Latest / Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast / ITB Contract Series: What Does An Extension For Eagles Hunt Look Like If He Goes On A Sack Parade In 2026?

Transcript

ITB Contract Series: What Does An Extension For Eagles Hunt Look Like If He Goes On A Sack Parade In 2026? · Inside the Birds: A Philadelphia Eagles Podcast

• 0:09
  Speaker 1: Inside the Birds back. What's up, everybody, It's Jeff Mosher,
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: It's Adam Kaplan. We're continuing our Eagles contract series, our
• 0:20
  Speaker 1: podcast series here where we've been going through the major contract,
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: major starter reserves, just important contracts on the Eagles to
• 0:28
  Speaker 1: determine what it means for their upcoming season, what it
• 0:31
  Speaker 1: means for the future, what it means for from the
• 0:33
  Speaker 1: team from a cap perspective. And we are doing the defense.
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: In our last episode we did the interior d line
• 0:40
  Speaker 1: and just a discussion of having potentially Adam two defensive tackles.
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: We're gonna make top market money, you know, maybe like
• 0:47
  Speaker 1: close to seventy thousand a year between I'm sorry, seventy
• 0:50
  Speaker 1: seventy million a year between them. Now we move to
• 0:53
  Speaker 1: edge right, another position he will prioritize. Another position where
• 0:59
  Speaker 1: they've got a guy under a contract extension that they
• 1:02
  Speaker 1: just traded for in Jonathan Garnard and a guy on
• 1:05
  Speaker 1: the come up. Two guys on the come up, really
• 1:08
  Speaker 1: but really one in jailx Hunt and also of course
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: Nolan Smith, and just a very overall interesting position when
• 1:15
  Speaker 1: it comes to money here and what they're going to
• 1:17
  Speaker 1: do going forward.
• 1:18
  Speaker 2: All right, So let's get start with Gridnard. They what
• 1:20
  Speaker 2: they wound up doing is they extended his contract two years.
• 1:25
  Speaker 2: They were able to low as cap figures that they
• 1:27
  Speaker 2: got relief there, but they.
• 1:30
  Speaker 3: They basically guaranteed this year and next year.
• 1:33
  Speaker 2: It's it's it's a that he did well. Gridnard and
• 1:40
  Speaker 2: Rosenhaus did well and the Eagles did well here because
• 1:42
  Speaker 2: he was making just nineteen million a year on a
• 1:46
  Speaker 2: four year extension which he signed in March of.
• 1:50
  Speaker 3: Twenty twenty four.
• 1:51
  Speaker 2: That was an undervalue deal when it was done, I was,
• 1:53
  Speaker 2: I was kind of surprised, how like the deal was.
• 1:55
  Speaker 2: This one's look, it's not a market deal so to speak,
• 1:58
  Speaker 2: because he's coming off short surgery, so they didn't have
• 2:01
  Speaker 2: leverage like that. But he was underpaid. Really good football
• 2:05
  Speaker 2: player fans will know about this. You'll see he's super,
• 2:10
  Speaker 2: super pass thrusher, explosive first step. He's not the physical
• 2:14
  Speaker 2: specimen of the Jaalen Phillips is, but he's explosive. Now,
• 2:17
  Speaker 2: they got him up to twenty five million a year,
• 2:19
  Speaker 2: They guaranteed fifty over two years, and that's that's pretty
• 2:23
  Speaker 2: much it. I mean, it brings it depending on how
• 2:26
  Speaker 2: you look at it. One could say it's it's it's
• 2:28
  Speaker 2: with everything that's set in it, with the roster bonuses
• 2:32
  Speaker 2: and everything. You could say it's thirty million a year,
• 2:34
  Speaker 2: but they've guaranteed fifty million of it over two years,
• 2:38
  Speaker 2: and it's he's now signed by the way through twenty
• 2:41
  Speaker 2: twenty nine.
• 2:42
  Speaker 3: Yeah, and then there's four void years, which I was
• 2:45
  Speaker 3: just about to.
• 2:45
  Speaker 1: Ask, give us how many dummy years? How many?
• 2:49
  Speaker 2: It is kind of comical when they when the Eagles
• 2:50
  Speaker 2: put in dummy years for a guy who's got like
• 2:52
  Speaker 2: a one like I think Boston Scott one year money
• 2:54
  Speaker 2: signed for one year and two.
• 2:55
  Speaker 3: Million had four dumby years. I mean, really, he's still
• 2:58
  Speaker 3: trying to get soone's cap space.
• 3:00
  Speaker 1: Listen, you know there's a method to the madness, right, yeah,
• 3:04
  Speaker 1: all right, So what we're really looking at as a
• 3:07
  Speaker 1: two year deal, like you said to your extension, Yeah,
• 3:13
  Speaker 1: but I'm saying he's going to be on the team
• 3:14
  Speaker 1: this year and in twenty twenty seven. I think, based
• 3:17
  Speaker 1: on what you described, twenty twenty eight is a real
• 3:20
  Speaker 1: wild card. I mean, he would have to play really
• 3:23
  Speaker 1: well for the.
• 3:23
  Speaker 3: Next year, that's right. That's where the non guarantees come in.
• 3:26
  Speaker 2: Yees, so he signed through twenty nine, but the guarantees
• 3:28
  Speaker 2: run out after twenty seven, so.
• 3:32
  Speaker 3: It Yeah, I like that structure.
• 3:34
  Speaker 2: I think that that you know, he's got the Tipic
• 3:36
  Speaker 2: option bonuses. That's I do wonder if Bryce Johnston, the
• 3:42
  Speaker 2: new contract manager for Atlanta for any future extensions.
• 3:47
  Speaker 3: I'm sure that bringing it in there. I'm sure that's why.
• 3:51
  Speaker 2: That's why Ian Cunningham hired him in terms of because
• 3:54
  Speaker 2: they do things a start way and he goes are
• 3:56
  Speaker 2: amazing at not having not only not having cap problems
• 3:59
  Speaker 2: for the most but they're able to make it work
• 4:02
  Speaker 2: somehow when other teams can't seemly do it right.
• 4:05
  Speaker 1: Right, No, I think you're right. I think be curious
• 4:09
  Speaker 1: to see if any other I mean a couple of
• 4:10
  Speaker 1: other teams we know do this, like New Orleans will
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: do it too. Now Atlanta will jump into the fray.
• 4:15
  Speaker 1: Will other teams start It's kind of interesting because I
• 4:18
  Speaker 1: know at one of the owners meetings in the last year,
• 4:20
  Speaker 1: they were starting to talk about the quote unquote integrity
• 4:24
  Speaker 1: of the salary cap. And now that Atlanta might jump
• 4:28
  Speaker 1: in and do the same thing that the Eagles and
• 4:29
  Speaker 1: some other teams have done. You wonder if if the
• 4:32
  Speaker 1: league is just like, screw the integrity, We're just gonna
• 4:34
  Speaker 1: do what the Eagles and other teams are doing. Or
• 4:36
  Speaker 1: if owners are going to say no, no, no, now we
• 4:39
  Speaker 1: got now we got copycats here, and now other teams
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: are gonna start manipulating the cap. We need to do
• 4:44
  Speaker 1: something about it.
• 4:45
  Speaker 3: But Saints.
• 4:47
  Speaker 2: Saints don't do it like people say, don't do option bonuses.
• 4:49
  Speaker 2: They do, which is it is it's not smart because
• 4:56
  Speaker 2: you're because again you're guaranteeing, like what they should do
• 5:01
  Speaker 2: is put option bonuses in every year of the extension,
• 5:04
  Speaker 2: and you could do guaranteed option bonuses like the Eagles
• 5:06
  Speaker 2: do for the the first and second year.
• 5:08
  Speaker 3: That's it. Don't guarantee any futures past that. Don't do that.
• 5:11
  Speaker 2: What they do is because they're always in cap hell.
• 5:14
  Speaker 2: They refuse to cut players. They will not cut a
• 5:16
  Speaker 2: play for cap purposes. You could tie their hands around there,
• 5:19
  Speaker 2: their back. They're not doing it right, and they just
• 5:22
  Speaker 2: continue to take cash, convert it to assigning bonus and
• 5:25
  Speaker 2: you get all this dead money and then they wound
• 5:26
  Speaker 2: up cutting the player and then or try whatever the
• 5:28
  Speaker 2: guy retired, whatever the case would be. Eventually they move on.
• 5:32
  Speaker 2: They got all this dead money, not smart, right.
• 5:34
  Speaker 1: Yeah, they're they're they're bigger on the restructure. You're right,
• 5:36
  Speaker 1: they're they're you know, kicking the can down the road
• 5:39
  Speaker 1: and getting caught at the end.
• 5:40
  Speaker 2: Now, now the Eagles could get caught to look when
• 5:43
  Speaker 2: you do option pons paration, Yeah, if the guy leaves early,
• 5:46
  Speaker 2: you get zapped.
• 5:47
  Speaker 3: Yeah, But they.
• 5:48
  Speaker 2: Don't have a history of not being right on players
• 5:50
  Speaker 2: like New Orleans. The ones is not perfect, correct, the
• 5:52
  Speaker 2: reason why they've been bad for a number of years.
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: So so the Eagles are in a pretty good spot
• 5:59
  Speaker 1: here in terms of they don't have to do anything
• 6:04
  Speaker 1: at the moment. You know, like we talked in the
• 6:06
  Speaker 1: last episode about Jalen Carter and Morowa Jomo and Jomo's
• 6:11
  Speaker 1: can can walk in free agency if they don't get
• 6:13
  Speaker 1: something done, and Carter there's an urgency. But really with
• 6:17
  Speaker 1: this position at him because Grenard they've locked up, it's
• 6:21
  Speaker 1: really about what they're going to do in the near future,
• 6:25
  Speaker 1: and it's really about what kind of years Jelex Hunt
• 6:28
  Speaker 1: about to have after already having a breakout year last year,
• 6:31
  Speaker 1: getting over the sixty percent snap mark and then leading
• 6:35
  Speaker 1: the defense and interceptions and sacks. If this guy takes
• 6:38
  Speaker 1: another leap, he's gonna command some p I mean he's
• 6:43
  Speaker 1: he might be the most versatile edge that Vis had
• 6:47
  Speaker 1: since he came to the Eagles, and really like the
• 6:49
  Speaker 1: quintessential edge that quit that he wants a guy who
• 6:51
  Speaker 1: can rush the passer, stop the run, not just drop
• 6:55
  Speaker 1: into coverage, but be in the right spot and make
• 6:57
  Speaker 1: some plays and get some interceptions. Running back. I mean
• 6:59
  Speaker 1: this this guy could be really really key for them.
• 7:03
  Speaker 3: I mean he had a number His quarterback pressure rate
• 7:05
  Speaker 3: was really good.
• 7:06
  Speaker 2: He also had six and a half sacks, but the
• 7:07
  Speaker 2: quarter pressure rate was very good. Right, you mentioned the
• 7:10
  Speaker 2: three interceptions. Look, it's not a good thing that a
• 7:14
  Speaker 2: ed thresher's leading you in interceptions. But let's not forget
• 7:16
  Speaker 2: he was his safety to start his career, right, and
• 7:20
  Speaker 2: he is just so far advanced. I thought what he
• 7:23
  Speaker 2: did in year two he would do maybe do in
• 7:25
  Speaker 2: year three. So he's kind of like a year ahead.
• 7:28
  Speaker 3: Now.
• 7:28
  Speaker 2: Could he do now what he has to do if
• 7:30
  Speaker 2: he wants to get that big deal? Though he had
• 7:32
  Speaker 2: a Quase breakout season, he's not done from beginning to
• 7:35
  Speaker 2: end where he's dominant from the start to end. He
• 7:37
  Speaker 2: hadn't done that yet. This could be the year. At
• 7:40
  Speaker 2: first he's got to beat out Nolan Smith. Grenard starts
• 7:43
  Speaker 2: at one edgepot, can he beat at Nolan Smith? My
• 7:46
  Speaker 2: money would be on him. But we'll see. Nolan got
• 7:49
  Speaker 2: his fifth year option taken care of. But Nolan's got
• 7:54
  Speaker 2: to show that he could stay healthy and he's just
• 7:57
  Speaker 2: he's an excellent run defender. Hunt's got more upside as
• 8:00
  Speaker 2: a pass rusher if he asked me. By the way,
• 8:01
  Speaker 2: Nolan Smith, fifth your options we transition to him is
• 8:05
  Speaker 2: just under thirteen point eight million for twenty twenty seven, which,
• 8:08
  Speaker 2: by the way, is fully guaranteed.
• 8:10
  Speaker 3: In the old CBA, before.
• 8:12
  Speaker 2: This one, they'd be guaranteed the fifth your option was
• 8:15
  Speaker 2: only guaranteed for injury only, and then if he was
• 8:18
  Speaker 2: on the roster the following year then became fully guaranteed.
• 8:21
  Speaker 2: Now they're just as soon as your exercise, it's fully guaranteed.
• 8:23
  Speaker 2: It's a big difference. Good for the PA to get
• 8:25
  Speaker 2: that done. But Nolan Smith, to me and Hunt is
• 8:29
  Speaker 2: a fascinating study of this season. Yeah, how they handle
• 8:33
  Speaker 2: this And it's obviously going to come down to performance,
• 8:35
  Speaker 2: that's always number one.
• 8:36
  Speaker 3: But evaluating the performance and what it looks like. How
• 8:43
  Speaker 3: good is it?
• 8:44
  Speaker 2: Because when you do extensions, you're doing it based on
• 8:47
  Speaker 2: two things, what you've done on what you're going to do.
• 8:50
  Speaker 2: What you've got done gets you to the table, what
• 8:53
  Speaker 2: you think he's going to do gets you where the
• 8:56
  Speaker 2: market's going, or whether they lowball you where they don't,
• 9:00
  Speaker 2: or you know, there's some case like Miltwillims, I just
• 9:02
  Speaker 2: couldn't go there. They they knew where, they knew, as
• 9:05
  Speaker 2: we just talked about in the previous show, they were
• 9:08
  Speaker 2: doing so well in the draft that they were so
• 9:10
  Speaker 2: many players they could only go You could only say, hey,
• 9:13
  Speaker 2: you know, it's kind of like if Millton Williams's agents
• 9:15
  Speaker 2: wanted to do a really.
• 9:16
  Speaker 3: Bad deal, I'm sure the Egaless would have done it.
• 9:18
  Speaker 2: Yeah, take like twenty two million or something. But they
• 9:22
  Speaker 2: knew smartly Milton Williams people that they leverage, and they
• 9:26
  Speaker 2: sure as hell did. Because Carolina came in and New
• 9:28
  Speaker 2: England where the two finalists. There were other teams in filve,
• 9:31
  Speaker 2: but you can only.
• 9:32
  Speaker 3: Go so far.
• 9:32
  Speaker 2: It's like with Jalen Phillips, he goes were in the back.
• 9:35
  Speaker 2: My understanding was they went to twenty four Washington Onmatoll
• 9:38
  Speaker 2: was involved. They were out early. They they kind of
• 9:42
  Speaker 2: knew where it was going. And then Carolina Dan Morgan
• 9:46
  Speaker 2: he got screwed for Millton Williams. He's like, we're not
• 9:48
  Speaker 2: losing this one, right, that's and the problem is now
• 9:52
  Speaker 2: how he can't do that next year. There are too
• 9:54
  Speaker 2: many players that you can't keep everybody right. No teams
• 9:59
  Speaker 2: ever play paid eleven starters on the side of the
• 10:02
  Speaker 2: ball top ten money.
• 10:04
  Speaker 3: You can't do that right.
• 10:06
  Speaker 1: So it makes you wonder, does how we look ahead
• 10:08
  Speaker 1: into the future and say Nolan Smith has trade value?
• 10:12
  Speaker 1: Now will you have trade value at the end of
• 10:14
  Speaker 1: the year. If Jelex Hunt plays really well and it's
• 10:17
  Speaker 1: time to give him an extension, I don't know how
• 10:19
  Speaker 1: it's going to go. This is again one of those
• 10:21
  Speaker 1: maybe the quote unquote unpopular moves that they may have
• 10:24
  Speaker 1: to make. Remember they got an extra extra picks right
• 10:28
  Speaker 1: in the AJ Brown trade. I mean they're going to
• 10:30
  Speaker 1: draft an edge rusher sometime in the next few years.
• 10:33
  Speaker 1: So if you already have Hunt, you got Grenard for
• 10:35
  Speaker 1: two years, you may be able to work something out.
• 10:38
  Speaker 1: If Ebucketty has a nice year, we'll get to him
• 10:40
  Speaker 1: in a second where you bring him back for a
• 10:42
  Speaker 1: year or two at a modest price. I mean, they're
• 10:45
  Speaker 1: gonna draft the guy they love to stockpile edges, but
• 10:49
  Speaker 1: you can't pay him all. And I guess the best
• 10:52
  Speaker 1: case scenario in twenty twenty six, Adam is Jelex Hunt
• 10:56
  Speaker 1: rocks it out as awesome, Nolan Smith rocks it out
• 10:59
  Speaker 1: as awesome, Grenad Cards awesome, and you have to make
• 11:01
  Speaker 1: a really difficult decision, you know, for the long term,
• 11:04
  Speaker 1: but you just had an awesome year out of three edgressers,
• 11:07
  Speaker 1: and you add the number one ranked defense and maybe
• 11:09
  Speaker 1: it helps you win a Super Bowl.
• 11:12
  Speaker 2: It's a good problem to have if they all ball out.
• 11:14
  Speaker 2: But it's just it's it's just not realistic. But I
• 11:17
  Speaker 2: know it's fascinating. By the way, aj Panessa's son a
• 11:22
  Speaker 2: one year deal worth one point two one five million
• 11:25
  Speaker 2: veteran minimum assuming no guarantee money. So a lot of
• 11:28
  Speaker 2: these guys, like if you look at their edg rusher
• 11:30
  Speaker 2: group out of contract past the season, it's Grenard, it's Hunt,
• 11:35
  Speaker 2: Nolan Smith because he's got fifth option. Ebi Ketty's on
• 11:38
  Speaker 2: a one year deal, Ebedesa's on a one year deal.
• 11:40
  Speaker 2: Joe Trianshoyenka who missed a couple of practice, Keishawan, James Newby. Well,
• 11:45
  Speaker 2: he's got to first make the team, right who who's
• 11:48
  Speaker 2: a seventh round or he doesn't really factor and he's
• 11:50
  Speaker 2: a long shot to make the team. But Ebi Ketty,
• 11:55
  Speaker 2: ebit ketty got he got pretty good coin here.
• 11:57
  Speaker 3: I think he got four million. I'll double check it.
• 11:58
  Speaker 2: He got he Uh, his one year deal is worth
• 12:01
  Speaker 2: four point three million and they guaranteed all of it.
• 12:04
  Speaker 4: Yeah, that's sort of starting to mean less and less
• 12:07
  Speaker 4: to me because of the last few years of guys
• 12:10
  Speaker 4: like Ojilari or Uce or Devin White signing these one
• 12:15
  Speaker 4: year deals with you know, money that makes you think
• 12:17
  Speaker 4: they're either gonna factor in or definitely make the team,
• 12:20
  Speaker 4: which I think Eby Eddy will definitely make the team.
• 12:22
  Speaker 1: But the point is we've talked about this already. Vic
• 12:25
  Speaker 1: doesn't really like to play too many edges, and he's
• 12:27
  Speaker 1: got ahead of Abughtty and you know, let's say if
• 12:33
  Speaker 1: at Banessa they like him, he could get into the
• 12:35
  Speaker 1: I mean, it's just gonna be tough for It's gonna
• 12:37
  Speaker 1: be tough for whoever the fourth edge rusher is, and
• 12:39
  Speaker 1: especially for eb Kenny to like validate the money that
• 12:41
  Speaker 1: they're paying him. But then again, there's always injuries that
• 12:45
  Speaker 1: that forced guys well.
• 12:46
  Speaker 2: Without injury, right, we know who the top three or
• 12:49
  Speaker 2: Ebiqhetty will be the will be the three. Yeah, they'll
• 12:53
  Speaker 2: dress the four you have to dress for you don't dress.
• 12:55
  Speaker 1: Five will be the four, right because the three.
• 13:00
  Speaker 3: Were I'm sure. Yeah, Yah, he's the four, right right,
• 13:01
  Speaker 3: I'm sorry, he's the four. Ebketty's the fourth. That's it.
• 13:04
  Speaker 2: Yeah, Now, Joe Tryon sha inca Joe try On however
• 13:08
  Speaker 2: he wants to be called. He signed a one year
• 13:11
  Speaker 2: deal with one point four million. They guaranteed six six
• 13:15
  Speaker 2: two five six hundred and sixty two thousand, five hundred, right,
• 13:19
  Speaker 2: so you know around just under half of it. That's
• 13:24
  Speaker 2: not enough to stay on the roster. It's just not
• 13:27
  Speaker 2: by the way, if he if he I'm not saying
• 13:29
  Speaker 2: he's going on, but if he retired or something, he'd
• 13:32
  Speaker 2: have to pay a signing bonus back, depending on when
• 13:34
  Speaker 2: it's due the tendant, if they defer the money or not.
• 13:37
  Speaker 3: But we'll see.
• 13:37
  Speaker 2: It was weird he wasn't at the last two and
• 13:39
  Speaker 2: I he's just a long shot because the four guys
• 13:42
  Speaker 2: are making it for absolute certainty, eb Ketty's making it. Okay, Yeah,
• 13:46
  Speaker 2: he'll be the four you need to carry for. They've
• 13:48
  Speaker 2: always liked him. He wanted to be here, played at
• 13:51
  Speaker 2: Temple as we know, yep, and Penn States Yep, yep.
• 13:55
  Speaker 2: Transfer right now. But you know, Panessa is he I
• 13:57
  Speaker 2: know he's not. He's not what team seed more. He's
• 14:01
  Speaker 2: more of a run stopping edge than a pass rusher.
• 14:05
  Speaker 2: That's really been his whole career. Yeah, a little bit
• 14:07
  Speaker 2: overdrafted for that, but I wouldn't roll it out like
• 14:09
  Speaker 2: he you talked about the other show. He like a nickel.
• 14:12
  Speaker 2: He could play inside. You see, right, you see what
• 14:15
  Speaker 2: the injuries are like. Upfront, Eagles are kind of thin
• 14:17
  Speaker 2: upfront on their with their detacle group. The good thing
• 14:21
  Speaker 2: is they're very young though, which is this is another
• 14:24
  Speaker 2: year that they're very very young at the tackle, but
• 14:27
  Speaker 2: at edge they have tremendous depth. I mean it's actually
• 14:29
  Speaker 2: a really good thing. Yeah, training camp between Hunt and
• 14:32
  Speaker 2: Smith should be really really good. That that battle really good.
• 14:36
  Speaker 3: All right.
• 14:36
  Speaker 1: I want to ask you about one more guy before
• 14:38
  Speaker 1: we finished this episode, but first I want to remind
• 14:40
  Speaker 1: you the episode is brought to you by Eagles Fan Travel.
• 14:43
  Speaker 1: You want to experience an away game with hundreds of
• 14:45
  Speaker 1: Eagles fans. They handle the flights, hotels, tickets, tailgates, and
• 14:49
  Speaker 1: exclusive events all weekend long. Check them out at Philadelphia
• 14:53
  Speaker 1: Eagles dot com slash Travel. Hey, Philly fans, game day
• 14:57
  Speaker 1: is stressful enough parking tra long lines, We've all been there,
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: But when it comes to your cannabis, Camden Apothecary makes
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: it easy. This is the dispensary for sports fans, just
• 15:10
  Speaker 1: minutes outside of Philly, with plenty of free parking. You'll
• 15:13
  Speaker 1: be in and out fast, no hassle, no waiting, and
• 15:16
  Speaker 1: they don't just care about convenience. Camdn Apothecary is all
• 15:20
  Speaker 1: about the guest experience. Their staff makes sure you feel
• 15:24
  Speaker 1: taken care of every time you walk in. Plus, they
• 15:27
  Speaker 1: carry only the best quality cannabis at the fairest prices,
• 15:32
  Speaker 1: so whether you're stocking up for the tailgate, the watch party,
• 15:35
  Speaker 1: or celebrating a big win, you know you're getting the
• 15:38
  Speaker 1: good stuff without overpaying. They even show love to the
• 15:42
  Speaker 1: community with specials for fans, students, service members, and healthcare pros.
• 15:48
  Speaker 1: Cam Den Apothecary top quality cannabis, great prices, and an
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: experience made for Philly fans twenty one and up. All Right,
• 15:56
  Speaker 1: so it's probably not gonna and I think the epiness
• 15:58
  Speaker 1: assigning means it's not gonna have. But we have to
• 16:01
  Speaker 1: discuss the potential, the possibility of Brandon Graham uh and
• 16:05
  Speaker 1: his contract deciding like either he wants to play or
• 16:08
  Speaker 1: he's gonna retire again. Was there anything in his contract
• 16:12
  Speaker 1: from last year round that factors into this coming year?
• 16:18
  Speaker 2: There'll be some dead money, No, it's he's an emergency player.
• 16:21
  Speaker 2: If he's needed, well, they'd have to suffer a lot
• 16:23
  Speaker 2: of injuries for him to come back.
• 16:25
  Speaker 3: Just they don't need him. It's everybody loves BG but
• 16:29
  Speaker 3: years old.
• 16:30
  Speaker 1: I like that, a little bit of dead money that
• 16:31
  Speaker 1: they from, like you know void years.
• 16:33
  Speaker 2: Right, Yeah, there's dead money, but it's it's they're at
• 16:36
  Speaker 2: where they're at with him. It's it's that he does
• 16:38
  Speaker 2: not need it. I mean, it's correct too many. You know,
• 16:42
  Speaker 2: if he was six foot five, he's not. He's actually
• 16:43
  Speaker 2: under six to two. No, but he's living in the area.
• 16:47
  Speaker 2: Everybody loves him and he'll go in Eagles Hall of
• 16:49
  Speaker 2: Fame for sure, And that's it. They just don't they
• 16:52
  Speaker 2: have There's just no need there. This is the this
• 16:54
  Speaker 2: is really the deepest they've been. The kind of cool
• 16:56
  Speaker 2: thing is you've got the veteran in Grenard, right m hm,
• 17:01
  Speaker 2: you got the two kids, and Smith and Hunt, and
• 17:03
  Speaker 2: you got a young veteran Epiquetty.
• 17:05
  Speaker 3: Like this is a really good group.
• 17:08
  Speaker 1: This is a good group. I keep asking myself, is
• 17:09
  Speaker 1: this group better, worse or the same from what they
• 17:13
  Speaker 1: ended last year with, which would be Jalx's Hunt, Jalen
• 17:17
  Speaker 1: Phillips and and Nolan Smith Junior. I guess it's it's
• 17:21
  Speaker 1: very similar. Phillips, like you mentioned, is built like a
• 17:25
  Speaker 1: true like the type of edge Vic loves. He's built
• 17:28
  Speaker 1: like an edge, whereas Grenard's a little a little bit smaller,
• 17:31
  Speaker 1: not much smaller, just a little a little faster around
• 17:34
  Speaker 1: the edges. I think Phillips is probably known more as
• 17:37
  Speaker 1: being a better run defender. But they're both very good.
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: You know, Grenard played on really good defenses in Texas
• 17:43
  Speaker 1: and Minnesota. It's not like he's a liability against the
• 17:46
  Speaker 1: run at all. I don't know where they're at. I
• 17:48
  Speaker 1: to me, it's Matt, I guess, and you go to
• 17:50
  Speaker 1: the fourth guy, and like, does the fourth guy actually
• 17:52
  Speaker 1: play in this rotation or not? I don't know.
• 17:54
  Speaker 3: I guess not.
• 17:56
  Speaker 2: The hope is that they all he would you would think, right,
• 18:00
  Speaker 2: Hunt takes a big step, It takes a next step
• 18:01
  Speaker 2: in his progression. The question is for Smith can he
• 18:04
  Speaker 2: stay on the field. He's had these triceps problems, you know,
• 18:07
  Speaker 2: the retaar of it last year. So can he get
• 18:11
  Speaker 2: can he get back to where he once was when
• 18:13
  Speaker 2: he showed some promise a couple of years ago, because
• 18:17
  Speaker 2: there was actually the same season if you remember where
• 18:19
  Speaker 2: they made him play in the preseason and the last
• 18:21
  Speaker 2: one with a backups because he was so bad right.
• 18:24
  Speaker 3: Then he came out.
• 18:25
  Speaker 2: They came out of nowhere, like five or six games in,
• 18:27
  Speaker 2: like wow, Wow, where did this come from?
• 18:30
  Speaker 3: Yeah?
• 18:30
  Speaker 2: But to me, I'll say this, the upside is better.
• 18:35
  Speaker 3: Upside is better, And.
• 18:37
  Speaker 1: I think he comes down to Hunt, especially no one
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: Smith too. But Hunt, if he just takes another leap,
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: just gets more comfortable and learns more pass rushing moves,
• 18:46
  Speaker 1: learns how tackles are trying to defend him, and he
• 18:48
  Speaker 1: gets better in that way, then yeah, I think you're
• 18:51
  Speaker 1: seeing more upside and a truly potentially truly dynamic player.
• 18:55
  Speaker 2: Remember he is, you're on a even if your contract's
• 18:58
  Speaker 2: not up, it doesn't mean you're not on a contract
• 18:59
  Speaker 2: here because they could extend your count like in other
• 19:02
  Speaker 2: in other markets, he would not be in a contract
• 19:04
  Speaker 2: year because teams some teams just don't will not extend
• 19:06
  Speaker 2: until after the final year, or they'll wait. They'll wait
• 19:10
  Speaker 2: to that year and see how he's doing. Maybe they'll
• 19:12
  Speaker 2: do it in training camp or during the season. He goes,
• 19:15
  Speaker 2: don't wait. I mean it's like we said, Milt Williams,
• 19:17
  Speaker 2: Yes they could. He did walk one of the few
• 19:20
  Speaker 2: over the years. For we talked about Michael Lewis in
• 19:22
  Speaker 2: the previous show. That was an interesting one. But not
• 19:25
  Speaker 2: many walk away without the without the Eagles saying see
• 19:28
  Speaker 2: I though, where they don't want to bring the guy
• 19:29
  Speaker 2: back now are there? There are times when lesser players
• 19:34
  Speaker 2: like Isaiah Rodgers Egles had some interest bring them back.
• 19:37
  Speaker 2: But he had a really nice structure. Yeah, I was
• 19:40
  Speaker 2: all at the time from the fightings, it was kind
• 19:41
  Speaker 2: of a no brainer for him. Plus they knew he
• 19:43
  Speaker 2: knew he could start there.
• 19:44
  Speaker 3: That was a difference.
• 19:45
  Speaker 2: There are some guys like that, but I'm talking more
• 19:47
  Speaker 2: about the guys that they drafted. Yep, they don't have
• 19:50
  Speaker 2: a history of letting guys walk.
• 19:51
  Speaker 3: It's it's it's.
• 19:52
  Speaker 1: Happened, but not Yeah, I can't remember.
• 19:56
  Speaker 3: I know, I know, but but.
• 19:59
  Speaker 2: You know, like I heard, we're just well he had
• 20:00
  Speaker 2: the injury history. Who did make money elsewhere with the Raiders.
• 20:04
  Speaker 2: But it's it's a fascinating situation. In the nine years
• 20:09
  Speaker 2: of our show, I just have not see this much
• 20:12
  Speaker 2: young talent on their defense. It's really remarkable. And as
• 20:15
  Speaker 2: we said on the other show, the Zach Bond think
• 20:17
  Speaker 2: came out of nowhere.
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: Mm hmm.
• 20:19
  Speaker 3: You really look at it other than safety, which definitely
• 20:22
  Speaker 3: still weakness. And we'll see what it.
• 20:24
  Speaker 2: We'll see if Coop, who looks like it looks like
• 20:27
  Speaker 2: mister Olympia by the way, it's all bulked up.
• 20:29
  Speaker 3: No, yeah, see see how he does transferred over to safety.
• 20:32
  Speaker 3: There's no more corner for him. Mm hmm.
• 20:34
  Speaker 2: So it's uh, safety is sort of like the quagmire,
• 20:37
  Speaker 2: don't I don't know what to expect.
• 20:39
  Speaker 3: I really have no idea.
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: Well, that is a future pod. I think next one
• 20:43
  Speaker 1: will probably do off ball linebacker, then go do defensive backs.
• 20:48
  Speaker 1: As we wrap up this series this week, really fascinating
• 20:52
  Speaker 1: discussion about the edges, especially if Jill Ex Hunts has
• 20:55
  Speaker 1: a big time year in light of our other discussion
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: about well what if you know by.
• 21:00
  Speaker 2: The way yet and yeah, yeah, if he kicks ass,
• 21:05
  Speaker 2: Sorry Jonathan Garnard, Hunt's going to make more money.
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: I'm just threaking that right because Grenard's is a thirty
• 21:10
  Speaker 1: million a year and he kicks ass man.
• 21:13
  Speaker 2: I mean it's you have to add all the belts
• 21:16
  Speaker 2: and whistles to get I mean, it is technically thirty
• 21:20
  Speaker 2: million a year if you look at the roster bonuses
• 21:24
  Speaker 2: and workout bonuses and all that stuff. But if i'm
• 21:28
  Speaker 2: if I'm Jaylex Hunt, see the thing with the thing
• 21:31
  Speaker 2: with edge rushers is like I know one team told
• 21:34
  Speaker 2: me he was talking to recently about Jayden Phillips. They
• 21:37
  Speaker 2: one team was in it very passively on Phillips. What
• 21:40
  Speaker 2: did he have two sacks? And they were very early
• 21:42
  Speaker 2: with the Eagles, I mean terms one he was after
• 21:44
  Speaker 2: the trade. But if you look at the tape and
• 21:50
  Speaker 2: you look at the pressure rate, this is why that
• 21:52
  Speaker 2: stuff's important, Like you really have to go by the way.
• 21:54
  Speaker 2: He really played over on all that he brought. They
• 21:57
  Speaker 2: just cannot just to this team said, there's no way
• 21:59
  Speaker 2: and how can justify the million?
• 22:00
  Speaker 3: Year?
• 22:00
  Speaker 2: He goes the agent did a great, great job because
• 22:03
  Speaker 2: we looked into it, never made an offer. You just
• 22:05
  Speaker 2: wanted to see where the market was going and kind
• 22:06
  Speaker 2: of liked the player. Right, it's just who the hell's
• 22:10
  Speaker 2: sell thirty million? Well, Elex Hunt, let me tell you something.
• 22:13
  Speaker 2: With that length and that explosion and that that defensive
• 22:16
  Speaker 2: back background, Sure, so you can drop it?
• 22:19
  Speaker 3: How many edges could you? Little?
• 22:21
  Speaker 2: Could you legitimately drop into coverage? And they can hold
• 22:24
  Speaker 2: their own.
• 22:25
  Speaker 1: Right right and not yeah, not just hold their own,
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: but make a play for you. Even like you're you're
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: hoping that they can just drop in and like be
• 22:31
  Speaker 1: a disruptor. If they can actually pick off the yeah
• 22:34
  Speaker 1: and run it back, then you got like you're like,
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: you know.
• 22:36
  Speaker 3: I mean, he's he's yeah, I was.
• 22:39
  Speaker 2: I weren't. We're not looking at next year. But I'm
• 22:42
  Speaker 2: telling you, if Hunt takes that next step, he's halfway there.
• 22:45
  Speaker 2: He has a true breakout season beginning to end. The
• 22:48
  Speaker 2: whole league will know it, and Michael hop and his
• 22:52
  Speaker 2: agent it's been around for a long time. This This
• 22:55
  Speaker 2: will be a bit by far the biggest contract he
• 22:56
  Speaker 2: ever does, so this just could be ridiculous, but we'll see.
• 23:00
  Speaker 3: It's gotta play well, all right.
• 23:01
  Speaker 1: Great stuff, great stuff. That is a look at the edge,
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: and that really completes our look going back to the
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: last podcast at the entire front line, and we'll start
• 23:09
  Speaker 1: to move into the second, the second level and the
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: secondary in future podcast. That's gonna do it. For this
• 23:15
  Speaker 1: episode of Inside the Birds, the leading podcast and Eagles Intel,
• 23:19
  Speaker 1: and as always, we thank you for flying with us
• 23:23
  Speaker 1: Inside the Birds. Be sure to check out our friends
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: at Phlsportsnation dot com. They're enhancing the fans experience with
• 23:32
  Speaker 1: their coverage of all Philadelphia sports teams. For the fan,
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: by the fan is their motto, so make sure you
• 23:38
  Speaker 1: check them out at Phlsportsnation dot com and on Twitter
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: at PHL sports Nation