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The NFC champions in 2022, the Philadelphia Eagles are only a few weeks away from including the following batch of expertise to what’s shortly changing into one of many NFL’s most gifted rosters. As the ultimate tweaks to the draft board are made, ought to GM Howie Roseman and the Eagles choose Texas RB Bijan Robinson with the No. 10 number of the 2023 NFL Draft?
Bijan Robinson May Push the Eagles Over the High within the NFC
Final season, the Jalen Hurts-led Eagles offense was one of the prolific teams within the league and the most effective in crew historical past. With a league-best 14-3 report, Philly enters the NFL Draft not needing to rebuild however improve the place attainable.
In 2022, the Eagles ranked third in factors per sport (28.1) and yards per sport (389.1). They have been fifth in dashing yards per sport (147.6), ninth in passing yards (256.7), and had the second-highest share of drives ending in a landing (30.6%).
Hurts took a major step ahead as a passer, throwing for 3,701 yards, 22 touchdowns, and simply six interceptions. On the bottom, he was almost pretty much as good because it will get, dashing for 760 yards with a further 13 scores. However he was not the one Eagles rusher that had success. Operating again Miles Sanders recorded a career-best season with 1,269 yards and 11 touchdowns, each setting new excessive watermarks.
Nonetheless, Sanders joined the Carolina Panthers throughout free company, thus creating a possible emptiness within the beginning lineup. Not solely did they decide to re-sign Boston Scott, however Philadelphia signed former Seattle Seahawks first-rounder Rashaad Penny.
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When wholesome, Penny has proven to be one of many higher rushers within the NFL. When he has acquired 12 or extra carries in his profession (10 video games), Penny has generated seven 100+ yard outings with a low of 60, coming again in Week 1 of 2022 towards Denver. On common, he posted 122 dashing yards on 16.5 carries with 1.1 touchdowns behind a far weaker Seattle offensive line.
If he can put his damage troubles up to now, Penny, together with Scott and Kenneth Gainwell, ought to have the ability to maintain the Eagles’ offense firing on all cylinders. Plus, for so long as Roseman has been with the franchise, this has been an offense that operates underneath a committee method at RB.
Nonetheless, Bijan Robinson is exclusive and would considerably improve the present roster. ESPN’s Matt Miller reported that “working again comes up loads when speaking to each crew and league sources in regards to the Eagles’ draft plans.”
For all of the reward positioned on Robinson’s shoulders during the last three years, it nonetheless won’t do him justice. Expertise alone, Robinson is a top-five participant on this class. He’s the perfect rusher to enter the draft since Saquon Barkley and produced 1,580 dashing yards (6.1 common) with 18 touchdowns along with 19 receptions for 314 yards (16.5 common) and two extra scores on the College of Texas final season.
Each metric for Robinson screams he can be an ideal match for the Eagles. Sadly, that very same degree of success might be what retains him from becoming a member of the crew.
Historical past Suggests Howie Roseman Received’t Make a Transfer for Robinson at No. 10
“We’re fairly set in how we imagine we must always construct this crew, and we’re going to be dedicated to that till one thing exhibits us that there’s a unique method,” Roseman said in 2019.
Roseman deserves full credit score for not simply the strikes which have positioned the crew on this state of affairs through the years but additionally the Eagles even being on this dialog. Sometimes, once you come off of a Tremendous Bowl look, gamers of Robinson’s ability set aren’t in your vary.
But, Philly has the posh of holding not solely their draft decide at No. 30 but additionally the No. 10 decide from their commerce with the New Orleans Saints final yr after they secured a 2023 first and a 2024 second-round decide as a part of a bundle deal that gave the Saints two first rounders in 2022.
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Luxurious is the operative phrase. Many have advised the Eagles ought to merely take the perfect participant obtainable at No. 10, which, on this occasion, would seemingly be Robinson.
However the Eagles’ high 30 visits and their historical past converse in any other case. Of the 16 pre-draft visits thus far, Robinson is the one offensive ability participant. In truth, solely CBs Joey Porter Jr. (Penn State), Keelee Ringo (Georgia), and Emmanuel Forbes (Mississippi State) have been gamers who visited however didn’t play on the offensive or defensive position, which provides a transparent indication wherein path the Eagles are trying.
There’s additionally a historic precedent to think about. The franchise hasn’t drafted a running back within the first spherical since 1986 (Keith Byars), and 1979 was the final time they took a linebacker within the first spherical (Jerry Robinson).
The Eagles have drafted working backs within the second spherical since, most not too long ago, Sanders, in 2019. However it’s not their modus operandi or what the NFL tends to do both, as solely 5 working backs have been chosen within the first 10 alternatives during the last 10 years. Granted, it’s a who’s who checklist of Saquon Barkley, Leonard Fournette, Christian McCaffrey, Ezekiel Elliott, and Todd Gurley, however as proven, draft capital doesn’t characterize availability.
Philadelphia Does Not Have The ‘Luxurious’ To Choose Bijan Robinson At No. 10 General In The 2023 NFL Draft
From a egocentric standpoint, I’d get pleasure from watching the Eagles’ offense with Robinson and Hurts within the backfield. It will be as dynamic because it will get however seemingly not the perfect use of the choice.
“For Bijan, it’s not a matter of we don’t worth working backs in any respect,” ESPN Draft Analyst Mel Kiper Jr. not too long ago said. “It’s first-round working backs you don’t since you don’t must draft one within the first spherical. They normally drop anyway. Most groups have a reasonably good secure of working backs. That’s the reason it’s laborious to essentially discover a place for Bijan as a result of most groups have already got a reasonably good group of working backs.”
Whereas not the transfer which might put followers of their seats, prioritizing the offensive line or cornerback makes much more sense. Though Jason Kelce is again for an additional season, he’s mulled over retirement, as has Lane Johnson. Thus, the way forward for the offensive line must be thought-about.
Northwestern OT Peter Skoronski’s versatility would assist maintain the offensive line a energy for years to come back. Iowa’s Lukas Van Ness can be a incredible possibility to think about for the defensive finish position, as Brandon Graham is within the twilight of his profession. There, he’d function a long-term possibility alongside Josh Sweat and Haason Reddick.
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Now, if Robinson continues to be obtainable at decide No. 30, I’d be all-in, as I feel the Eagles can be. But, I’d even be stunned if Robinson was not beforehand chosen, as he’s extra prone to come off the board by decide No. 20, not to mention nonetheless be there at 30.
Moreover, this can be a very deep working again class. Philadelphia may simply wait and seize Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs, who has been in comparison with New Orleans Saints working again Alvin Kamara, or Zach Charbonnet from UCLA, who might be this yr’s Kenneth Walker III. Even Roschon Johnson in late Spherical 2 or Spherical 3 might be a fair higher worth than Robinson if the Eagles actually need to be sure that they stroll out of the draft with a Longhorn.
Whereas some followers may really feel that is taking the protected method, Philly should be cognizant of their alternatives. Though they’ve three of the highest 62 picks, plus their very own third-rounder (No. 94), Philadelphia is not going to decide once more till the seventh spherical at No. 219.
What initially seemed to be a luxurious is probably going essentially the most important choice the Eagles will make in the course of the 2023 NFL Draft. Roseman is aware of this, and I don’t imagine that Roger Goodell will say Bijan Robinson’s title when he reads the title on the cardboard. In any case, nobody within the NFC has seemingly proven Roseman and Co. “there’s a unique method” to climb the proverbial ladder to the highest.
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