Philadelphia Eagles draft prospects: Offensive lineman Michael Maietti

The Philadelphia Eagles front office seems to have decided that they’re putting all of their eggs in a basket with Jalen Hurts‘ name on it. While we sit back and watch how that works out, one thing is certain. The Birds need to build around the second-year signal-caller.

We all know the old saying that ‘you build from the ball out’. General manager Howie Roseman made a great move by adding versatile linemen Landon Dickerson in the 2021 NFL Draft, but he shouldn’t be satisfied with that selection.

We all saw what happened a year ago when the 2020 season went off the rails. It all started with an injury to the offensive line, and things continued to fall apart from there.

The great news is the Philadelphia Eagles offensive line seems to be healthy for a change. The bad news is they are getting a bit long in the tooth. With that in mind, it’s time to identify and find some future cogs for what’s been a pretty well-oiled machine for the most part.

Philadelphia Eagles fans need to remember the name Michael Maietti.

All-pro center Jason Kelce will be retiring sometime soon, and even after drafting Dickerson, it can’t be assumed that the Birds have found Kelce’s replacement. That’s where the University of Missouri center Michael Maietti comes in.

He’s a shade under six-foot-two and 290-pounds. He’s also spent time in the Rutgers football program. This is a complete technician in the middle of the offense. A true leader on and off the field, Maietti will be a huge get for any roster in the National Football League.

This is what you would call a road grader in the running game. He sets the tone with those tree trunks he calls his thighs. As good as he is in the run game, he is an even better player in pass protection. His athletic makeup is outstanding, but it is his football intelligence that will blow you away.

Here’s a simple scouting quote Philadelphia Eagles fans should see.

We at ITI had the chance to speak briefly with a scouting source, and ask him his thoughts on the rising star. While he asked us not to mention his name, he did have this to say:

I liked him (Maietti) at Rutgers, I did, but I love his film at Missouri. I was interested to see how he would fare in the SEC. Let’s not beat around the bush, it’s just a tougher game in the trenches. He has done an excellent job at his craft. Interested to see what he does with this last year, and moving forward in the NFL. He has the tools to be a starter in the league.

Most assume that selecting Landon Dickerson in the draft means he will be the future replacement at the center position, but the truth is he may be more valuable at guard. This would leave a void that Michael Maietti could fill with the best of them. Blessed with the skillset to be a legit star in the NFL, this could be a great get for the Philadelphia Eagles.