Eagles Youth: Ranking the Roster's Top 10 Players 25 or Younger
This month’s NFL Draft will give the Philadelphia Eagles an opportunity to add at least six more players who are still in their early 20s.
The Eagles were one of the older teams in the league not very long ago. Remember 40-year-old Josh McCown backing up Carson Wentz in 2019?
It’s true that the Eagles added a pair of veterans last November in Linval Joseph and Ndamukong Suh, but the roster has been steadily undergoing an influx of youth thanks to some astute drafting from general manager Howie Roseman and his staff.
It’s to the point where they may have one of the more talented rosters with players 25 or younger.
Before beginning, you won’t find A.J. Brown on this list. Even though he’s 25, he will turn 26 at the end of June.
Here’s a ranking of their top 10, starting at No. 10:
10. Cam Jurgens, 23
Birthday: Aug. 29, 1999
If the offensive lineman is everything the Eagles hoped he would be when they took him in the second round of last year’s draft, then he could very well climb this list in the next year or even two. He’s a true center, so he’s stuck behind the ageless Jason Kelce, but he may be moving to right guard for a year to fill in for Isaac Seumalo, who left in free agency.
9. Quez Watkins, 24
Birthday: June 9, 1998
Whatever your feelings are about the team’s third receiver and his struggles last year, his numbers are probably better than most third receivers over the past two seasons. Those numbers: 76 catches, 1,001 yards, and four touchdowns.
8. Reed Blankenship, 24
Birthday: March 2, 1999
The undrafted free agent from last year played more snaps than any other Eagles rookie and played well enough that he will likely be the Day 1 starter. Another player, who, like Jurgens, could land higher if this list is done again next year.
7. Nakobe Dean, 22
Birthday: Dec. 13, 2000
Another choice based on potential. The Eagles will give Dean a chance to recognize that potential since he will be one of the starters at linebacker after getting just 34 defensive reps as a rookie.
6. Kenny Gainwell, 24
Birthday: March 14, 1999
He’s considered a third-down back, but Gainwell showed he could be more than that over the last couple of weeks of the season and into the playoffs. It’s likely the Eagles will use him more on earlier downs on a more consistent basis this season.
In two seasons, he has 1121 carries for 536 yards, a 4.4 yards per carry average, and nine rushing touchdowns. In the passing game, he has 56 receptions for 422 yards and another score.
That’s 10 touchdowns in two years.
5. Jordan Davis, 23
Birthday: Jan. 12, 2000
The defensive tackle appeared ready to take off as a rookie after Week 7 but got hurt and missed three games. His snaps declined significantly when he returned due mostly to the Eagles bringing in Joseph and Suh. Davis’ snaps will rise greatly this year and much will be expected of last year’s first-round pick.
4. Milton Williams, 23
Birthday: April 6, 1999
The defensive tackle had a solid second season and appears ready to take a big leap in Year 3 and will be counted on to pick up some of the snap-load left behind by Javon Hargrave. He had a career-high four sacks last year despite playing 61 fewer snaps (395) from his rookie season.
3. Landon Dickerson, 24
Birthday: Sept. 30, 1998
Set to enter his third season, the second-round pick has stayed healthy after tearing an ACL late in his final year at the University of Alabama and has started 30 games. He looks like a mainstay at left guard for the foreseeable future.
2. DeVonta Smith, 24
Birthday: Nov. 14, 1998
The Eagles traded up two spots with NFC East rival Dallas Cowboys to get him at No. 10 overall just two years ago. His weight (about 170 pounds) was a concern for some coming into the draft, but he has shown amazing durability. In his two seasons, he has 159 catches for 2,112 yards and 12 touchdowns. He’s as much a No. 1 receiver as teammate Brown is.
1. Jalen Hurts, 24
Birthday: Aug. 7, 1998
The Eagles have had several franchise quarterbacks in their history, but Hurts could become the best one of them all.
Ed Kracz covers the Philadelphia Eagles for SI Fan Nation Eagles Today. Please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.
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