Eagles Film Review: Kenny Pickett, Zack Baun, and other new players

Proper, the primary a part of NFL free company is basically over. If in case you have missed any of my participant breakdowns, then please test them out.

Bryce Huff / Saquon Barkley / Devin White / CJGJ (written final yr).

The Eagles did make just a few different signings, however I must get into draft prospects, so I haven’t got the time to look at all of those gamers in-depth like the opposite 3. Nonetheless, I did wish to briefly test them out, and I’ve posted some ideas on each beneath. If the Eagles make one other huge signing, I’ll in all probability watch them in-depth too.

That is half 1, and I’ll get to the others partially 2.

QB Kenny Pickett – The Eagles gave up a 2024 third-round decide and two 2025 seventh-round picks and obtained Pickett and a 2024 fourth-round decide

I’m actually within the acquisition of Pickett as a result of I favored him popping out of Pitt. I obtained that one flawed, however I do suppose issues may have been totally different if Pickett wasn’t drafted by the Steelers. He simply by no means appeared comfy within the pocket with the Steelers and didn’t play effectively. It was a foul system, however he missed primary throws too usually and actually struggled to seek out any kind of rhythm.

That is what I stated about Pickett when he got here out of school (gulp):

Kenny Pickett appears the a part of quarterback. He has the instruments, can throw with anticipation and create outdoors of construction. He throws intermediate routes with anticipation rather well specifically and exhibits some exact ball location. He does want to wash up his pocket presence and he will probably be overaggressive at instances when he ought to test it down, however I consider within the expertise general.

It’s price remembering that Pickett did obtain AP Offensive Rookie of the 12 months votes in 2022 and didn’t play badly. Final yr, he accomplished 62.0% of his passes, for two,070 yards, and 6 touchdowns to 4 interceptions. Throwing 4 interceptions in 12 video games is fairly good, however simply 6 touchdowns is fairly horrible. Pickett now has 13 touchdowns and 13 interceptions in 2 seasons.

This play kind of sums up the problems with Pickett within the NFL. It’s nice that he can get off his major learn and get to the bottom, but it surely takes him too lengthy which implies he misses a straightforward throw. He must be coached to hurry up his processing pace and hopefully, Kellen Moore may also help him try this.

And right here you may see the struggles with pocket consciousness. He simply appears uncomfortable.

It’s fascinating Pickett within the preseason of 2022, and the way significantly better and calmer he appeared general. That is the type of play that summarises why I favored him popping out. The informal pretend and anticipation throw is spectacular for a rookie.

Nonetheless, I do suppose Pickett has upside as backup and if the Eagles can attempt to flip him again into the participant he was in faculty, I feel it is a actually sensible signing. Pickett can present the Eagles with backup for two years on a low wage, however gained’t create any quarterback controversy!

QB Will Grier, 1-year deal.

Yeah… Will Grier has been within the league since 2019 when he was drafted within the third spherical (what have been the Panthers doing?) and has thrown 52 profession passes in 2 video games. In these 2 video games, he managed to take 6 sacks and throw 4 interceptions. Grier is only a camp physique who may also help educate the opposite quarterbacks as he’s performed below Kellen Moore earlier than.

OL Matt Hennessy, 1-year deal.

This can be a basic Howie Roseman under-the-radar signing. Guess who he was in comparison with pre-draft by Bleacher Report? Jason Kelce. I didn’t watch Hennessy pre-draft, however this was his scouting report.

Hennessy is a remarkably environment friendly mover who doesn’t take a play off and has the type of tenacity groups need in a frontrunner of the road. He has a reasonably skinny general body, and dealing with NFL-caliber beef up entrance may show to be a tall activity early in his profession. Nonetheless, Hennessy is all effort and has managed to win to this point regardless of his restricted body. If he’s capable of construct practical power all through his core, there’s no cause he can’t develop right into a high-level starter. He’s a clean move protector and lives for lateral blocks in area. He personified robust and was acknowledged for it in faculty, which suggests he has the work ethic to construct the physique his new workforce desires.

If that doesn’t sound like an Eagles inside offensive lineman, I do not know what does. Hennessy has performed nearly all of his profession at middle however has additionally performed at left guard. He ought to be a flexible backup at middle and both guard positions. He hasn’t performed a lot the previous 2 years as a result of knee accidents, however when he performed in 2021 PFF ranked him because the third greatest run-blocking middle within the league. Nonetheless, he struggled in move safety and gave up a league-high 28 pressures.

I’ve seen just a few feedback about Hennessy probably beginning this yr, however I might be very stunned. Regardless of liking the scouting studies of him popping out, he hasn’t performed a lot up to now 2 years and struggled in move safety when he did final play. I see him as versatile backup, slightly than a starter.

LB Zack Baun, 1-year deal

This can be a fascinating signing. Zack Baun was a pass-rushing EDGE in faculty and I keep in mind liking him popping out. Now, he hasn’t had an incredible profession to date since being drafted by New Orleans however I’m undecided he’s had a good probability. This was his scouting report popping out by Bleacher Report.

Baun is a undertaking as an off-ball NFL linebacker, however he’s a flexible prospect who will add worth as a third-down pass-rusher along with his upside on the place. He’s a formidable athlete with a excessive soccer IQ and nice motor, which usually provides as much as an NFL starter. The important thing will probably be whether or not his defensive coordinator has a plan for utilizing and creating him.

Oh, and guess who who his pro-comparison was? Haason Reddick.

I didn’t see Baun as an off-ball linebacker, however the Saints clearly did. He performed within the Saints base 4-3 packages and barely performed at EDGE. This surprises me as a result of Baun appeared like an honest pass-rusher popping out of school, and even had 12.5 sacks in his ultimate yr at Wisconsin. Baun was an off-ball linebacker till final yr when he lastly obtained the possibility to hurry the quarterback. His PFF pass-rushing productiveness ranked 71st, and he ended up with 2 sacks, 2 hits, and 11 hurries on 137 pass-rushing alternatives.

When requested about enjoying off-ball linebacker for the beginning of his profession, Baun lately stated this…

“At instances. I feel I’d be mendacity if I stated it wasn’t [frustrating waiting for my opportunity],” Baun stated. “However I simply put my head down and saved working and if I didn’t get alternatives on the sting, I’d get them elsewhere, on particular groups or inside linebacker and work on my craft that method.”

It’s fairly clear to me that Baun desires to hurry the quarterback. I feel Baun ought to have the ability to use his expertise as an off-ball linebacker to offer the Eagles with depth at EDGE, and he suits as somebody who can rush the move and drop into protection when wanted. I feel he’s an incredible scheme match for EDGE in a Fangio protection, and he may find yourself being a significant rotation choice subsequent yr.

Simply give this man an opportunity to do that.

LB Oren Burks, 1-year Deal

Burks is an fascinating signing as a result of we all know how mild the Eagles are at linebacker. The 49ers like quick off-ball linebackers, and Burks suits that mould. His athletic profile is extraordinarily robust.

The Eagles appear to love signing athletes at off-ball linebacker, don’t they?

Burks is supposed to be a particular groups ace, which isn’t stunning once you have a look at this athletic profile. I feel he may find yourself enjoying snaps at off-ball linebacker too if the Eagles battle with accidents. Burks was a third spherical decide again in 2018 by Inexperienced Bay, however he hardly ever performed till the 49ers signed him in 2022. Final yr, Burks was the 49ers third linebacker behind Fred Warner and Dre Greenlaw and he ended up enjoying 433 snaps final yr, together with 71 snaps within the Tremendous Bowl as he changed Greenlaw. Burks does not have nice instincts and is extra of a backup at this stage of his profession, however I nonetheless just like the signing if it prevents the Eagles from having so as to add somebody like Shaq Leonard throughout the season.

Additionally, he picked off Dak Prescott, which is fairly cool.

I needed to finish with that play… till subsequent time.