Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Mathews, Smallwood and Co. may have reason to worry
PHILADELPHIA >> Among other Eagles facing increased competition in the wake of the draft are running backs Ryan Mathews and Wendell Smallwood and wide receivers Dorial Green-Beckham and Nelson Agholor.
The Eagles traded up in the fourth round to draft running back Donnel Pumphrey of San Diego State, the prolific rusher/receiver who player personnel chief Joe Douglas loves.
In the fourth round the Birds selected receiver Mack Hollins (6-4, 221) Of UNC and in the fifth, deep threat Shelton Gibson of West Virginia.
While veteran back Ryan Mathews still is under contract, he’s coming off a neck injury. It sure doesn’t sound like he’s part of the plan going forward.
“Ryan Mathews is on this team,” football operations boss Howie Roseman said. “Can I tell you anyone who’s going to be on this team in September? We’re here in April. All that stuff will work itself out. His rehab is going well. There are some things ... some parts of the process that he has to get through here. But he’s working hard and he’s able to work out and he’s cleared to do all that.”
Smallwood, who hails from Wilmington, Del., needs to show the Eagles he’s healthy after tearing an MCL. He rushed for 377 yards (4.1 average) and one touchdown, caught six passes for 55 yards and returned a kickoff 86 yards for a touchdown in his rookie season.
“I think Wendell is obviously coming off injury, so that’s No. 1,” Pederson said. “We’ve got to make sure he’s 100 percent, physically, and ready to go there. I think Wendell has a role on this football team. It’s something that we saw glimpses of last season when he had a chance to play, and we just expect him to come in, compete, work and put himself in a position to help us again this year.”
Pederson said he’s looking forward to the competition at wide receiver.
“I’m excited to see who’s going to rise to the top and who’s going to be there at the end,” Pederson said. “It’s just going to make us better down the stretch.”
*** Some two weeks hence the Eagles’ draft picks and priority free agents convene for rookie camp. Several reports have surfaced identifying some of the signees. Among others who reportedly have agreed to terms:
Tight end Billy Brown and safety Tre’ Sullivan (Shepherd University); running back Corey Clement (Wisconsin); center Tyler Orlosky (West Virginia); quarterback Greg Ward (Houston); defensive tackle Winston Craig (Richmond); punter Cameron Johnston (Ohio State); linebacker Marcus Oliver (Indiana) and cornerback Jomal Wiltz (Iowa State).
Clement (5-10, 221) is a between-the-tackles runner who rushed for 1,375 yards (4.4 average) and 15 touchdowns last season. He got a sixth-seventh round grade from Ourlad’s Guide to the NFL Draft.
Brown (6-3, 254) had a seventh-round grade. Orlovsky (6-3, 298) had a fifth/ sixth round grade.
The offseason roster limit is 90. The draft picks, when they sign, would give the Eagles 84 players. Obviously cuts are going to have to be made if they go to work with all of these guys.
“What we’re going to do is we’re going to weigh the value of some of the undrafted free agents versus some of the guys on the roster,” Roseman said. “If there’s an opportunity to improve our football team, we’ve got to take that opportunity to do that.” *** Media members covering the Eagles got into a weekend conversation about how local eateries should react if the Birds drafted Taco Charlton.
After all, that kind of name could be gold.
Alas, Charlton came off the board late in the first round to the Cowboys.
That spurred the headline “Taco Bueno” in the Dallas Morning News, and triggered a statement from the Taco Bueno Tex-Mex chain.
“We couldn’t agree more,” said Mike Roper, President and CEO, Taco Bueno. “We are opening our arms and doors to Taco Charlton as he becomes part of the fabric of our hometown.”
Quality marketing.