By Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media For NJ.com
Eagles head coach Doug Pederson met the media for the first time since the 2017 NFL Draft, Friday, as the team kicked off this weekend's three-day Rookie minicamp.
Not only did this weekend serve as the Eagles' coaching staff's first glimpse at this year's draft class, crop of undrafted rookie free agents, and tryout players, but also the first time that Pederson has spoken to the media since draft weekend.
Here are some takeaways from Pederson's press conference:
Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com
Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com
Eagles were consistently high on Corey Clement
Perhaps the rookie free agent that has drawn the most intrigue since draft weekend, has been running back and Corey Clement. The Eagles added Donnel Pumphrey in Round 4 of the NFL Draft, but he likely will be used both out of the backfield, as well as potentially in the slot as a receiver.
Enter Clement, who Pederson said Friday that the Eagles had a draftable grade on, but because the team wound up not making a selection in the seventh-round, came away with the Wisconsin product as an undrafted free agent.
"We did," Pederson said Friday, when asked if the Eagles had a draftable grade on Clement. "And the thing is this was such a deep draft with running backs, you know? We had a draftable grade on him. As the draft winds down, you look for guys that either slipped through the cracks or guys that have potential and opportunities. He's one of the guys that we felt, given the chance, [we wanted to] get him in here and get him working."
Lori M. Nichols | NJ.com
What will first-round pick Derek Barnett's role as a rookie?
The Eagles defense managed only 35 sacks last season, and given the premium that is placed on a dominant pass-rush from the defensive line in coordinator Jim Schwartz's scheme, it is of little surprise that the Eagles tabbed Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett at No. 14 overall in the draft.
With Brandon Graham potentially holding out of the voluntary portion of the Eagles' offseason program, Vinny Curry's disappointing 2016 campaign, and the relative unknown of how much Chris Long will offer after signing as a free agent, the opportunity is there for Barnett to see meaningful snaps immediately.
However, Pederson stopped way short of assuring Barnett a prominent role immediately, during Friday's press conference.
"Right now it's just a matter of getting him out there and seeing which side he's comfortable on," Pederson said. "We want to work him on both sides of the defensive front, right and left. Right now it's just rookie camp, so it's kind of hard until we get him in here with the veterans and really get him working with our guys -- with the guys that we have. So it's a matter of him just picking up the system right now. It's a long time before we play football games and we've got some time to make those decisions."
Matt Lombardo | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
Lori M. Nichols | For NJ.com
Pederson is a long-way from assigning roles for rookies
During the Draft, Howie Roseman, Joe Douglas and Co. seemed to emphasize selecting players with a history of producing in college, and the potential to contribute immediately.
Friday, Doug Pederson was reluctant to project any of the crop of rookies as plug-and-play starters or contributors, opting instead for a wait-and-see approach.
"t's hard to pinpoint that at this point in the offseason because it is so early," Pederson said. "We're only four weeks into our own offseason, and we haven't really started OTAs [organized team activities]. Anything is possible in this league. I just look back a year ago with five of our draft picks having to play. Obviously, I guess you could maybe take [QB] Carson [Wentz] out of it, but four of the guys ended up playing and having starting roles for us. So, you never know what's going to happen. Obviously, we continued to create competition and depth at the positions and see where this thing ends up at as we get into training camp."
Nam Y. Huh | AP Photo
Excitement is palpable about Alshon Jeffery's arrival
Free agent wide receivers Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith, and the rest of the Eagles' veterans won't take the practice field again or join the rookies until OTAs. However, Pederson opened up about the excitement that has permeated through the NovaCare Complex since Jeffery signed on the first day of free agency on March 9.
"The way he has come in here and really just embraced it and has done everything we've asked him to do," Pederson said of Jeffery. "He's competed at a high level. What I mean by that is even though we're not competing against the defense, he's competing in his individual drills. He's wanting to get better. He's taking the coaching from [Eagles WR] Coach [Mike] Groh who he knows and he's showing really, I think, a little bit of the veteran experience and presence out there on the field. He's exciting to watch. He's a big target, obviously, and we've just got to get him and [EaglesQB] Carson [Wentz] continuing to stay on the same page as we go throughout the whole off-season."
Eliot Shorr-Parks | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com
When will Sidney Jones be ready to take the field?
Jeff Haynes | AP IMAGES
Not worried about Brandon Graham
After reports surfaced this week that Graham could forego attending the voluntary workouts in search of a new contract, Pederson says that he isn't concerned about a potential holdout by the veteran defensive end.
"He and I have had conversations as I do with a lot of the players," Pederson said. "Again, the expectation is would I like him here? Yeah. [Are these practices] voluntary? [Yeah], I got it. And that's the hardest part as a coach is when you're working on that type of schedule, it's hard. But at the same time, he's a guy that is a veteran player, understands his role, understands his assignment, and [we] expect big things from him this season."
Lori M. Nichols | NJ.com
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Matt Lombardo may be reached at MLombardo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattLombardoPHL.
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