Today was the official last day of training camp for the Super Bowl champs, so let’s take look at how the rookie class did in the sweltering summer of South Philly:
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Tight end Dallas Goedert of South Dakota State, the second round selection who was the team’s first pick in the 2018 draft, was stellar: tough, smart, reliable. He has been a quick study and will be a major contributor with Pro Bowl tight end Zach Ertz in Doug Pederson’s multiple two-tight-end formations. Goedert proved faster on the field than I initially thought. Has good inside quickness.
- Cornerback Avonte Maddox, the fourth round pick out of Pittsburgh, has fantastic lateral quickness and around the ball toughness. He is going to be a factor if he avoids the injuries that plagued him in college. Remember, he’s small at 5-9, so he can’t play outside cornerback at the NFL level. He’ll be in the slot, where he’ll take a beating. So, let’s see how he holds up. Hope he does, because he’s got real speed and real talent.
- Pass rusher Josh Sweat, another fourth round pick, of Florida State, showed real flashes of quickness in one-on-one drills. The next three pre-season games are important for him, because once the season starts, he’ll just be thrown into the mix – sink or swim. So he needs to get as much experience as possible between now and the home opener on Sept. 6. He has a chance to be a productive pass rusher when the team will need him most – in November and December and in the fourth quarter. (Just like last year’s first rounder Derek Barnett.)
- Matt Pryor, the sixth round pick out of Texas Christian, is going to be a solid pro in his rookie year. So far, he has operated under the radar, but by the time Thanksgiving rolls around, Pryor will be a household name among Eagles fans.
- As for Jordan Mailata, the Australian rugby player who came to Philly with zero football experience – let’s just say he traveled a long way to get here and he’s got a long way to go.
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