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The DiCecco Daily: Some Breakout Eagles For 2026 · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Hey, what's going on? Everyone?
• 0:10
  Speaker 2: Welcome into another episode of The Checko Daily. Andrew Dichecko
• 0:14
  Speaker 2: Eagles beat reporter Inside the Birds dot Com and today
• 0:19
  Speaker 2: I'm gonna kind of go in a different direction and
• 0:22
  Speaker 2: go through breakout players.
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: I just wrote a story for that on Inside the Birds.
• 0:27
  Speaker 2: Dot Com and I'll give you one on offense, defense
• 0:30
  Speaker 2: and special teams.
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: Now.
• 0:31
  Speaker 2: To set this up, the Eagles have a roster brimming
• 0:36
  Speaker 2: with superstar talent.
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: It's a good.
• 0:39
  Speaker 2: Blend of upstarts players that are poised for stardom, and
• 0:44
  Speaker 2: then they have, of course, the established veterans, but there's
• 0:47
  Speaker 2: also a significant contingent of players that are right on
• 0:50
  Speaker 2: the cusp and are trending towards becoming household names. Now
• 0:55
  Speaker 2: the challenge becomes trying to figure out which players those
• 0:59
  Speaker 2: will be. So I went through and hopefully I've provided
• 1:03
  Speaker 2: some compelling reasons as to why. But we'll start with
• 1:06
  Speaker 2: wide receiver Dontavian Wicks.
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: That was my choice. Look, I can go.
• 1:10
  Speaker 2: With DeVante Smith, he's already broken out. I could go
• 1:13
  Speaker 2: with Dallas Goddard already happened. You know, you can go
• 1:17
  Speaker 2: with a number. You can go with the Kyle Lemon
• 1:19
  Speaker 2: and that would be fair. But I want with Don
• 1:21
  Speaker 2: Tavian Wicks because this is a player who's never had
• 1:24
  Speaker 2: more than thirty nine catches in a season, and I
• 1:29
  Speaker 2: believe that he's primed to eclipse that, whether that's forty
• 1:34
  Speaker 2: five catches, fifty catches or thereabouts, that that constitutes as
• 1:39
  Speaker 2: a breakout season.
• 1:40
  Speaker 1: But he was kind of largely serving as the fourth
• 1:46
  Speaker 1: receiver there in Green Bay.
• 1:48
  Speaker 2: Matthew Golden had more snaps than he did, Christian Watson,
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: Romeo Dobbs, Jayden Reed would have had he not been injured,
• 1:57
  Speaker 2: and so Don Tavian Wicks was.
• 2:00
  Speaker 1: Pretty much just a depth piece.
• 2:02
  Speaker 2: He I thought he rose to the occasion whenever his
• 2:06
  Speaker 2: number was called, and it speaks volumes that the quarterbacks
• 2:09
  Speaker 2: and Elik Willis or Jordan Love dialed his number up
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: when you know, critical moments surfaced and they trusted him
• 2:18
  Speaker 2: to make plays. He's not a burner. He runs a
• 2:21
  Speaker 2: four to six two. He's not someone who's going to
• 2:26
  Speaker 2: really affect the third level with a great extent of
• 2:30
  Speaker 2: frequency or anything. But he is someone that it should
• 2:33
  Speaker 2: thrive on short intermediate routes underneath, he can separate the
• 2:37
  Speaker 2: top of routes and that's that's a player that should
• 2:40
  Speaker 2: be able to establish an early rapport with Jaywen Hurts
• 2:43
  Speaker 2: because of the route running prowess and his ability to
• 2:47
  Speaker 2: win in the short area. He has a bigger frame
• 2:51
  Speaker 2: at six' one two oh, Six so the thought process
• 2:55
  Speaker 2: there is that he should be able to emerge a
• 2:57
  Speaker 2: little bit and become more of a household.
• 2:59
  Speaker 1: Name.
• 3:00
  Speaker 2: Literally Sean, mannion who was In Green bay quarterbacks Coach
• 3:04
  Speaker 2: Ryan mahaffey tight ends coach now for The, eagles was
• 3:08
  Speaker 2: the wide receivers. Coach they saw, enough they saw enough
• 3:12
  Speaker 2: FLASHES i should say to suggest that Don Tavian wicks
• 3:16
  Speaker 2: can carve out a more substantial, role has more to.
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: Offer that's my.
• 3:21
  Speaker 2: Presumption and so they're getting a player THAT i think
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: is going to play the most snaps in his.
• 3:28
  Speaker 1: Career AND i liked him coming out Of.
• 3:30
  Speaker 2: VIRGINIA i thought he was underutilized there In Green, bay
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: not saying that he's a, superstar BUT i thought that
• 3:37
  Speaker 2: there was a room for him to really grow into
• 3:40
  Speaker 2: a more defiant role and that never really. Happened but In,
• 3:43
  Speaker 2: PHILADELPHIA i think that's going to. Change they seem to
• 3:46
  Speaker 2: really like the player based on compensation identifying him as
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: a trade, target and he gives you something a little
• 3:55
  Speaker 2: bit different than what you already. Have so Don Tavian
• 3:58
  Speaker 2: wicks my offensive pick a defensive, Pick, Well i'm going
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: jay Loox hunt. Here, look Jayaloks hunt from week ten
• 4:06
  Speaker 2: through week eighteen had five and a half. Sacks, now
• 4:08
  Speaker 2: that coincided with the arrival Of Jaywen, Phillips but WHAT
• 4:13
  Speaker 2: i would also say is he showed up the training
• 4:16
  Speaker 2: camp with a much more rocked up. Physique he looked
• 4:21
  Speaker 2: to have gained at least ten pounds of, muscle was
• 4:26
  Speaker 2: a pretty effective two way. Player played just two hundred
• 4:29
  Speaker 2: and forty one snaps as a, rookie so he was
• 4:32
  Speaker 2: kind of learning on the job and getting better through.
• 4:37
  Speaker 2: Reps that's what, happens and that's what Jayalox hunt was.
• 4:40
  Speaker 2: Doing he stepped up and sees the number two Edge
• 4:44
  Speaker 2: russia role and was really quiet earlier in the. Season
• 4:48
  Speaker 2: but it was apparent to me if you really focus
• 4:50
  Speaker 2: in on what he's, doing that he was developing a
• 4:54
  Speaker 2: knack for pinning his ears back and getting after the.
• 4:58
  Speaker 2: Quarterback he had him more diverse variety of pass rush
• 5:05
  Speaker 2: pass rush.
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: Tricks in his.
• 5:07
  Speaker 2: Bag it was a deeper, bag he had a more
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: well rounded. Plan he just seemed to be a more
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: powersh player all, round and there was no surprise that
• 5:17
  Speaker 2: he was able to sort of catch fire late in the. Year,
• 5:21
  Speaker 2: again it coincided with the arrival Of Jaywen, phillips which
• 5:24
  Speaker 2: kind of unlocked jay loixshun took some pressure and spotlight
• 5:27
  Speaker 2: off of, them and it was much. Needed but there
• 5:31
  Speaker 2: were a lot of times where he was, close he
• 5:33
  Speaker 2: was getting, home he just wasn't able to. Finish and
• 5:36
  Speaker 2: so now that should be able to carry. Over when
• 5:42
  Speaker 2: you look At Jonathan, gernard who The eagles traded, FOR
• 5:45
  Speaker 2: i think that was the eagles best and most impactful. Offseason,
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: addition we'll see how things sort of play, out but right,
• 5:54
  Speaker 2: Now Jonathan gernard better pass rusher in my estimation Than Jalen,
• 5:58
  Speaker 2: phillips and that gives do that top of the rotation
• 6:01
  Speaker 2: pass rusher to complement Jalobs. Hunt so if he's able
• 6:04
  Speaker 2: to build off of the season in which he finished
• 6:06
  Speaker 2: with six and a half sacks at five and a
• 6:09
  Speaker 2: half from each ten to, eighteen he should be able
• 6:11
  Speaker 2: to get double digit, sacks and he's gotten better in
• 6:16
  Speaker 2: each season he played six hundred and ninety three snaps last,
• 6:19
  Speaker 2: year he led all edge. RUSHERS i would imagine that
• 6:22
  Speaker 2: the playing time will relatively remain the, same which should
• 6:26
  Speaker 2: prompt more.
• 6:26
  Speaker 1: Opportunities and that's Where i'm going with.
• 6:29
  Speaker 2: It Jayalobs hunt can't say he's a breakout player yet
• 6:32
  Speaker 2: because he just has six and a half, sacks so
• 6:34
  Speaker 2: he qualifies, absolutely AND i believe that he has a
• 6:37
  Speaker 2: double digit sack twenty twenty six. Season, finally we're gonna
• 6:43
  Speaker 2: look at special teams because special teams is something that
• 6:47
  Speaker 2: doesn't get talked about all that much unless there is a,
• 6:50
  Speaker 2: blemish unless there's a gaff or a. Mistake And i'm
• 6:56
  Speaker 2: not even looking at it through the lens of the return.
• 6:58
  Speaker 2: Game i'm looking at it from an overall perspective here
• 7:04
  Speaker 2: of what they're able to. Provide And Jeremiah trotter junior
• 7:08
  Speaker 2: candidate for being a breakout player on special, teams but
• 7:11
  Speaker 2: he really already.
• 7:11
  Speaker 1: Has And Smile.
• 7:15
  Speaker 2: Manden was the one player THAT i was torn. Between Smile,
• 7:19
  Speaker 2: manden of, course is the ego second year linebacker At,
• 7:22
  Speaker 2: georgia came on later in the year on special, teams
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: was a little quiet early in his initial. Campaign but
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: as you, know as we said With Jay, oxon the
• 7:33
  Speaker 2: more reps you, get the more proficient and comfortable and
• 7:36
  Speaker 2: loose that you're able to. Play and that was pretty
• 7:39
  Speaker 2: apparent With Smile. Manden SO i wanted to put him
• 7:42
  Speaker 2: in this, spot BUT i just. COULDN'T i ended up
• 7:44
  Speaker 2: going with third year running Back Will.
• 7:47
  Speaker 1: Shipley now to explain.
• 7:50
  Speaker 2: And add to, This will did not take the running
• 7:53
  Speaker 2: the kick return job and run with.
• 7:55
  Speaker 1: IT i thought he was, very very average in that.
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: Area average is twenty six point eight yards per.
• 8:04
  Speaker 1: Return that's not good enough when it's skewed.
• 8:07
  Speaker 2: Towards the returner and creating explosives off of.
• 8:11
  Speaker 1: That that really wasn't the.
• 8:13
  Speaker 2: Case he had the fumble against The commanders late in the,
• 8:17
  Speaker 2: Year but all that, Aside i'm looking beyond simply the
• 8:22
  Speaker 2: return game Because will is a core for special teamer
• 8:27
  Speaker 2: for The eagles and he is the personal protector on,
• 8:32
  Speaker 2: punts so that's really. Important you have to be able to,
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: communicate you have to have good chemistry and leadership and
• 8:39
  Speaker 2: able to execute. That he served that role as a.
• 8:42
  Speaker 2: Rookie they don't Have Ben Van sumer. Anymore Vin Van
• 8:46
  Speaker 2: sumer hurt himself in the first game and was sidelined
• 8:49
  Speaker 2: for the year and then signed with The Buffalo. Bills
• 8:51
  Speaker 2: he would have been an obvious choice for. That he's
• 8:55
  Speaker 2: no longer. There Sydney brown Traded Kylon granson signed away
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: in free agency to The Tennessee. Titans both of those
• 9:05
  Speaker 2: players were stalwarts and mainstays on that. Unit Will shipley
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: played in fifteen. Games he didn't play in the full
• 9:16
  Speaker 2: complement of. Games he missed some, time and he finished
• 9:22
  Speaker 2: just forty four. Snaps shy Of Cameron. Lattu Cameron latsu
• 9:28
  Speaker 2: played in fifteen games as. Well it's worth, noting but
• 9:32
  Speaker 2: he also finished with no forty four, snaps fewer Than
• 9:37
  Speaker 2: Smile mondon And Cameron latsu had two fifty. Seven Will
• 9:42
  Speaker 2: shipley had two forty Five on the, Year Cameron lattu
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: And Will shipley both played in fifteen.
• 9:47
  Speaker 3: Games all, right, everybody just a quick break to remind,
• 9:51
  Speaker 3: you if you haven't, noticed sun's coming, out it's getting,
• 9:55
  Speaker 3: warmer especially where we are in The. Northeast that reminds
• 9:58
  Speaker 3: you that summer's right around the. Corner and with late
• 10:01
  Speaker 3: spring and summer come a ton of. ACTIVITIES i know for,
• 10:04
  Speaker 3: me And i'm sure just like everybody. Else you, know
• 10:07
  Speaker 3: my kids play, Softball i'm at tournaments every, weekend and
• 10:11
  Speaker 3: then there's gonna be. Barbecues AND i actually turn fifty
• 10:14
  Speaker 3: the big five oz this, year along with many of my.
• 10:17
  Speaker 3: Friends SO i know there's gonna be a lot of
• 10:18
  Speaker 3: fiftieth birthday. Parties and, LOOK i know that at these,
• 10:22
  Speaker 3: Parties i'm gonna have a few. Drinks i'm gonna want
• 10:25
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• 10:28
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• 10:31
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• 10:34
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• 13:25
  Speaker 2: Up but Smile, mondan who did play in seventeen, games
• 13:29
  Speaker 2: finished with just forty four more snaps Than, Will so
• 13:32
  Speaker 2: if you project that out for a full, game a full,
• 13:36
  Speaker 2: Season will is going to be up, there which should
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: yield more opportunities to go down there make some. Plays
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: will also force to, fumble AND i think this is
• 13:45
  Speaker 2: the year where he grows into more of a leadership
• 13:48
  Speaker 2: role as that core four player who's going to set the,
• 13:53
  Speaker 2: tone lead by example and the coverage, units and until
• 13:56
  Speaker 2: someone runs away with that kick return, job he's still
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: gonna be in the. Mix so he could give you
• 14:03
  Speaker 2: some value there as. Well there's no obvious answer at this.
• 14:06
  Speaker 2: Time perhaps someone else, emerges BUT i Think Will shipley
• 14:11
  Speaker 2: is a really good candidate for. That BUT i can't
• 14:14
  Speaker 2: really argue if someone.
• 14:15
  Speaker 1: Were to Say Smile mandan as.
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: Well, now Keithy ringo has already broken, out But i'm
• 14:22
  Speaker 2: not so certain that he has a better shot at
• 14:24
  Speaker 2: making the roster Than Will. Shipley Cameron latsu is sort
• 14:28
  Speaker 2: of on the. Bubble he's a forgotten player a little
• 14:30
  Speaker 2: bit in light of the new additions to the tight end.
• 14:33
  Speaker 2: ROOM i have a lot two on the. Roster he's
• 14:35
  Speaker 2: too valuable on special. Teams he's a tremendous. Blocker but
• 14:40
  Speaker 2: you have to take all that into consideration when you're
• 14:42
  Speaker 2: identifying a, breakout and that's WHY i went with Will.
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: Shipley that's gonna do it for this.
• 14:47
  Speaker 2: Episode up the check o, Daily andrew deiceco And i'll
• 14:50
  Speaker 2: catch you well on the next. One one