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A (mostly) comprehensive ranking of 68 NFL QBs

A semi-detailed look at the offensive side of the Eagles roster; for the purposes of this exercise I'm including practice squad guys as the line between the 53 man roster and the practice squad (PS) has become all the more thin in the COVID era. PS guys will be notated as such, as well as injured reserve (IR). If you're curious, here's last year's version of this column for reference. Here goes nothing:

Quarterbacks

Regarding Jalen Hurts, I'm looking for a bounce back year for the star QB. All the reporting from camp reinforces the idea that he's sharp and running faster than last year. In the QB rankings column (link above) I mentioned that PFF essentially has a top ten floor for Jalen. We know what his ceiling is; the best player on the field in a Super Bowl. Further comment on Jalen's ceiling as a winner: he's the current NFL record holder for both consecutive wins verses teams with winning records (13) and when trailing by at least ten points (8). More generally, Jalen owns career records as a starter of 34-17 (66.7%) overall, 13-10 against eventual playoff teams (56.5%), 15-10 (60%) against teams finishing above .500 and 6-6 against top five defenses. Jalen is a winner, regardless of how last season finished up. Finally, we will always have this clip:

There's a lot of criticism of Kenny Pickett circling the Philly beat and the fandom. I slotted Pickett in at 48th in my QB rankings, the lowest any Eagle backup QB has ranked in the brief history of that column. While I do believe that Pickett isn't as good as Mariota or Minshew, we have crossed the border into "the player has been so beaten up in the court of public opinion to the point he's underrated". Preseason rarely goes well for reserve QBs; they don't get good reps with the starters, they play crummy vanilla game plans in the exhibitions, and in Philly they suffer comparisons to the great QB2s of the past (Foles most especially). There's a ridiculous opinion floating around out there that Howie got "fleeced" in the Pickett trade; total nonsense take. It depends on which draft pick value chart you prefer, but most would agree that what was given for Pickett equated to a late 5th or early 6th round pick. Perfectly reasonable for a league-average reserve QB. Let's take a deep breath and realize that Pickett isn't getting a lot of play this year, but he does at least have enough starting experience that he won't be a total disaster if called upon.

I think the last sentiment also fits Tanner McKee, who is still waiting on his NFL regular season debut but I would be cautiously optimistic about his chances to succeed if and when it happens.

Will Grier (PS) is a Kellen Moore disciple who's more of a coach than player at this point. That's fine for a practice squad QB.

My evaluation: this is one of the best five or six QB rooms in the league. As long as we don't get some sort of season-ending injury for Hurts, we'll be just fine.

Running Backs

Recent research indicates that running backs generally begin to fail around 1,500 career carries. If you look at active players and remove those who are over that threshold (in other words, looking at players in their prime), Saquan Barkley's career mark of 98.8 yards from scrimmage per game ranks 4th (behind Christian McCaffrey, Alvin Kamara and Jonathan Taylor). This was accomplished despite Daniel Jones being his QB and the Giants having probably the worst OL in the NFL over that time. What might he achieve with an elite OL and a top shelf passing game? The obvious caveat is health; if Barkley is able to play the whole season he's in for an OPOY-type season.

Kenny Gainwell will probably be this team's closer; he grinds between the tackles better than anyone would have guessed based on his size. He offers pass catching as well, and combine that versatility with the summer he's had to kick off his contract year, and you can see a potential big year out of Kenny G as well.

I don't see much of a role for Will Shipley this season, not because he's lacking in talent but more because I think the top two guys will get a lot of touches. Shipley has a lot of juice, especially as a pass catcher, and I think we'll see him in the Boston Scott role this year with more to come next year.

Tyrion Davis-Price (PS) is a big back with speed; he'd likely have made the 53 if his catching was more developed. Philly thinks enough of his potential to give him some time to develop on the sideline.

My evaluation: this is maybe the best collection of RB talent Philly has had since the Shady McCoy-Darren Sproles days. There's a good blend of speed, versatility and pass catching ability that I hope the team finally takes advantage of this season.

Wide Receiver

Not much needs to be said about AJ Brown and Devonta Smith, who may well be the best 1-2 WR punch in the game. I'm looking forward to seeing how they are used in the new offense, especially with the new focus on motion. Look for both to get a lot of work in the slot.

Jahan Dotson was an unexpected but nice find for Roseman. The trade didn't cost much at all (the net cost is probably a 4th round pick). He's a rock solid route runner who caught everything thrown in his vicinity at PSU (he may well have been the best WR in the B10 over his final two seasons). Dotson may have disappointed as a first round pick but as a WR3, especially with the top two we have? Overqualified. I know there was a lot of concern about why Washington was comfortable letting him go to a division rival; I think that's a bit oversold. A fan poll over at Hogs Haven graded the trade from the Commanders' perspective; 59% of the respondents rated it "C" or lower. If this guy was terrible and the Commanders were lucky just to offload him, that poll result doesn't happen.

Britain Covey is one of the league's top punt returners (3rd in the NFL among qualifiers

since he broke into the league). Only four career receptions to this point, but Covey has the look of a born slot receiver. I think he'll be fine if called upon.

Players that are 6-6, 230 and can run a 4.5 40 are rare, which is why I'm excited to see how Johnny Wilson develops. An underrated aspect of the Dotson trade is that it allows the team to stash Wilson without the pressure of needing to play him as a rookie.

Fellow rookies Ainias Smith (IR) and Marcus Rosemy-Jacksaint (PS) have differing strengths; Smith is more of a do-it-all slot type player, MRJ is a larger outside WR. Vet Parris Campbell (PS) has enough experience and speed to warrant being the first player called up in case of an injury. Late addition Griffin Hebert (PS) is a WR/TE hybrid, a player type that seems popular with this team.

My evaluation: I'd struggle to tell you a season in which the Eagles WRs are better and deeper than this team's. This is likely the best group of WRs in the NFL.

Tight Ends

Dallas Goedert is still a top 5 TE in this league when healthy. He's dangerous as a receiver (4th among qualifying active TEs in yards per target for his career) and a rock solid blocker. Hopefully Kellen Moore is able to make better use of him than Brian Johnson did.

Grant Calcaterra has had a good preseason; he's a weapon in the pass game and should break his career high in receptions this season several times over.

Eagle vet and recent Giant cut Jack Stoll (PS) is starting the year on the shelf but is probably the team's de facto 3rd TE, so expect to see him on the active list sooner rather than later. EJ Jenkins (PS) is still a man of mystery; you can't even really find his specific measurables (depending on who you talk to, he's either 6-6 or 6-7 and weighs anywhere from 240 to 260 pounds). He's a 4.6 40 guy with a WR background who's done a lot of work to improve as a blocker. He's made a few plays in the preseason, and I think he's got a shot to stick long term with the team.

My evaluation: this depends so much on Goedert's health; if he's good, this unit is top notch. If not, we'll be vulnerable.

Offensive Tackle

Here's your obligatory annual reminder of just how important Lane Johnson is: in regular season games in which Lane plays at least 50% of the snaps; the Eagles are 86-49-1 (63.6%). In all other games they are 17-26 (39.5%). That 24.1% difference represents four wins per season. I've argued for several years that Lane is as responsible for the Eagles' success as any other single player, the QB included.

We may be approaching that level of importance with Jordan Mailata, who was PFF's highest graded Eagle OL last season. It feels like he's been here forever (this will be Jordan's seventh year in the league) yet he's only 27 and somehow is still ascending. What a story.

Big Fred Johnson has been here nearly two years already as Philly's swing tackle. He has eight career starts but has mostly played special teams for the Birds so far. The team liked him enough to give him a two year contract last summer, and Nick Sirianni tabbed him as the most improved player in camp this year.

Darian Kinnard had some nice moments in preseason and in camp. This guy seems like yet another one of Stoutland's projects with upside.

Stoutland has another Aussie project to mold in international exemption Laekin Vakalahi. This guy has basketball and Australian rules football backgrounds but already has the frame at 6-5, 318. Check back in three years.

My evaluation: like most teams with quality OT play, an injury would be a real problem. Thankfully both Mailata and Johnson have been dependably healthy as starters. I do think Fred Johnson and possibly Kinnard could fill in ably for a few weeks if called on.

Guards

Landon Dickerson tag teams with Mailata to form a formidable 700 pound wall on the left side. He joins the tackles as the verified Pro Bowl talents on this line.

Yet another giant, the 6-7, 364 pound Mekhi Becton takes over at right guard. Some have expressed concern that this change was more due to Tyler Steen failing to take charge of the position than Becton really seizing the moment. However that might be, the combination of Becton's size and athleticism gives this interior line extreme upside.

Steen still has potential and can slot in as a reserve at both guard and tackle. Further depth is provided by mauling rookie Trevor Keegan and longtime Stoutland favorite Brett Toth (PS), who can nominally play all five positions but is listed as a guard.

My evaluation: four of the five names listed were not guards in college but most were able to make at least a partial transition. If Becton settles in and stays healthy, this is an exciting and high upside group.

Centers

For the first time in 14 seasons we won't have Jason Kelce lining up at the pivot. His hand picked replacement Cam Jurgens is a little bigger and definitely has the athletic chops to do the job. His ability to jump in and play guard at a solid level last year impressed me and offers hope that the dropoff won't be as severe. The main question is, what will Jurgens offer in terms of the mental side (both the presnap calls that Kelce specialized in and the leadership Kelce displayed)?

The only other true centers on the roster are rookie Dylan McMahon (PS), who must get stronger but fits the mold as an undersized but athletic center, and veteran Nick Gates (PS), who was a league average starter at the position last year for Washington. McMahon has some potential but he'll need some seasoning. Gates is good enough that we'll likely see him on and off the 53 to provide depth. Thankfully both Dickerson and Toth have some center experience as well.

Coming soon: a look at the defense and special teams units.