my ears, that sounds like Isaac Seumalo better step up his game to the height of his hairdo in his third year. Seumalo started last year at left guard and struggled. So far, his best work has been as an emergency fill-in at tackle and as a blocking tight end. Still not sure how and why guard Chance Warmack is on the team to begin with, so Pryor could conceivably take his paycheck as well. Also, with Will Beatty (talk about stealing a paycheck, along with a Super Bowl ring) no longer in the mix, there is one less veteran body in the way. And then there is converted defensive lineman Taylor Hart. LOL! Never mind.

SEVENTH ROUND (233rd Overall)

JORDAN MAILATA, OT, AUSTRALIA

Why They Did It: Why not? Hate to answer a question – especially my own – with a question, but low-risk/high-reward is part of the afterglow of being Super Bowl champions.

What Would I Have Done? I would have drafted Adams, but it’s all good.

On Notice: The Eagles will certainly do whatever it takes to keep this multi-year project off the 53-man roster but out of the grasp of other teams by leaving him on the practice squad. That means we’ll need to break out the medical dictionary for hard-to-prove ailments – like back strains – until the time, if it ever arrives, that his man-child (6-8, 346) is ready to suit up. Therefore, while  Mailata (pictured below with Stoutland during rookie mini-camp) is likely already better than Hart, it would be a shock if a roster spot were burned on him this year. More of a shock, though, would be if they cut him this year.

UNDRAFTED FREE AGENTS

Although they have an apparent blind spot for the only Division I football team in the city, the Eagles are always aggressive after the draft ends and are willing to spend – and spend wisely – to get who they want from those left undrafted.

The above paragraph is from last year’s draft review. With no Temple players signed (the last might actually be quarterback Adam DiMichele in 2009), the Eagles still busted some interesting post-draft moves – highlighted by the aforementioned Adams (pictured below), a native of Warrington – that could make training camp interesting.

Those who will have chips on their shoulder pads after not being drafted, despite being generally given grades that would have and could have had their names called on Day 3 include a trio of safeties – Jeremy Reaves (South Alabama), Dominick Sanders (Georgia) and Stephen Roberts (Auburn) – and two corners Chandon Sullivan (Georgia State) and Jordan Thomas (Oklahoma), whose fall from grace was so precipitous that he went from being considered a potential first-round pick two years to an oft-burnt undrafted type when his career ended.

An intriguing signee is Central Michigan defensive end Joe Ostman (6-3, 255), whose productive mid-major career belies his perceived lack of NFL athleticism to continue the production that saw the high-motored former scholastic wrestling standout rank in the top five in the nation last year in sacks (14) and tackles for loss (20.5).

On the offensive side of the ball, perhaps LSU tackle Toby Weatersby (6-4, 317) can make enough noise to be put into Stoutland’s long-term trainee program with Pryor and Mailata.

This column/analysis originally appeared at PhillyPhanatics.com

By GORDON GLANTZ

GORDONVILLE — The Philadelphia Eagles are the defending Super Bowl Champions. Never get tired pf saying it, let alone typing it.

Go ahead – say it. Scream it one more time. Type it out in BOLD LETTERS.

Now, though not letting go of the afterglow, let’s get down to the business at hand.

The Eagles will make their first league-wide appearance as champions at the annual NFL Draft, which begins with Round 1 on Thursday , and then continues with Day 2 (Rounds 2 and 3) and Day 2 (Rounds 4-7) throughout the weekend.

The fact that it takes place in Dallas, at Jerry World, makes it even sweeter.

Howie Roseman, the vindicated de facto general manager, and loyal sidekick Joe Douglas built their world championship roster on many fronts. They signed the scheme-fit veteran free agents, plucked the right guys off the scrap heap, were quick to the punch on trades and did well in selecting college talent – in the draft and after with undrafted talent – since being brought back after being exiled at the whim of one whose name we not mention.

It is likely we will hear the generic clichés from Roseman, Douglas and head coach Doug Pederson about how nothing has changed in their draft approach.

But the reality is much different.

Everything – at least for this year – has changed.

The view from the top of the mountain is different than the one various combinations of front offices and coaching staffs have been trying to scale throughout a Super Bowl era that included just two losing appearances in the Big Dance.

The rightful price of wearing the ring is picking last in the first round at No. 32. The Eagles presently have no picks – as in zero – on Day 2 and then four (two late fourth-rounders, a fifth, a sixth and a seventh) on Day 3.

In the past, such a scenario would have been enough to make Roseman need sedatives.

But the past is the past. In the present, the Eagles are not in desperate need of a quick fix. To stay atop the mountain, and maintain their magical mojo, they can project a year or two down the line and wait merely wait their turn in the chow line and select the best prospect on their board for starting down the road.

For the Eagles, with Carson Wentz coming off a serious knee injury, Super Bowl MVP Nick Foles is an insurance policy worth its megatons in gold. Even if – and it’s a big if – Wentz is ready for training camp, his snaps will be limited. Even if – and it is a moderate if – Wentz is ready for the season opener, there is no guarantee he stays healthy. His playing style and history, even before his season-ender in Los Angeles last December, suggests otherwise.

A team still climbing the mountain in fits and starts may have dumped Foles, who has a definite year left on his since-sweetened deal (reportedly including an option for another year), for a Day 2 pick. A team on top of the world – looking down on creation – has another viewpoint.

In the new reality, trading Foles is just not worth it.

Roseman could put wheels in motion to gain more picks in other ways, such as trading back from No. 32 to the middle of the second round and maybe picking up another fourth in the process. With three fourths, at least two could be packaged – or one with a commodity like linebacker Mychal Kendricks – to get into the third.

It takes some creativity, but Roseman is more creative than Spielberg.

Given that the Eagles have no urgent needs, let us take a by-position looksee and assess what they have and who, in theory, they could add:

OFFENSE

QUARTERBACK

In The Nest: There’s Wentz, an MVP candidate pre-injury, and Foles (left). Behind them is the likely successor to take over for Foles in Nate Sudfeld. Sounds like an ideal situation, but a fourth arm will be needed for camp and a developmental quarterback of the future could be added either late on Day 3 or in free agency.

Need level: Low

Prospects: Tanner Lee (Nebraska), at 6-foot-4 and with a strong arm, seems to fit the Eagles’ prototype. He would need work on mechanics and accuracy, but there would be no hurry. Another name to watch is small-school standout Kyle Lauletta (Richmond), who would fit a West Coast scheme but lacks arm strength. Moving into the seventh round, there could be intrigue around Ohio State’s J.T. Barrett (pictured blow), whose fantastic college career doesn’t seem to pass inspection with pro scouts.

RUNNING BACK

In The Nest: With LeGarrette Blount signing with the Lions, the Eagles have Jay Ajayi and undrafted rookie surprise Corey Clement as a 1-2 punch. There is some talk about Darren Sproles returning. Still, that is speculation. Wendell Smallwood may get another chance to put last year’s injured-riddled campaign behind him and nail down the No. 3 job. The talent is there, and the coaches know it. What isn’t known is if the talent is there for last year’s fourth-rounder, Donnel Pumphrey, who struggled last preseason and was stashed on IR with a bruised ego.

Need level: Moderate (Ajayi has knee issues and would need to be re-signed to stick around beyond this season).

Prospects: It wouldn’t surprise anyone, from so-called experts to the guy waiting for a cheese steak at Pat’s, if the Eagles used their first-rounder on a back. Ideal fits – for all-round skills like Clement, who is a clone of running back coach/mentor Duce Staley – are LSU’s Derrius Guice (5-11, 218) or Georgia’s Sony Michel (5-11, 215). Others in the conversation could easily include USC’s Ronald Jones II (pictured above), who draws comparisons to Jamaal Charles, and Auburn’s Kerryon Johnson (6-1, 212). If the Eagles chose to wait until Day 3, there are system-fit backs who may never be a true No. 1 but could slide right into a rotational role. There are smaller backs – Southern Mississippi’s highly productive Ito Smith (5-9, 195, picured below) and Miami’s human highlight reel, Mark Walton Jr. (5-9, 205) – and a litany of bigger backs: Notre Dame’s Josh Adams (6-1, 225), Oregon’s Royce Freeman (5-10, 234) and Alabama’s Bo Scarborough (6-2, 232). There is also the best of both worlds with compact power runner John Kelly Jr. (5-9, 205) of Tennessee.

WIDE RECEIVER

In The Nest: Alshon Jeffery is the No. 1, while Nelson Agholor should pick up where he left off in the Super Bowl in the slot. At the No. 2 spot, ostensibly reserved for the deep threat, the Eagles upgraded by signing Mike Wallace to take the place of Torrey Smith (even though the guy received in return, Darryl Worley, was since released following a peculiar brush with the law). Mack Hollins (fourth round last year) is the quintessential fourth receiver who excels on special teams while developing starter skills. Fellow second-year man Shelton Gibson (fifth round last year) will likely be battling the likes of Bryce Treggs, journeyman Marques Wilson and slot receiver Greg Ward Jr., a converted college quarterback who seemed to be getting it by the end of last preseason, for a roster spot or two.

Need level: Moderate (Only the first four are set in stone)

Prospects: With so many college teams running spread offenses, receiver has become one of the most difficult positions to evaluate. A guy with no real size/speed measurables can have a million catches for a billion yards and a thousand touchdowns while one with seemingly all the drool-worthy tools may not have produced up to his potential, either due to a run-first system or lame quarterback play or injuries, etc. This leads to early-round busts and late-round – or even undrafted – receivers making an impact. Looking ahead, Roseman may want to hedge his bet with what is in-house with another future weapon for Wentz. It is considered an average crop this year, which means there could be some temptation if a guy like SMU’s Courtland Sutton free falls to the end of Round 1. Sutton was once considered the best receiver in this class, but comparisons to Randy Moss have given way to being seen more in the mold of Hall of Famer – and one-time Eagle – Art Monk. Sutton has size (6-3, 218) and ball skills (68 career touchdowns, many in the red zone), but runs a pedestrian 4.58. While Sutton’s stock has dropped a bit, he is still unlikely to last until the Eagles pick. While they would love to get their hands on Washington’s Dante Pettis, a record-setting return man and productive pass catcher who projects to the slot, it is unlikely he lasts beyond Day 2. That would leave options like Trey Quinn (benefitted from playing across from Sutton at SMU after transferring from LSU, bringing in 114 catches for 1,236 yards last season), Boise State’s Cedrick Wilson, Florida State’s imposing Auden Tate (6-4, 235) and Texas Tech’s Swiss Army knife Keke Couttee as options in the fourth or fifth round. In the seventh round, or in the UDFA phase, the Eagles may even consider waiving their ban on Temple players and looking at Keith Kirkwood (pictured below).

TIGHT END

In The Nest: Super Bowl hero and All-Pro Zach Ertz is entering the prime of his career. Veteran Richard Rodgers was signed to be his backup, making the apparent need for a No. 2 – which seemed dire after Brent Celek (left) was released and Trey Burton went on to sign a big-bucks deal with the Chicago Bears – less obvious. The Eagles are high on Billy Brown, a former record-setting Division II wide receiver, and kept him on the practice squad to learn the tight end trade. Also in house is Canadian rugby player Adam Zaruba and Joshua Perkins, who also has some intriguing tools as a receiving tight end.

Need level: Moderate (It’s a sold incoming class, so …)

Prospects: Before the signing of Rodgers on a stop-gap deal, many projected the Eagles taking an Ertz stunt double in South Dakota State’s Dallas Goedert (6-5, 255, pictured below), whose stock has risen to the point where a late first-round pick would not be accompanied by a sitcom laugh track. If the Eagles wanted to wait until Day 3, they could dare to fill Celek’s blocking void with the draft’s alleged best blocking tight end, Florida State’s Ryan Izzo (6-4, 255) or a receiving type in Adam Brenneman (6-4, 255) who transferred from Penn State to Massachusetts and caught 134 passes the last two years.

OFFENSIVE LINE

In The Nest: Poor Halapoulivaati Vatai. Dude started a bunch of games for the suspended right Lane Johnson as a rookie fifth-round pick in 2016 and came back last season and started at left tackle after Jason Peters went down for the season in Week 7. After some initial struggles, the TCU product was sound throughout the run to glory. Yet, with Peters deciding to give it another season, a general presumption is that the Eagles will make a priority to find his heir apparent in the draft as if Vatai were never born. Johnson came back last year and was a Pro Bowl selection at right tackle. Ditto for Brandon Brooks at right guard, while Jason Kelce had a career year at center and was a second-team All-Pro. Stefen Wisniewski solidified the line at left guard when Isaac Seumalo and Chance Warmack both failed to impress. Others in-house options are guard Darrell Greene, who was on the practice squad, and converted defensive lineman Taylor Hart, who is trying to cut it as a tackle. Center Jon Toth, like Greene, spent the season on the practice squad.

Need level: Moderate (Even without an abundance of picks, it is standard operating procedure to draft at least one lineman at some point).

Prospects: The Eagles have reportedly shown tire-kicking interest in Oklahoma’s massive Orlando Brown (6-7, 345). But, if he lasts to No. 32, it seems his NFL home would be at right tackle, meaning Johnson would have to jump to the blind side and push Vatai to the bench. Other possible first-round tackles are Mississippi State’s Martinas Rankin (6-5, 304) and Western Michigan’s Chukwuma Okorafor (6-5, 330), but another realistic option could be a pure guard like UTEP’s Will Hernandez (6-3, 340). Despite playing for a putrid team that went winless, Hernandez (pictured below) distinguished himself at the Senior Bowl and his tape shows balanced play in pass protection and run blocking. Later in the draft, the Eagles could look at small-school prospects, like Maine’s Jamil Demby, a Vineland, N.J., native who used his frame (6-5, 323) to dominate at tackle but may be more suited at guard in the big leagues. A similar small-school prospect who may project inside is Stony Brook’s Timon Parris (6-5, 310). A wild card could be Army’s Brett Toth (6-6, 303). At center, the Eagles may have interest in Alabama’s Bradley Bozeman (6-5, 314), even though the Crimson Tide connection to offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland is lessened with each passing year.

DEFENSE

DEFENSIVE LINE

In The Nest: As is the case with the offensive line, the Eagles have one of the best situations in the league here and are positioned to throw fresh legs at opponents. They already upgraded, replacing the solid Vinnie Curry with Pro Bowler Michael Bennett at defensive and adding Haloti Ngata to replace Beau Allen as the third tackle behind standout Fletcher Cox and Timmy Jernigan. Brandon Graham is back at the defensive end spot while ascending star Derek Barnett and cagey veteran Chris Long bring depth. The group is rounded out by end Steven Means, who has always produced when given a chance, and defensive tackles Destiny Vaeao, Aziz Shittu, Elijah Qualls and Winston Craig.

Need level: Low (meaning they will draft one in the first round)

Prospects: If the scouts/coaches/front office fall in love with a guy who falls, who knows? They are likely to give last year’s sixth-round pick, Qualls, a shot to improve – and move ahead of Vaeao – before adding a tackle, but maybe another pass rusher wouldn’t be the worst idea. Late in the fourth round, someone like the long and lean Miami product Chad Thomas (6-5, 275) or Missouri’s Graham-like Marcell Frazier (6-4, 261, pictured below) might be worth a shot as someone to develop, with Long likely hanging up his spikes after one more year and Bennett possibly only passing through for a season.

LINEBACKER

In The Nest: With Kendricks still around, this is presently a nice mix of solid starters – Kendricks, Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham – along with experienced backups in free agent signees Corey Nelson and Paul Worrilow followed by young guys with potential (Joe Walker, Kamu Grugier-Hill and Nate Gerry). However, it could become thinner, considering that Kendricks might really be on the auction block this year and that Hicks – and his back-up, Walker – are injury prone.

Need level: Moderate

Prospects: In the first round, the Eagles could conceivably score with someone like Alabama’s Rashaan Evans (6-2, 232, pictured below) or reach a bit for a Hicks clone – even from the same school, Texas – in the versatile Malik Jefferson (6-2, 240), who runs a 4.66 40 (a good speed for a linebacker). However, they could also wait until Day 3 and grab Wentz’s college teammate at North Dakota State, Nick DeLuca (6-3, 243), who had a stellar career but was prone to injury and runs a pedestrian 4.84. One the draft’s fastest linebackers, UCF’s Shaquiem Griffin (4.62), is not quite as physical and is on the smaller side (6-1, 229). However, as a fourth- or fifth-round pick, he could at least add a special teams boost.

SECONDARY

In The Nest: With Patrick Robinson gone after one solid year in the slot, this now becomes the kiddie corner (pun intended). The likely starters are third-year man Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby, who was acquired last preseason and missed a chunk of the regular season but returned for the stretch run at what looked like less than 100 percent. The wild card is Sidney Jones, who was slated to be one of the top corners drafted in a strong corner class last year before an Achilles injury bumped him out of the first round to the Eagles in the second. He played a few snaps late in the year, but it was not a true test. Third-round pick Rasul Douglas did well as a rookie (two interceptions), all things considered, playing extended snaps while Darby was out. In the wake of Worleygate, and with versatile corner/safety Jaylen Watkins now with the Chargers, there could be a need for one more fresh face or another veteran who ends up on the street. At safety, Pro Bowler and spiritual leader Malcolm Jenkins (left) forms a sound duo with Rodney McLeod. However, with Corey Graham currently unsigned, depth – and plans for the future – are twin concerns. Chris Maragos remains, but he is a special teams standout and only a safety in an extreme emergency. Two guys under the radar are Randall Goforth and Tre Sullivan. Goforth went undrafted last year, despite a solid career at UCLA, with his size (5-9, 176) being the likely reason. Sullivan, out of Division II Shepherd (the same school as Brown, the possible third tight end) hit like a truck in the preseason and was added to the practice squad the middle of the year.

Need level: Moderately High (although too many young players could spell trouble)

Prospects: While the Eagles are unlikely to go corner in the first round, safety is a real possibility. A name that keeps coming up is Stanford’s Justin Reid (6-1, 196, pictured below). The younger brother of Eric Reid brings a similar skill set as Jenkins (the ability to do anything from manning center field to play in the box to cover the slot receiver). Another name to consider at No. 32 is Alabama’s Ronnie Harrison, who has drawn comparisons to Ronnie Lott and Landon Collins, providing he puts his size (6-2, 214), speed (4.54) and instincts together consistently at the pro level. If they wait on a safety, a fourth-round possibility would be Wake Forest’s Jesse Bates III (6-2, 198, 4.57), who adds punt returning to his resume. Later in the draft, there is Louisiana’s Tracy Walker, who runs a 4.43 and has the type of wing span in his frame (6-1, 198) that makes NFL teams salivate. Another player who might fit, given the versatility that the Eagles like from their secondary, is San Diego State’s Kameron Kelly (6-1, 195). Kelly played safety and then transitioned to corner and looked the part, with excellent ball skills and a knack for big plays. He could be around in the fourth round. If Kelly is gone, there are two pure corners from polar opposite ends of the college football universe – Alabama’s slightly undersized Levi Wallace (5-11, 185) and Jacksonville State’s Siran Neal (6-0, 206), who also has experience at safety. A versatile defensive back that may or may not get drafted is four-year Temple starter Sean Chandler (6-0, 190), who is a Camden native.

SPECIALISTS

In The Nest: Placekicker Jake Elliott, coming off a terrific first year after being signed to replace the injured Caleb Sturgis, and long snapper Rick Lovato are not going anywhere and likely won’t even have competition in training camp. Punter, though, is another story. Donnie Jones allegedly retired, and last year’s training camp challenger, Aussie Cameron Johnston (a national champion at Ohio State), showed enough to be brought back. However, he will not be handed the job and will surely face competition.

Need level: Low-ish

Prospects: There are two excellent punting prospects in the draft, one of which – another Aussie, Texas’ Michael Dickson (pictured below), could even go somewhere during Day 1. The other – Alabama’s JK Scott (an imposing 6-5, 207) – is not far behind and can also be a viable emergency placekicker. With so few picks, and so many unemployed punters with NFL experience on the street, it is unlikely the Eagles go this route. But when you are sitting atop the mountain, seeing a different view than the other 31 teams, anything is possible.

This analysis originally ran in PhillyPhanatics.com