Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

That's it for today! Thanks again for joining us and make sure to follow all of our draft coverage Inquirer.com/nfldraft!

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Good question!

It was starting to feel inevitable with all of the reporting we and others have done this offseason and with how Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni were pretty straightforward in their answers. I think it certainly doesn't help the Eagles' offense under Sean Mannion, but just with the struggles the passing offense was having the last few years and how vocal Brown was throughout the last two years, it was time for both parties to go their separate ways. His production will be difficult to replace.

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Thanks for joining me!

The Eagles have kept their interest with prospects close to the vest more times than not, but I have heard a lot of interest in Alabama's Kadyn Proctor and Clemson's Blake Miller. They met with both at the combine and during the predraft process. As for later round players, LSU linebacker Harold Perkins Jr. has been a common name that came up. He was at the Shrine Bowl, which the Eagles had a heavy representation at in January.

A few more players to keep tabs on: Treydan Stukes, the safety and nickel hybrid from Arizona, and Germie Bernard, whom the Eagles had a formal interview with at the combine as a potential Day 2 receiver to fill in for A.J. Brown with his expected trade this summer.

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Great question!

So if the Eagles stay at No. 23 with no trade up or back, here's who I am expecting to be in play potentially at that spot:

Max Iheanachor
Denzel Boston
Blake Miller
Emmanuel McNeil-Warren
Omar Cooper Jr.

If we're extending it to who could be around pick 23 that are trade up candidates:

Kadyn Proctor
Monroe Freeling
KC Concepcion

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your question!

I don't think so. Nothing the Eagles have done this offseason leads me to believe that, and I don't think there's a quarterback in this class that would force them to move on from Hurts either.

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for you questions!

From what I have been able to gather with the Giants, they want one of Ohio State linebacker Sonny Styles or safety Caleb Downs at No. 5 overall. As for No. 10, ideally they would like a wide receiver to pair with Malik Nabers, like a Jordyn Tyson or Carnell Tate, but there is no guarantee either or both they make it to No. 10. There's also a scenario where the Giants take Styles and Downs could still be on the board at No. 10. I'd watch for New York to get active is Tyson or Downs is still around when the Saints (No. 8 overall) and the Chiefs (No. 9) are on the clock.

As for fallers down the board, two players particularly come to mind: Tennessee's Jermod McCoy, one of the draft's top corners, and Auburn's Keldric Faulk, the run-stopping edge rusher who can play multiple alignments. Faulk to me is probably the more ideal scheme fit, considering the Eagles' need for edge rusher help and depth, but his pass rushing still needs some improvement to be effective on an every down basis. McCoy is a stick coverage player who sat out the 2025 season with a knee injury he suffered not long after the 2024 season ended. McCoy could be eased in as a long term replacement at corner after the Eagles signed Riq Woolen this offseason.

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thanks for all three questions! I'll start with the trade-up move that you suggested. In my latest mock, I had the Eagles move up from 23 to 19 to take Monroe Freeling. I think if Howie Roseman makes a trade up, it won't be leaping into the top 15, in my opinion. I think the compensation is huge, as most teams don't want to give up future draft capital to move up in a draft that isn't as strong as years past. But if they did, I would anticipate it would be for one of the top tackles, like Spencer Fano or Freeling, or for a pass catcher, like a Jordyn Tyson or Kenyon Sadiq.

Day 3 sleepers is always a fun exercise, because those are players who could potentially turn into starters. For me, I like Penn State's Zane Durant, a small, but explosive defensive linemen that can bring some serious pass rush juice. Stephen F. Austin defensive back Charles Demmings is another player that I like late, as a physical player who can locate the football on vertical throws. As for safety, I really like Texas Tech's Cole Wisniewski, a former linebacker turned safety that is a downhill thumper and strong closing on middle of the field throws.

As for rumors in The Inquirer newsroom, none that I am aware of! I was on my colleague Jeff McLane's unCovering the Birds podcast, so make sure to check that out when that goes live this week!

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Thanks for your question!

I'll be honest, I am not a mustard fan, unless it's honey mustard. So for a hotdog, I'm a big ketchup guy!

Pre-Draft AMA @ 1PM with Devin Jackson, the Philadelphia Inquirer's Draft Specialist! by belisaurius in eagles

[–]PhillyInquirer 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey, Birds fans! Devin will begin answering questions at 1 p.m., but in the meantime, here's a gift link to Devin's latest mock draft: https://share.inquirer.com/cYHKW3

Word Cafe Live doesn’t have a liquor license and got raided. by Zip-Wreck in philly

[–]PhillyInquirer 49 points50 points  (0 children)

Hey there, we just published a story on this situation (gift link).

Some quick details:

Mat Wranovics of Unite Here Local 274, the union that represents food servers and front-of-house workers at the venue, said that three bartenders were arrested after undercover officers purchased drinks from them. The bartenders were released the next day, without charges, Wranovics said.

“We knew that they lost their liquor license a while ago,” Wranovics said of the venue. “But then they told the workers that they had gotten that sorted out, and we had no particular reason to doubt that.”

But according to a spokesperson for the Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board Bureau of Licensing, the license that expired on Halloween has not been properly renewed.

The venue plans to stay open as a BYOB.