Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
The power of Jeffrey Lurie’s love for Jalen Hurts is a curious thing. Will it make the Eagles weep or sing? – Inquirer
It’s clear now that the Eagles can’t and don’t want to keep living that way, and it’s also clear that Hurts will require some tough coaching himself if he hopes to continue improving and thriving. He needs to master operating from under center. He needs to become comfortable turning his back to a defense in play-action sets. He needs to give a little to grow his game. But if he remains stubborn about adjusting his style of play or adapting to new systems and schemes — and as has now been laid bare, he has been stubborn about it — what exactly is Sirianni or Sean Mannion (or Kevin Patullo before him) supposed to do about it? Who in the locker room is going to tell Hurts that he isn’t Michael Jordan, that he isn’t Kobe Bryant, that mimicking their standoffish leadership styles doesn’t work for him because he isn’t one of his sport’s immortals? If any of those coaches or players gets into a power struggle with Hurts, who do you think is going to win? Jeffrey Lurie just told you. The only thing that will change his mind is another season of steps backward. And if that happens, Jalen Hurts won’t be his only breakup, just his most painful.
Why Jalen Hurts still has the support of the Eagles’ most important voice – The Athletic
Eagles officials sidestepped questions about offering Hurts a contract extension this offseason. Hurts has three seasons remaining on his five-year, $255-million contract, although 2026 is the final year in which his salary is fully guaranteed. There’s been no indication that the Eagles plan to rework the deal this offseason. It’s worth noting that Lamar Jackson, Justin Herbert and Joe Burrow all signed deals in 2023 along with Hurts, and none of them have received extensions on their deals. But it’s clear that Hurts must rebound in 2026, because even Lurie would deem the 2025 offensive performance unacceptable. There’s a new offensive scheme that will include concepts that the Eagles have not heavily featured under Hurts. When I spoke to Hurts last month, he was excited about working with Sean Mannion and said, “He’s amazing. I’m excited for what’s to come.” Hurts knows that the quarterback must shoulder responsibility when the Eagles underachieve, although there’s been far more success during Hurts’ tenure. This is not lost on Lurie, with a Super Bowl to show for it and another Super Bowl in which Lurie feels as if he was robbed of the Lombardi Trophy. That’s why Lurie continues to tout his franchise quarterback. Lurie will speak again next March — unless he’s speaking at the Super Bowl again. Those comments will reveal how Hurts’ 2026 season goes and whether the evaluation has changed from the most important voice in the organization.
The noise inside the Eagles’ headquarters needs to stop – BGN
If there is one thing you can say about the Philadelphia Eagles, it is they are good for content. On Wednesday, ESPN released a new report revolving around QB Jalen Hurts and “friction” during the 2025 season. To be clear, reporters Tim McManus and Jeremy Fowler did an outstanding job of reporting information that was presented to them by Eagles “insiders.” Some fans have gotten into the bad habit of assassinating the character of reporters who share information passed along to them by leaks inside the organization, but it is not fair to shoot the messenger because you don’t like the message. At the end of the day, ESPN’s article painted what I felt was a fair assessment of Jalen Hurts’ 2025 season. It offered critiques and some praise. But praise is hard to come by with an offense that was expected to be one of the best in the league yet struggled throughout the season to find consistency. In the end, there wasn’t a lot reported that we didn’t already know.
NFC Hierarchy/Obituary: Post-free agency / owners meetings edition – PhillyVoice
3) Eagles (11-6 in 2025): I hate that I have the Eagles this high, after the product they put on the field offensively a season ago. But ultimately, their star-studded defense and legendary defensive coordinator give them a high floor that the teams below them don’t have. But certainly, after a down year, Jalen Hurts’ play will be under the microscope in 2026 by the fans, media, and most importantly, the Eagles’ decision makers. The Eagles are very much in “wait and see” mode with Hurts, who seems to face this type of adversity every other year. About a week ago, we published a story about Eagles contract extension candidates, which included six players, none of whom were Hurts. Because, I mean, though there was plenty of blame to pass around for the Birds’ terrible offense in 2025, why in the hell would the Eagles give the quarterback of that mess a raise when he has three years left on his already lucrative deal? It didn’t occur to me to include him. I’m honestly surprised it’s even a talking point.
Misc Draft Talk – Iggles Blitz
I’ve mentioned Georgia LT Monroe Freeling as one guy I could see Howie trading up for if the price was right. I doubt the Eagles get a shot at him, but he could be a special player in a few years. He needs to get stronger. He needs experience. That stuff will come with time. Other mocks have the Eagles taking a pass rusher. There is no question the Eagles need to add someone via the draft or a trade. We haven’t heard anything on the Jonathan Greenard front so it looks like the draft for now. While there is a need I don’t expect the Eagles to go for a pass rusher in the first round. This is about resources and economics. The defense has a lot of young talent because the team focused on that side in recent drafts. It feels like they need need to go offense to even things out. They won’t force the issue. The right player has to be available at 23.
‘No shot’: Here’s what Patriots are willing to offer Eagles for A.J. Brown – NJ.com
“The Eagles have been asking for a first and a second or a first and a third,” Bedard said on NBC Sports Boston. “The Patriots, from my understanding, are looking at a second-round draft compensation.” NBC Sports Boston Patriots reporter Phil Perry said the second-round pick made sense to him because the Eagles were not negotiating from a position of strength. Perry noted that a first-round selection is difficult to surrender given medical concerns surrounding Brown. “They found themselves in a difficult spot where they’re probably going to have to take less because everybody knows he’s not long for Philadelphia,” Perry said. “Not only that, he is 29 years old.”
Nick Shook 2026 NFL mock draft 1.0: Jets, Bills load up at WR; Cardinals jump on RB – NFL.com
23) PHILADELPHIA EAGLES: OL Blake Miller. Lane Johnson is nearing the end of the line. The Eagles learned how important he was to their operation when he suffered what proved to be a season-ending injury in mid-November. Now is the time to select his replacement. Miller is a right tackle with a ton of playing experience (54 games at Clemson) who will benefit from some hands-on training behind a future Pro Football Hall of Famer.
Edward Homer Blaine – Schrader
Ed’s Obituary — Blaine was traded to the Philadelphia Eagles before the 1963 season where he played out his career as a starter at left guard. He was chosen as an all pro in 1964 and occasionally made lists of all-time great Eagles players, despite cutting his career short and leaving at his football peak. When he returned to the Philadelphia area more than a decade later to work as a researcher for Merck, he was sometimes recognized on the street. Although he appreciated the attention, his focus was on science, where he also went on to have an impact in drug development and cardiovascular function.
Why pick 20 feels like it could be traded – Blogging The Boys
Meeting with the media at the NFL Owner’s Meetings, Dallas Cowboys head coach Brian Schottenheimer said the team has the capital to move up or move down when it comes to the draft. Jerry Jones, Stephen Jones, and Schotty believe they are well-positioned to draft the “best player available,” but the defense could still use a few dart throws on that side of the ball. If the Cowboys are looking to get a few more bites at the apple in the upcoming draft, it would make sense to try to find a trade partner at picks 12 or 20. Logic would say the better-graded player would be staring the Cowboys in the face with their first first-round pick, so it might be less likely they move off that pick unless they are blown away by a team. Pick 20 always felt like a great spot for a team, either in the back part of the first round or at the start of the second, to move up to Dallas’ second pick in the first round and get their guy. Daniel Jeremiah, lead draft analyst for NFL Network, sent out an interesting draft nugget on X (formerly Twitter) yesterday.
Commanders fans expect the same players to lead 2026 scoring in David Blough’s new offensive scheme – Hogs Haven
Even with a new-look offense under new offensive coordinator David Blough, and even if the Commanders add talent at RB and WR in the draft, unless the team selects Jeremiyah Love, it feels like a good bet to think that Bill Croskey-Merritt will lead the team in rushing scores, and that Terry will out-produce everyone currently on the Commanders roster when it comes to receiving scores. That would be consistent with each player’s production in his most recent healthy NFL season. Of course, 22% of respondents in our survey pointed to Chig Okonkwo, who will be working with a quarterback with a demonstrated love of tight ends, to out-produce Terry in ’26. Maybe that will happen, though it will almost certainly require Okonkwo to at least double the previous best single-season TD production of his career. Zach Ertz’ 7 touchdown catches in ‘24, the most of his career outside of 2017-18, argue that Chig could achieve that kind of scoring production with Jayden Daniels throwing the ball. Even more respondents — 30% — are betting on Rachaad White to repeat what he accomplished in 2023, when he led the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in rushing TDs, by leading all current Washington players in 2026 rushing scores. While that feels like it would require an unusual set of circumstances, I suppose it could come to pass.
New York Giants mailbag: Kayvon Thibodeaux trade, drafting a QB, more – Big Blue View
The problem in this case is that the NFL is a salary cap league. There is a hard cap on spending, and teams have to make difficult decisions sometimes about divvying up their resources. Brian Burns will cost $44 million against the cap in 2027 and 2028, unless the Giants were to decide to move on. They can’t really do that in 2027 because they would take a $37 million dead money hit. They could save $25 million against the cap by cutting Burns in 2028, but they would still be taking on $18.5 million in dead money. Abdul Carter carries a $12 million cap hit in 2027, and a $14 million hit in 2028. If he becomes what the Giants think he will, he is going to want to really get PAID after that. Thibodeaux is a former No. 5 overall pick, and he is going to be seeking his own big-money deal next offseason. Provided he does not suffer a catastrophic injury in 2026, someone will give it to him. Quality edge defenders always get paid. The Giants aren’t going to get into a bidding war that forces them to pay top dollar to keep Thibodeaux when they already have Burns and Carter. It’s just business. As for Thibodeaux, he would be foolish to take a deal right now that would end up looking like a home town discount. His best play is to ride it out, get to the open market, let a few teams bid against each other and drive up the price, then take the best offer. Players have the free agency card at their disposal, and they should use it to their advantage.
2026 NFL draft All-Film team: 11 prospects with upside – ESPN
Tight end: Eli Raridon, Notre Dame. Scouts Inc. ranking: No. 66. In last year’s edition of the All-Film team, I implored you to take a staggering leap of faith and trust a tight end prospect out of Notre Dame. Mitchell Evans, who went in the fifth round, ended up breaking into the Panthers’ rotation at the position nicely, playing 424 snaps by season’s end. I’m back to the Fighting Irish well with Raridon, though through a different lens. Evans was a productive receiver in a small sample; with Raridon, it feels like the light bulb went on as a blocker last season. Raridon tore his right ACL twice (once in 2021 before he got on campus, then again in the fall of 2022 as a freshman). His development was impeded and playing time limited, especially on a dense depth chart of Notre Dame tight ends, including Evans. But over his one year as the unquestioned TE1 in South Bend, Raridon improved dramatically. Prone to falling off blocks with an upright posture earlier in the season, Raridon learned how to use his length, flexibility and core strength to uproot defensive linemen and steer them out of gaps. He became an impactful player on pulls that Notre Dame featured in short-yardage and goal-line situations. The team wanted to run behind the guy. At 6-6 and 245 pounds, Raridon has enough long speed and length to be a seam runner at the NFL level, but his primary value will come as a movable blocker with the ceiling of a true hand-in-the-dirt Y tight end should he add another 10 pounds. That makes him a developmental prospect — more of an early Day 3 pick than a Day 2 selection in a thick tight end class. But it’s not hard to see a Josh Oliver-esque arc for him at the position.
Tempers flare between Geno Auriemma and Dawn Staley as UConn’s undefeated season comes to an end – SB Nation
South Carolina defeated UConn 62-48 in the first semifinal game of Friday night in Phoenix, Arizona to advance to Sunday’s national championship game. In what was a close game for majority of play, with tough defense and aggressive play, the game ended with two legendary women’s basketball coaches getting into what looked like an argument as the game was concluding. As the final seconds were winding down, UConn head coach Geno Auriemma and South Carolina head coach Dawn Staley seemed to get into a heated debate.
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