EMERGENCY (?) POD: Eagles sign Arnold Ebiketie & Jonathan Jones

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What's going on everybody and good morning?

How's your Friday going?

I don't know if this will qualify as an emergency pod,

but the Eagles have made two moves in the past 24 hours.

I guess maybe more depending on when you're listening

to this, two moves that are definitely worth talking about,

that are definitely worth potting about,

and are guys that definitely will be exciting

to watch in training camp.

So let's start with the first of the two signings,

or at least the signing, I think is more important.

In case you don't know, the two signings are

Falcons Ed rusher Arnold,

Ebikati, and longtime Patriots corner,

one year with Washington, Jonathan Jones.

So the Eagles add an Ed rusher, they add a corner back,

and these are two guys that are going to be fighting

for playing time, and one of them,

I think is going to be fighting for a roster spot.

So let's start with Ebikati,

because I think this is a more substantial signing,

first of all just financially,

but also I think this is someone

they're hoping can definitely contribute.

So Arnold Ebikati, if you listen

to the pod's previewing free agency,

or even if you listen last year at the trade deadline,

you've heard this name before on the pod.

I think he is someone that made sense for them

to target in free agency.

He was a five emoji player,

so you know that he's a good player.

And then at the trade deadline last year,

he was someone they had interest in.

So what's the fit now?

And here's what you need to know about Ebikati.

So it's a one year, $7.3 million deal,

only $4.3 million is fully guaranteed.

So kind of similar to the deal,

Aziz Ojalari got last year,

and that's the name we'll be talking about in a second,

but a decent chunk of change, right?

Like this is someone they clearly wanted to sign.

This is not a one year flyer.

This is someone they are hoping will play for them.

So Ebikati is 27, a former second round pick.

And I think what's encouraging

is he's been able to stay healthy throughout his career.

He's played in 16 plus games every year of his career.

Now he's not playing a ton of snaps.

Obviously that impacts, you know,

how his ability to stay healthy.

But he has been able to stay on the field,

only been in the NFL for four years,

hasn't played a ton of snaps.

So he's somebody that you get,

I mean, he's at 1,800 snaps in his career.

That's not a lot of snaps in four years.

So he's young, not played a lot of snaps,

and he's been healthy.

So this is a fresh set of legs,

so to speak, that the Eagles are getting at edge rusher.

Like I said, the production has not been great.

Now he's not played a ton, right?

He's never been over, I think 43% of the snaps

in a season, 23 and 24 were good years from.

He had six sacks in each of those seasons,

but bookend by as a rookie he had two and a half

and last year he only had two.

And again, he's playing every game,

so it's not a lack of playing time.

He just was not as effective.

Now while the sack numbers are low,

just 16 and a half and four years,

the pressure numbers are impressive.

He is just over 120 quarterback pressures in four years,

so he's consistently gotten there.

Like he's consistently been able to get to the quarterback,

and then another stat,

if you're not a huge pressure guy, quarterback hits,

he's hit the quarterback 41 times in four years.

So, you know, less than one a game about half,

about half of a quarterback hit a game

throughout his career, a little above that,

but he's someone that has shown an ability

to get there for sure.

And he has a little bit of draft pedigree.

He was a second round pick in 2022,

the 38th overall pick,

so he was a high draft pick in that second round.

You know the Eagles love draft pedigree,

it's something they always target with these type of guys,

especially if they were drafted high by the Niners.

They love getting former high picks by the Niners.

Temple guy, temple mate, shout out,

Temple went to Penn State for all the Penn State listeners as well.

So, aware he's local-ish, right?

Cause he's played in the area,

he's actually from Cameroon,

so not exactly Philadelphia,

but Temple Penn State College second round pick,

four years with the Falcons,

decent pass rush production in terms of getting to the quarterback,

not great pass rush production in terms of creating SAC.

So, I would say in terms of the fit on the roster,

Jalex Hunt right now, I think is the clear cut number one edge.

I think Jalex Hunt is going to start snap one week one,

barring a massive move by the team,

or him being hurt.

Like, I don't think his spot is really up for grabs.

I definitely think as of now Nolan Smith

is the clear cut number two edge.

Like he will, when they start training camp,

barring another big move,

it'll be Jalex Hunt and Nolan Smith out there.

The difference between Hunt and Smith to me,

and why I bring this up when talking about Ebikeiti,

is I think Ebikeiti could overtake Nolan Smith.

I don't think he can overtake Hunt,

but I think there is a world where he plays better

than Nolan Smith and Vic Fangio puts him out there.

And that's why I brought up his Ezo Jalari earlier

when talking about the money involved in this deal.

Because normally, if you're a guy that signs a one year deal

for four and a half million guaranteed

upwards of seven and a half million,

you're expecting to play,

especially when he's someone that's not played a ton

in his career, right?

He wants to go smokey things

he's going to get on the field.

And normally, this type of money would say,

yeah, we're going to play you.

But as Ezo Jalari found out,

that doesn't matter to Vic Fangio.

Ezo Jalari signed a similar deal last year

and basically never got on the field.

Like, never was willingly put out there by Vic Fangio.

A more extreme example of this is Bryce Huff.

Bryce Huff, of course, signed for a ton more guaranteed,

never got on the field.

Or I shouldn't say that.

Never wanted to put him out on the field

and clearly was in Vic Fangio's doghouse.

He was a healthy scratch in the Super Bowl.

So the Eagles have spent money on edge players

that have come in and Vic Fangio has not played them.

So Ebike T is not guaranteed any kind of playing time.

I think the money guarantees him a roster spot

where he could be healthy scratches.

He could be on fake IR.

But I think Ebike T is going to have to fight

for his playing time.

I do, though, think there is a world

where he outplays Nolan Smith.

Nolan Smith coming into this year, I think is a question.

Didn't have a great year last year.

Didn't have a great rookie year.

He's really had like 12 really good games in the NFL.

And they were awesome.

And I think he, I do think he adds a toughness

to the Eagles defense.

He adds a recklessness to the Eagles defense.

He's good against the run.

And I think the potential is still absolutely there.

But Ebike T has played four years of probably better football

than Nolan Smith has in his three years.

He's better at getting to the quarterback, I would say.

Or at least more consistently, he's done over four years.

Nolan's really only done it one out of three years.

So I think there's a world where Ebike T

could overtake Nolan Smith.

But I think it's definitely up for grabs.

So you look at the signing

and I think he will make the roster.

Like I'll probably have him as a lock

when I do my lock bubble long shot.

I'll probably have him as a lock.

But I don't think playing time for him is a lock.

So now you look at the edge position

and again, Hunt Smith, Ebike T.

And the question is what's next?

How does the first name that you think of when

is how does it impact is Brandon Graham?

So Brandon Graham spoke this week at a,

I believe it was a Dick Vermeel event,

honoring Dick Vermeel.

It's the event that Vic Fangio spoke at.

And this is via John Clark who spoke to people there.

Brandon Graham essentially said,

yeah, I'm coming back and seemed in my opinion,

reading the quote to insinuate it would be with the Eagles, right?

So maybe the Eagles have told him, have told Brandon,

he will be back.

If that's the case, then that's four adressers right there.

Nolan Smith, Jaelic Hunt, excuse me, Ebike T and Brandon Graham.

Now they normally only play four edges,

but they're not going to be done at edge.

I don't think Ebike T takes them out of the John

at their Grenard market.

I don't think it takes them out of taking an edge

in the first two rounds.

I don't think it takes them out of even signing another edge.

So while there are four, if you include Brandon,

that in theory are going to be on the roster next year,

I still think there's a chance they had two guys

that might be expected to play.

And if that happens, then the Brandon Graham roster spot

becomes an interesting one.

Because we saw last year, he can play defensive tackle,

he can play edge, he's really good in 10 snaps.

I think they really like him in the locker room.

And I think there's a world where he is on the roster,

but you wonder where this playing time

is going to start to come from from him.

Now he could outplay Ebike T in training camp

and then Ebike T's not playing.

Both of them could outplay Nolan Smith

and then Nolan Smith's not playing.

But I still think they need another move at edge here.

You're expecting Nolan to play much better.

You're hoping, I guess I should say,

you're hoping Ebike T plays better than he did.

And then you're hoping Jalex Hunt takes another step forward.

If all those things happen,

then you feel good about the top three.

But if they all just kind of play

where they've been in their career,

then it's not a super imposing set of edges.

Now they have good, very good defensive tackles

with Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis.

They still have Moro, Jomo.

So that's going to help the edges,

but I think as of now, those top three

still leave a lot to be desired.

And that's why I don't think this takes them

out of the Jonathan Grenard market.

I think they could have signed Ebike T

even if they signed Jalen Phillips.

They probably would have been a little less likely,

but the point I'm making is I kind of view

it as two separate pots of money.

I think they have money to go pay an edge

that they really, really like.

And then this qualifies more as like a lower down type of deal.

So John the Grenard, I still think would make sense.

You start him and Jalex Hunt.

You have Nolan Smith and Ebike T

as your top two backups.

And then, you know, Brandon Graham maybe plays

both defensive tackle and edge.

If you bring a rookie in, maybe he sits for a year

depending or you rotate him in, guys get hurt.

Obviously, Nolan is dealt with injury stress career.

Brandon Graham, God bless him,

got through last year healthy, but is an older guy.

And you know, you think playing a full season,

there's a chance he misses the game or two.

So I think that this does not take them

out of the Jonathan Grenard market

at all.

And I still think they need another move at edge.

But for four and a half million dollars,

former second round pick, four years,

you know, kind of similar to Bryce Huff.

Honestly, like, not too dissimilar

in the way that he's a specialty player.

He's been decent against the run.

I'd be lying if I said I've watched a lot

of his run, run snaps.

But you look at his pro football focus grades

and they're up and down, but they're not terrible.

Like he's had years where he's been average at it.

He has years when he hasn't been,

but he's never been awful at it.

So he'll be a third down edge rusher,

potentially, off to work his way

to get out on the field.

But I like the signing overall.

And I think it's a good, it's a good,

not wanna say shot in the dark

because he's a, you know, he's a good player.

But there's a good upside signing there.

But again, one year deal, you know they're not gonna

renegotiate during the year.

If he really crushes it during the season,

the Eagles are putting an opportunity to lose him.

And, man, it's crazy that they're not,

I mean, I'm sure they're pushing for it,

but you would really want a two year deal

instead of a one year deal.

Now, it probably allows him to get guys like this,

who maybe would take one year to hire a salary

than two years at a lower salary,

but it just hurts him that if he comes in here,

he's awesome, he'll only be 28 like next off season

that you're probably gonna lose him.

So, could be a good edge rusher for him,

but he's gonna have to work get on the field.

And the Azizo Jalari, Josh Uche situation from last year,

I think, you know, they're not the same guy,

but it gives you a level of skepticism of,

you can talk yourself into an edge rusher,

just like everyone talked themselves into Uche Lari,

including me, talked themselves into Uche,

including me, and neither of them

ended up being impact players and both are gone.

So, we'll see, but I like the signing overall.

All right, on the other side,

we're gonna talk about the other signing the Eagles made,

and that is corner back, Jonathan Jones.

So, that'll be on the other side,

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Okay, so, sitting at home Thursday night, relaxing,

was watching Age of Attraction on Netflix.

One of the crazier shows I've ever watched.

This is, of course, after I watch

The Love Is Blind Reunion on Wednesday, awesome reunion.

One of the better Love Is Blind Reunions,

but I'm sitting there and getting alert,

the Eagles have signed a cornerback.

First of all, I'm surprised it's a cornerback.

Second of all, I'm surprised at the player.

The Eagles have signed 32-year-old Jonathan Jones.

So, it's a familiar name.

It's a familiar face.

He's been in the NFL for 10 years,

I believe at this point.

32-years-old, only 59,

spent nine years with the Patriots

before joining Washington last season.

So, the obvious connection here is Mike Pellegrino,

the secondary coach that the Eagles hired

that was with New England for a really long time

before being with Buffalo last year.

So, Jonathan Jones.

He's played mostly outside corner

the past few years, is where he's primarily lined up,

but early in his career, he spent a lot of time at Nickel,

which, of course, is what you would expect,

him only being 59.

Still has played Nickel for a few hundred snaps

the past few years combined,

but he's been predominantly on the outside.

No real crazy numbers in his career

that stand out, 11 interceptions in 10 years,

10 force fumbles in 10 years, three and a half sacks,

only five tackles for a loss in 10 years.

So, you know, average is about one a year,

that's not bad, but it's also not not worthy.

He's not a huge turnover guy.

Although the force fumbles, I think,

does speak to him punching at the ball.

I think, you know, getting a force fumble a year

is a good indication that you're trying there.

He does bring a winning pedigree.

Of course, he would already have a winning pedigree,

but he does bring a winning pedigree.

He's a two time super bowl champion.

And like I said, as a result,

it's spending most of his career

in New England.

He's used to being in a winning culture.

That's something Tareek Wolin talked about

at his press conference on Thursday

about how he's coming from a winning culture in Seattle

and coming to one in Philadelphia.

And he thinks just the more you can add,

the even better it can be.

That obviously the Eagles know how to win in Philadelphia,

but he can bring little things in Seattle.

They did the heat thing that he thinks can help.

In Jonathan Jones is similar.

So my thought on this signing overall,

first of all, I'm really surprised

they signed a 32-year-old.

That just is very surprising to me.

I thought they would mostly attack like young upside,

like Ebike T, right?

32-year-old guy is surprising.

Now, I've been seeing the money on this.

I would be very, very surprised

if he got a decent chunk of change.

My guess is, this is mostly a come-in,

you know Mike Pellegrino,

like, and just see if you can make the team.

And you look at the depth chart.

Obviously, at this point,

I think locked in stone, barring injury.

Quinyon, Cooper, and Tareek Wolin will be the three corners.

You still have Mac Williams.

You still have Jacorian Bennett.

You still have Keely Ringo.

We'll see if all three of them survived the offseason

and are here in training camp.

But if they are, that's three deets,

like, three guys that will expect to at least compete

for a roster spot.

Like, Keely is an awesome special team's player,

so I think he's a good chance of making it.

Mac McWilliams, his second year after being, you know, a rookie,

I think they'll expect more of him.

They liked him last year.

I think he could definitely end up being one of the top backups.

And then Jacorian Bennett could definitely just be cut.

Like, if he's not going to be a good special team's player,

if he doesn't shine in training camp,

they'll just, they'll just cut him.

So I think he is very much on the,

on the roster, on the roster bubble.

So it's interesting to see how Jonathan Jones play factors in here.

Cause at 32 years old, he's probably not going to play special teams

and he probably is not super interested in just being a backup.

But it could be a paycheck for him.

He can be on a good roster like he was in New England.

So maybe that's his, his reason for coming here.

It's just a, no, no shaman.

That's just a job, right?

But the name we haven't talked about yet.

And this was some of the reaction I saw online was Michael Carter.

So earlier in this off season, which is like a week ago,

the Eagles renegotiated Michael Carter's deal from essentially one year,

10 million to one year, three and a half million.

So they, he takes a big pay cut, but he gets to stay on the roster.

And the fact that they kept them, I think, is noteworthy.

So when they signed Jonathan Jones,

there was a school of thought that what they're going to do is make him

the top backup at Nickel and move Michael Carter to safety.

I think that is possible.

And I do think this could be an indication that Carter is going to start

with the safeties when they open OTAs,

like he'll be with that position group.

But I think more, this is just a veteran guy they can bring in

that has familiarity with the coaches.

It's not going to cost a lot of money.

And again, while we talk about the backups,

Mac McWilliams never has never played meaningful snaps in the NFL.

Chakory and Bennett, they seem to have been disappointed with.

And Keely Rengos lost the job multiple times.

So Jonathan Jones at the very least provides a relatively high floor

as a veteran backup that's played in big games.

He won't be intimidated if he goes into a playoff game.

He won't be intimidated going into prime time against Dallas

in a big divisional game, right?

Like he brings a level of certainty to the team.

So I don't think he is a lock,

but I think they want him to make the roster.

But he only, like, as a nickel that can play outside,

then it's like, again, this is where the Michael Carter thing comes up.

Whereas his fit, I do think he could, he could compete at safety.

He's played it.

The Eagles last year talked to him about playing it.

But it would be pretty underwhelming if they're starting safeties

week one or Michael Carter and Andrew McCuba.

Doesn't mean they can't be good.

McCuba could be really good in the second year.

Maybe Michael Carter will be awesome at safety.

But that would be a concerning group of safeties going into the season.

Or at the very least, would be pretty unproven.

So Michael Carter has been better in the NFL at Nickel.

Obviously being safety would give him somewhat of a chance to start.

I think they'll add someone at safety.

So I don't think he will be the starter week one.

But I think Jonathan Jones brings some veteran backup experience.

He can back up Cooper.

He could back up Quinion or Wolen in a pinch.

And it allows Michael Carter to maybe focus on safety.

And then if it doesn't work out with Jonathan Jones,

you feel good.

You can put Carter back to that back up.

Nickel Spot, Mac McWilliams will compete for that spot as well.

So again, don't think he'll get enough money where he's guaranteed a spot.

I think there's a world where he is cut for sure at the end of camp.

But he does bring veteran experience and just surprise.

He's 32, just surprise they brought in such an older player.

So that'll do it for these two signings.

I'm recording this on a Friday.

So maybe we'll have an emergency pod later.

Again, the Goddard deadline comes out at midnight.

That's when the 20 and a half million dollars of salary capspaces

of dead cap hit locks in.

Unless they push it back again.

Maybe AJ News happens, maybe Injoku News happens.

Hopefully get emergency pod later in the day.

But couldn't wait until Saturday morning to talk to you guys about this.

Wanted to share my thoughts.

Two signings, I think are fine.

Not like why would they do this?

Not like this is going to change the season.

Just find signings that we'll see if they can turn into a contributing player.

So until then, until next time, until maybe later today.

He's Elliot.

I'm James.

Talk to you guys later.

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