At 38, Peters should rate as necessary commodity
The year after trading up to draft Andre Dillard and calling him the highest-rated offensive tackle on their board, the Eagles tried to get rid of him during the draft.
According to sources, Dillard was shopped to the New York Jets then, yet to no avail. Jets football operations chief Joe Douglas, who played a role in selecting Dillard for the Eagles, felt it prudent to draft offensive tackle Mekhi
Becton instead of going through with the trade.
This despite Becton failing a drug test at the combine.
The obvious answer to the question why, is because the 6-7, 364-pound Becton has something Dillard may never get – an anchor of a body. He’s strong enough throughout his core to avoid getting thrown around like a ragdoll, which happened to Dillard all too often in four starts last season.
Realistically there is no way Dillard or Jordan Mailata, the converted rugby player, will be nearly polished enough in this COVID-19 “offseason” to protect $128 million quarterback Carson Wentz’s blind side.
Jason Peters most definitely is able to do that job, thus the rumors that he’s still part of the Eagles’ plans should surprise no one.
Even at age 38, Peters has the strength to take on bull rushes, the savvy to pick up stunts and the wherewithal to do the toughest job up front, which neither Dillard and/or Mailata may never have. Sixth-round draft pick Prince Tega Wanogho of Auburn has more upside, though in all fairness, Dillard and Mailata technically are works in progress.
Peters missed three starts last year after undergoing arthroscopic knee surgery. That gave Dillard a chance to show what he could do.
Anybody with a cursory knowledge of pass protection realized Dillard was a project after he was manhandled in a loss to the Dallas Cowboys.
Defensive end Robert Quinn bull-rushed Dillard into Wentz for a sack. Everybody but Wentz could see that coming. You could use the play as an instructional tape on what not to do in pass protection.
On the next snap, Quinn baited Dillard into over-committing and ran around him to grab the arm of Wentz for a near interception.
Wentz had three turnovers in the game, including two lost fumbles, and was sacked three times. It would have been four sacks, with three pinned on Dillard, if not for Lane Johnson, who blocked his man into Dillard’s man.
Dillard survived the next two starts, although Wentz threw the ball just 24 times in that 31-13 rout of the Buffalo Bills because the Eagles ran it 41 times for 218 yards and three touchdowns. Still, Wentz was dropped three times and fumbled once.
In Dillard’s third start, a 22-14 win over the Chicago Bears, Wentz was sacked four times and intercepted once while attempting 39 passes.
When Johnson was hurt, Dillard was overmatched in switching to right tackle in his remaining start against the Seattle Seahawks. The Eagles yanked him and kicked Halapoulivaati Vaitai to right tackle, and inserted Matt Pryor at guard when Brandon Brooks got hurt.
The Eagles addressed a need to get faster at wide receiver in the draft. They drafted Davion Taylor and Shaun Bradley to shore up the linebacker position. Safety K’Von Wallace was selected on Day 3. There’s a ton of work ahead for all of them.
But if the Eagles don’t want to rush second-round pick Jalen Hurts into action at quarterback, they need to bring back Peters.
For all the blather about the criteria suiting the Birds’ new breed of player – Can he run? Is he healthy? Does he love football? – common sense should tell management you can’t count on youth and inexperience to keep your franchise quarterback whole.
The last time we looked, Wentz hadn’t completed any of the last three seasons. It should help to have a backup like Hurts, who is talented and proficient enough in the run-passoption package the Eagles have to make something happen, if called upon.
But the offensive line, where the Eagles are counting on Johnson (concussion) and Brooks (shoulder) to return at full strength, and don’t have the luxury of a versatile backup like Vaitai, needs immediate attention.
What Peters said a few years ago when asked if he’d back with the Birds holds true to this day. He’s the best they’ve got at left tackle. You have to live with the two or three games he could miss.
The Eagles don’t have to block Quinn this year. He signed with the Bears. They do have to keep Wentz clear of Nick Bosa, T.J. Watt, Chase Young, Leonard Williams, Calais Campbell, Myles Garrett and others.
As fast as DeSean Jackson, first-round pick Jalen Reagor, third-day picks John Hightower and Quez Watkins, and trade acquisition Marquise Goodwin are, they won’t have the time to get deep and open up the field for Miles Sanders, Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert unless Wentz is protected.
Speed, good health and a love for football are admirable qualities to look for in building a team.
When it comes to protecting your most important asset, the quarterback, can he block, can he hold up against the blitz and will he fight are much more apropos queries.
Contact Bob Grotz at bgrotz@21stcenturymedia.com; you can follow him on Twitter @BobGrotz.