@Spurt
Those numbers are eerily similar. We'll never know how good RGIII could have been if things had worked out differently for him. I'd like to see Daniels do well, but the odds aren't great for a rookie QB.
In general, head coaches with a defensive background aren't the best at developing QBs. Dan Quinn inherited Matt Ryan in Atlanta who was already a good, proven NFL QB. Can he build a kid into an NFL QB? Kliff Kingsbury has been around a ton of great QBs, many of whom wanted to kill him. Were they good because of him, or despite him? Tavita Pritchard, the Commander's QB coach has been around a few good QBs.
We'll have to see how things play out. Dan Quinn has never had to build a QB from scratch as an NFL head coach. He's typically walked into situations where one's already there. Can he do it? We'll have to see.
If anyone's interested in some behind-the-scenes of what happens in the draft, the Eagles posted the first episode of their "Unscripted" series showing the predraft and draft process. You can see some of their predraft talks with the guys they ended up drafting. You can hear the scouts talk about the guys they want (their red-star players, five of whom the Eagles drafted.) Their amazement when the run on offensive players drops their top defensive guy in their lap. You get to see them trying to move up with Carolina to get pick 39, only to get outbid by the Rams. Then their fear that the Rams would take Cooper DeJean and their amazement when they don't. Then the rush to the phone to finalize the pending trade with the Commanders so the Eagles could get DeJean. You see Howie targeting Ainais Smith and Jeremiah Trotter Jr, later in the draft. It's a pretty neat look behind the scenes.
The Eagles are already signing their kids to contracts. WR Johnny Wilson and guard Trevor Keegan have already signed. It's not hard to get guys signed these days with the rookie wage scale largely defining the precise contracts kids will get. The rest of the guys will sign in short order. There's very little drama in getting kids signed these days.
A few of the Eagles vets have been hanging out for the rookie camp to get an eye on their future teammates. I think the Eagles brought in a total of forty-some guys between draft picks, undrafted free agents, tryout kids, and some unemployed NFL vets for the rookie camp.
As a fan, we just get a glimpse or two of the guys now on film, but the little I've seen of Johnny Wilson has me intrigued. He moves like a little guy despite being 6'-6" or 6'-7" depending on who you listen to. They've released a few clips of him running drills and typically the bigger guys will have straight-line speed, but lumber in the shiftier parts of the drills. He doesn't lumber. He's just fast and smooth in everything so far. He holds his speed in tight turns and breaks. He just looks like a good receiver who happens to be a giant. Can he translate that to the field in game action? We'll find out in training camp.
I think May 20th is the next big date for Eagles fans. That's when the whole team gets together for a minicamp. You'll get to see the kids against the vets a little bit then. It's more of an accurate measuring stick. I think the last organized activity ends in mid-June then nothing until training camp. It'll be an interesting year.
Fly!!! Eagles!!! Fly!!!
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