An evaluation of the Philadelphia Eagles 2016 draft class
The Eagles rookies have produced mixed results thus far.
The Philadelphia Eagles drafted eight players in the 2016 NFL draft. The results from the rookies have been mixed to say the least, and this team is certainly hoping to get the most that they can out of their rookies for the rest of the season.
Let’s save the phenomenon that is Carson Wentz for last and begin with offensive lineman Isaac Seumalo out of Oregon State who was selected in the third round. Seumalo was the second player this team selected in the draft. He has yet to deliver any type of impact as he’s usually been inactive on game day. At one point in training camp, the position of starting left guard appeared to be his, but veteran Allen Barbre eventually surpassed the rookie on the depth chart. This seems to have been the correct decision considering how well Barbre has played.
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The Eagles then selected running back Wendell Smallwood in the fifth round. Smallwood has displayed his ability despite having limited touches up to this point. In a crowded stable of tailbacks, the rookie is quickly finding his way. Smallwood also makes an impact on special teams, as he managed to return a kickoff for a touchdown in the game on Sunday.
Eleven picks after selecting Smallwood, the Eagles took right tackle Halapoulivaati Vaitai of the TCU Horned Frogs. Eagles fans are very familiar with Vaitai after his poor performance against the Washington Redskins. In his first start, Vaitai was abused. Head Coach Doug Pederson announced Monday in his press conference that “Big V” would be starting again next week against the Minnesota Vikings.
With their sixth round selection, the Eagles selected defensive back Blake Countess out of Auburn. Countess did not make the team’s roster, and now is a member of the Los Angeles Rams‘ practice squad.
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Following the Countess selection, the team took cornerback Jalen Mills in the seventh round. Mills has received significant playing time early on in the season. Part of the reason he has received so much playing time is due to the injury to starting cornerback Leodis McKelvin. Mills’ impact so far has been slightly more positive than what one would expect from a rookie taken in the seventh round. Mills has displayed a bend-don’t-break style of play. He has allowed quite a few catches and yards, but he can’t be blamed for the amount of touchdowns the defense has allowed. The most concerning part about the rookie cornerback is that he lacks the necessary top end speed required to cover faster receivers. This weakness was exploited when the Eagles asked him to cover DeSean Jackson.
Both of the final Eagles selections, Alex McCalister and Joe Walker, have been placed on the Reserve/Injured list. Walker did show promise in the preseason, however.
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Now, back to Wentz. We’ve saved the best for last. Wentz’s impact has been both obvious and enthralling. He checks almost all of the boxes. The coaching staff deserves a ton of credit for where Wentz is fundamentally. His footwork has improved drastically since his college days. It’s almost scary how quickly he’s gotten better. Footwork is difficult to learn, and he has already proven that he is up for the task. Wentz’s arm strength and accuracy have also flashed during his short career in Philadelphia. His mental capacity is second-to-none. That is obvious with how much the coaches have trusted him to do prior to play.
The Eagles have plenty of reason to be pleased with their rookies thus far. They also have plenty of reason to want more from the group. Seumalo has to find a way to get on the field, especially with fellow rookie Vaitai struggling. The 2016 class for the Eagles needs to be a successful group considering how the team missed on several players in recent drafts. The play of Wentz, Smallwood, and Mills could mean that this group is on their way.