2 Former Philadelphia Eagles prospects pose a problem in Week 12
Two NFL greats once rumored to be Philadelphia Eagles prospects pose a huge problem for Week 12’s game.
It seems like it’s been forever since it happened, but before the narrative around much of the Philadelphia Eagles fanbase was ‘Carson Wentz is the team’s biggest disappointment’, believe it or not, there were other things to talk about. Not too long ago, it seemed like every good NFL player who was available or upset about his work situation was a part of a rumor that linked him to ‘The Birds’.
Some were great ideas, Minkah Fitzpatrick for example. Other ideas were debatable, like Jalen Ramsey. Some were just downright awful. Throw Antonio Brown in that category.
Among names in the 50-50 crapshoot category were Josh Gordon and Jadeveon Clowney. The former was given up on by the New England Patriots, never a good sign (if you can’t get it right there, you just can’t get it right). The latter has seen questions about his motor follow him for, pretty much, his entire career.
One thing that all of these guys had in common was they were all expensive. All commanded high salaries. Some needed a restructure at the season’s end. In each case, that scared Philly a little. The normally trigger happy Howie Roseman showed us all something in his personality that most Eagles fans don’t see from him often, conservatism.
light. Related Story. Were Eagles fans wrong about Jadeveon Clowney?
Though we all know Roseman’s job is to balance the current and long-term health of the organization, we also know the fan in all of us was hoping for the big splash, and we might have moved on completely had it not been for one major issue. Philly’s opponent in Week 12, the Seattle Seahawks added two of those prospects, and both have a high chance of causing all kinds of issues on Sunday.
Regardless, of what you feel about Clowney’s motor, he’ll be after Carson Wentz all day. Now, his sudden tenacity may have something to do with the fact that this is a contract season, but a recent primetime performance versus the San Francisco 49ers has helped to demonstrate to us all that when he’s at his best, he can be one of the single most dominant forces on defense that the league has to offer.
Next. Here's why Metcalf wouldn’t have worked. dark
Regardless of what your theory is on Josh Gordon, it isn’t going to a defensive coach on the Eagles staff who goes to sleep without dreaming about. Russell Wilson scrambling out of trouble and having the option of hitting Gordon, Tyler Lockett, or D.K. Metcalf. The latter name on that list belongs to another prospect Philly had their eye on.
The Eagles had Metcalf’s name on the draft board throughout the entire draft process, but when April finally rolled around, Philly took JJ Arcega-Whiteside at pick 57. DK Metcalf was taken by the Seahawks just seven picks later, but that’s another story for another day.