Recent Eagles shut out may be signs of a much larger issues

Can we give Philadelphia Eagles vice president/general manager Howie Roseman another round of applause for that 2022 NFL Draft class? Sure, it seems as though it’s been a month since we closed the book. Sure, it’s probably time to move on and begin talking about something else. We can’t get over it though.

Jordan Davis and Cam Jurgens are going to be monsters! Landing Nakobe Dean in the third round was an absolute steal! They’re building something special in the Philly, and this could be the initial step in seeing something birthed that’s going to be talked about for a while.

Philly seems to be creeping back towards consistent relevancy, even if they’re doing so slowly. Unfortunately, everyone doesn’t seem to be spreading the ‘brotherly love’ over their excitement about this roster.

The Eagles are noticeably absent from PFF’s list of the top 25 NFL stars that are under 25 years of age, but there’s a much bigger issue.

Okay, here’s why we’re so pumped about this draft class. We’re in love with the talent and potential. Feel free to agree or disagree, but these are guys that could make a few Pro Bowls or, dare we say, make a few All-Pro rosters before their time playing ends.

Even though Howie has done a nice job with not only the 2022 NFL Draft class but also the one that preceded it, prior to seeing Javon Hargrave, Josh Sweat, and Jake Elliott earn Pro Bowl nods in 2020, it had been a long time since we saw some of Philly’s younger talent find their way onto pro football’s all-star team.

Think about it. For a while, we were always talking about Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce when the Pro Bowl became a discussion, and that was normally it in terms of some of the best of the NFL’s bunch (on Philly’s roster anyway).

Sure, occasionally you get the Brandon Brooks or the Brandon Graham on the list, but Brooks was in his late 20s before he began stacking three straight nods. B.G.’s first selection came when he was well past 30.

Even during the most recent season, Philly had five players make the Pro Bowl. That includes Darius Slay and Kelce, but Josh Sweat was the only Eagle on the list who was under 25 at the time (he just had a birthday in March).

Could that be why the Birds were ignored on Pro Football Focus’ list of the top 25 players who are under 25 years of age? Better yet, is that why this team always seems to be in rebuilding mode?

It’s hard to find building blocks when players aren’t panning out. Look at it this way. Despite the fact that we were serious about giving Howie some well-deserved kudos, it can’t be ignored that, in 2017, this team drafted eight prospects, and only one of them is still on the current roster. It won’t make you feel better that we’re discussing Derek Barnett.

It’s hard to argue with the names that Trevor Sikkema added to his list, and it’s good to see that PFF’s Ben Linsey named Jordan Mailata to his list of the best tackles that are 25 years old or younger. Two things have to happen though.

The Eagles need to nail more of their draft choices, and the coaches have to build these guys into key components once they arrive. There’s no logical explanation for Josh Sweat being the only Pro Bowler this team has had that was under the age of 25 since Carson Wentz. The organization’s leadership has to be better than that.