Let’s get to the Philadelphia Eagles news and links …
Vic Fangio’s updated thoughts on his defensive players, and Sean Mannion’s first Eagles presser – PhillyVoice Cooper DeJean will play safety in the base defense. Fangio was asked what his view of the safety position is next to Andrew Mukuba… “It’s open. I think Marcus [Epps] is someone that will put up good claim to it. In base, it will be Cooper [DeJean]. When we go to nickel and Coop comes up and plays nickel, it’ll be Epps. We’re taking a good look
at Michael Carter back there. Andre Sam. Then we signed an undrafted free agent, Gush [DB Kapena Gushiken]. J.T. Gray has been mainly a special teams player, but he’ll get a look. We’ll look at all those guys. It’s an open competition.” JimmySays: I love how Vic just slid in there that DeJean would play safety in base. The Eagles are in their “base” defense less than 20 percent of the time, so this isn’t a seiemic change, but it’s certainly a notable one.
Eagles’ Safety Plans: Cooper DeJean And Competition – SI
Epps seems to be the clear leader, though. “I wouldn’t consider him an old player at this point, but he’s obviously a veteran,” Fangio said. “I’m not sure what his injury history has been, but I think if he stays injury-free and if he wins the job, we’ll be fine.” As for Carter: “He just has to go out there and do it,” according to Fangio. “… “I think we’ll know early whether he’s got the feel for it or not.”
Sean Mannion talks about his vision for the Eagles’ offense – BGN
The OC later said that Hurts has been outstanding in meetings, and having gone through so many coordinators, it’s obvious the QB is a really capable learner. He notes that there’s always going to be a little bit of a connection between the things that Hurts has had success with in Philly and what they’re trying to do this upcoming season, but it’s been a great process for the two to build the offense from the ground up. “Jalen’s been awesome. I really think he can do anything we ask of him. He’s accurate. He’s a great athlete. He really attacks the fundamentals. That’s been really fun to watch these last two weeks of Phase 2 — he’s always coming wanting more things to work on, wanting more things regarding fundamentals, timing, understanding the scheme. He’s hungry for more, and those are the guys that are really fun to work with. In terms of his skillset though, he has great arm strength, great accuracy, obviously a tremendous athlete, and he really attacks the game. He has a great process in the meetings, he always asks really thought provoking questions, he’s detailed, and he attacks his fundamentals. He’s always a guy who stays after practice working on things, and those are the guys you love to work with.“ Mannion was asked about Hurts ability to run with the ball, despite it not being utilized much last season. The OC said that Hurts’ unique ability will be part of what they do, but they’re really going to look to attack defenses in a multitude of ways. The offense is going to build a system they are constantly looking to evolve and tweak things along the way.
NFL Draft 2026 trends: Tight ends and the 13 personnel revolution – SB Nation
The Eagles already have Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra as their two primary tight ends, but Stowers’ athletic potential makes him an easy fit in just about any offense. Especially when it comes to his somewhat hidden ability to stretch the field in the passing game. In 2025, Stowers had just eight targets on passes of 20 or more air yards, but he caught four of those passes for 161 yards and a touchdown. Especially if the rumors are true and A.J. Brown is on his way to New England after June 1, Stowers could become an estimable replacement target on all the vertical stuff Mannion may be inclined to call.
Bowen: Bonding with Jalen Hurts is important for the Eagles’ new OC, and Sean Mannion has broken out the super glue – PHLY
There has been a lot of speculation (so, so much speculation) about how Hurts’ strengths might not fit the Sean McVay-type scheme Mannion is bringing to Philly, and how resistant Hurts might be to change. On Thursday, Mannion could not have been a stronger advocate for the Eagles’ seventh-year QB. (Yup, seventh year, had to double-check it myself, after typing it. We’re all getting older, aren’t we?) Mannion’s take on Hurts was so bullish, it left me wondering if the new offensive coordinator wasn’t painting himself into a bit of a corner, should this scheme not produce dramatically better results than the 2025 Nick Sirianni-Kevin Patullo version. Week 6 possible question: “Hey, you’re on record as saying the QB is awesome and totally capable of giving you everything you need, so what exactly is holding your offense back?” Maybe Mannion is just supremely confident that he won’t have that problem. If I were a 34-year-old hot NFL commodity Packers quarterbacks coach, I wouldn’t jump into a coordinator’s job with a team that didn’t have a QB with whom I was pretty sure I could succeed.
Adam Schefter throws cold water on latest A.J. Brown rumor as potential Patriots trade looms – New York Post
“I will remain in the camp that we’ve been in for the last six to seven weeks, which is that I still think [Brown] is getting traded. I still think he’s getting traded on or shortly after June 1 [the NFL’s tender deadline]. I still think that the New England Patriots are going away the lead contender to land A.J. Brown this offseason. I don’t care what other teams come up in connection with A.J. Brown trade talks between now and June 1. These other teams have had their opportunities throughout the offseason. There were conversations with the Rams that did not result in a deal. I don’t know about Jacksonville. I don’t know even know where that’s coming from.
Josh Sweat not at Arizona Cardinals offseason workouts – Revenge Of The Birds
However, people have speculated since the Jonathan Gannon firing that Sweat was not happy. Hopefully it is nothing. Sweat is notorious for not showing to offseason workouts, and the Cardinals are bringing back the same defense as last year, for better or worse. But, with how bad things were last year for the defense, it would be nice to know where they stand with one of their most important pieces.
How Sean Mannion knows he’s ready to be Eagles offensive coordinator – NBCSP
When Sean Mannion was about 6 or 7 years old, his father John was a high school football coach in the East Bay region of California, and John Mannion would routinely scout future opponents by jotting notes in a yellow legal pad. His son took notice. So maybe it wasn’t a huge surprise when a young Sean Mannion joined his dad on one of those trips armed with a yellow legal pad of his own. As he watched, Mannion began to take notes and draw up plays. “The scheme has evolved since then,” Mannion said. The Eagles are banking on it.
George Pickens’ inconsistent tenure in Pittsburgh continues to haunt him – Blogging The Boys
In his second season with the Cowboys in Brian Schottenheimer’s system and playing with QB Dak Prescott, there’s a really good chance for Pickens to elevate his game to an even higher level. If he once again proves to be one of the best WRs in the league in 2026 and does so without any on or off the field issues, teams could line up to offer him the long-term contract he’s looking for. It’s going to be really interesting to see how Pickens’ 2026 season plays out and how the Cowboys view his potential future in Dallas. If he shows the consistency they’re looking for, a long-term contract is a possibility or using the franchise tag once again next year is an option as well. This is an entertaining situation that should continue to make headlines until something is ultimately decided one way or another. What’s your call? Will Pickens be in Dallas beyond 2026?
Will Commanders sign Jayden Daniels to a record-setting contract? – Hogs Haven
Following the end of the ‘26 season, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye and Jayden Daniels will all hit the window — the first offseason in which NFL rules allow for a contract extension to be signed. CJ Stroud, will, of course, be a year ‘overdue’ by that time, so the offseason headlines next spring & summer could be dominated by questions about who gets how much, and when. That dynamic could send quarterback salaries and guaranteed money skyrocketing into never-before-seen territory — especially in the context of dramatic and ongoing league-wide increases in the salary cap.
NY Giants news: GM Joe Schoen reportedly gets multi-year contract extension – Big Blue View
John Harbaugh insisted on reporting directly to Mara rather than Schoen, and the coach has final say over personnel decisions. Those things led to speculation that Schoen’s job was in jeopardy, and that he could be fired after the 2026 NFL Draft. The Giants also hired Dawn Aponte, and gave her several of the responsibilities that had previously been Schoen’s. Harbaugh and Schoen have insisted that their working relationship has been smooth, and that they have been able to work together. Now, we know they will do so for the next several seasons.
Source: Giants DL Roy Robertson-Harris tears Achilles – ESPN
New York Giants defensive lineman Roy Robertson-Harris tore his Achilles at Thursday’s OTA workout and is expected to miss the 2026 season, a source told ESPN. It’s a blow to the interior of the Giants’ defensive line, which was already being rebuilt after trading Dexter Lawrence II to the Cincinnati Bengals last month. Robertson-Harris, who was likely to start, was taking first-team reps at Thursday’s practice before reaching for the back of his right leg early at the indoor workout.
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