By David Weinberg
For the 50th consecutive year or so, the Eagles were thrilled with their acquisitions during last week’s NFL Draft.
Just as their predecessors did in the previous decades, general manager Howie Roseman, coach Nick Sirianni and the various assistant coaches and scouts expressed delight over the 10 players they selected.
About the only difference was their wardrobe. Former Eagles coach Andy Reid always celebrated the end of the draft by donning a colorful, Hawaiian shirt, while Sirianni opted for a dark green pullover.
But that’s no reflection on their mood, for they expect the newest Eagles to have a bright, sunny future.
On paper and on laptop, the Eagles appeared to fare well. They used their first five picks to fill the openings in their defense that cropped up in the last few months, starting with Alabama linebacker Jihaad Campbell with the 31st overall pick.
Campbell, a former South Jersey standout at Timber Creek High School, is expected to challenge Jeremiah Trotter Jr. for playing time at linebacker until Nakobe Dean returns from his knee injury. He then might move over to edge rusher to help make up for the losses of Brandon Graham (retired) and Josh Sweat (signed with Arizona).
Second-round pick Drew Mukuba, a safety from Texas, will compete with Sydney Brown for the right to replace C.J. Gardner-Johnson (traded to Texans) in the secondary.
Two other draft picks – Nebraska defensive tackle Ty Robinson (fourth round) and Central Florida cornerback Mac McWilliams (fifth) – should help compensate for the losses of Milton Williams (Patriots) and Darius Slay (Steelers), respectively.
Syracuse passer Kyle McCord replaces Kenny Pickett (Browns) as a member of the Eagles’ quarterback factory behind Jalen Hurts.
About the only thing they didn’t do was draft a potential replacement for tight end Dallas Goedert.
Most experts thought the Eagles did well, but it’s far too early to tell. It doesn’t make much sense to assign a grade to a player before they even take a test.
Usually, it takes at least two or three seasons, or sometimes longer, before a team can tell whether a player will succeed.
Take the Eagles’ 2016 draft, for instance.
Experts raved about Roseman’s and rookie coach Doug Pederson’s bold move to trade up from No. 8 to No. 2 in the first round to take North Dakota State quarterback Carson Wentz.
Wentz initially justified the gamble with a solid rookie season and was in the early conversation for MVP in 2017. The stands at Lincoln Financial Field were packed with fans wearing No. 11 jerseys. Seats aboard the “Wentz Wagon” were filled.
Injuries and some questions about his attitude prompted an exit from Philadelphia after five seasons, followed by failed stints with the Colts, Commanders, Rams and Chiefs.
A.J. Brown now wears number 11 in Philly. Wentz was the subject of an April Fools’ joke that suggested he had retired from the NFL to become quarterbacks coach at his alma mater.
Four locals headed to NFL
Millville High School graduate LeQuint Allen heads a list of four players from Cape-Atlantic League high schools that signed with NFL teams last week.
Allen, a standout running back for Syracuse, was drafted in the seventh round by the Jacksonville Jaguars Saturday. He’s the second running back from Millville to be taken by the Jaguars in recent years. Ryquell Armstead was Jacksonville’s fifth-round pick in 2019.
One of Allen’s former Millville teammates, Texas A&M linebacker Solomon DeShields, signed with the Indianapolis Colts as an undrafted free agent Saturday. Vineland/Rutgers linebacker Tyreem Powell and St. Augustine Prep/Auburn nose tackle Isaiah Raikes also signed with the New Orleans Saints and Tennessee Titans as free agents.
They join Titans defensive tackle Abdullah Anderson (Absegami), Cowboys safety Markquese Bell (Bridgeton), Packers wide receiver Bo Melton (Cedar Creek), Cardinals cornerback Max Melton (Cedar Creek) and Chiefs running back Isiah Pacheco (Vineland) in the NFL. Veteran defensive tackle Austin Johnson (St. Augustine Prep) is currently a free agent.
Local boxing update
Smithville heavyweight Bruce Seldon Jr. (6-0, 5 KOs) remained undefeated since turning professional 10 months ago with a first-round TKO over Erick Prieto (3-5, 2 KOs), of San Antonio, Texas last Saturday in Carteret.
Seldon, son of former WBA heavyweight champion Bruce Seldon, drove Prieto into the ropes and onto the canvas with a barrage of punches. When Prieto got up, referee Eric Dali wisely stopped the bout after 2 minutes, 18 seconds.
Another local boxer, Pleasantville super-lightweight Julio Sanchez III (1-1), suffered his first loss by dropping a four-round, split decision to Las Vegas’ Stephen Barbee (1-4).
Boxing returns to the area on May 10 when R&B Promotions president Alex Barbosa brings a card to Hard Rock Hotel and Casino.
On May 31, Millville super-middleweight Thomas LaManna (39-5-1, 18 KOs) takes on former two-division world champion Jermall Charlo (33-0, 22 KOs) at Michelob Ultra Arena in Las Vegas. David is a nationally recognized sports columnist who has covered Philadelphia and local sports for over 40 years. After 35 years with The Press, he has served as a columnist for 973ESPN.com and created his own Facebook page, Dave Weinberg Extra Points.
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