Philadelphia Eagles Rookie Report Card Grades After Week 7
Going into the 2017 season, the Philadelphia Eagles knew they would have to rely on the incoming rookie class in order to be successful.
As the team's 6-1 record indicates, the Eagles rookies have been essential to a high-flying start to the season. While a couple of marquee newcomers have benefited from being weaned into the rotation at their respective positions, others were thrown into the fire early on as starters with high expectations.
There's no doubt some veteran free-agent acquisitions over the offseason have proved to be game-changers, but the Eagles wouldn't be where they are without the rookies playing their parts. As you would expect from a class of rookies, things haven't been perfect. But overall, the Eagles have gotten what they needed from the draft class and one notable undrafted rookie.
We'll omit second-round pick Sidney Jones, who had an Achilles injury upon drafting and has yet to feature in practice or games. For the rest of the rookies who cracked the 53-man roster for Week 1, let's take an in-depth look at their performances and progression, weighing their respective expectations to shell out some midseason grades.
DE Derek Barnett
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One of the first things Eagles fans learned about rookie defensive end Derek Barnett centered on his breaking the University of Tennessee school sacks record of the late Reggie White, a Philadelphia legend. To say expectations were high would be an understatement.
After being slowly worked into a deep rotation, Barnett is turning into a game-wrecker off the edge.
Even on the heels of a dominating preseason, during which he logged three sacks, Barnett found himself behind Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry and Chris Long in the pecking order. But he's impressed enough to become a regular member of that rotation in recent weeks, and defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz will have no reason to turn back.
Barnett notched more snaps than Curry in Week 7 and just two fewer than Long, and the results were eye-popping. The rookie finished with two sacks and three solo tackles, all for loss. After a critical Week 6 half-sack of Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in the previous game, Barnett broke out with increased snaps.
The Eagles have the luxury of not overworking Barnett given their depth, and that will guarantee he remains fresh to dominate offensive tackles and take the attention away from Graham. Some fans may expect a rookie pass-rusher to dominate from Week 1, but the Eagles aren't built to need that from Barnett this year. And that's just fine.
Grade: A-
CB Rasul Douglas
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Philly left cornerback Rasul Douglas on the inactives list for Week 1, which should indicate how much the team expected of him early on in his rookie campaign. An injury to No. 1 corner Ronald Darby, who remains out, obviously changed the coaching staff's mindset.
Douglas got worked into the rotation in Week 2 but didn't get his first NFL start until Week 3 against the New York Giants. From that point on, he's been arguably the most pleasant surprise on the roster.
When Douglas got a chance to start, he showed the Eagles why they were wrong to employ a patient approach to his playing time. He picked off Giants signal-caller Eli Manning in his first start and snagged his second interception three weeks later in Carolina.
Cornerback is one of the toughest positions for teams to rely on a rookie, and as such, Douglas has struggled at times. He made a couple of mistakes against the Los Angeles Chargers that allowed L.A. quarterback Philip Rivers to make it a close game late. But when you weigh how important he became to the Eagles secondary after Week 1 with the expectations the team had entering the season, Douglas has been nothing other than fantastic.
Patrick Robinson's emergence, along with the impending return of Darby, who has a "shot" at returning Week 8 against the San Francisco 49ers, according to NFL Network's Mike Garafolo, figures to reduce Douglas' snaps down the stretch. But to know they can rely on a rookie for important snaps will be a great feeling for the Eagles as they face potent passing attacks later this year.
Grade: A-
WR Mack Hollins
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Much like Barnett, rookie wideout Mack Hollins didn't get as many chances to show what he's capable of in the opening few games because of the team's sudden depth at receiver. He's also following in Barnett's footsteps by showing in his first couple of opportunities that he needs to be factored into the game plan.
The Eagles needed a jump offensively after a sluggish start Monday night against Washington, and Hollins delivered. He broke free for a 64-yard touchdown catch on a beautiful deep throw from Carson Wentz for his first career touchdown.
Hollins notched almost half of his output for the season on that play, as he's sitting on six catches for 134 yards. He only has catches in three out of the team's seven games, which shows how tough he's finding it to usurp Alshon Jeffery, Torrey Smith and Nelson Agholor. But after going deep in a critical moment in Week 7, the case can be made for Hollins to start getting some of the deep opportunities that have been given to Smith, who has struggled in 2017.
After an incredible showing in the preseason, Hollins hasn't quite been given the amount of snaps that many fans had hoped he would receive. But more chances figure to be coming for the talented rookie out of North Carolina, who will be a key piece of the puzzle in future seasons.
Grade: B
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RB Donnel Pumphrey
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Let's begin with an important disclaimer that any grade bestowed upon rookie running back Donnel Pumphrey may not be entirely fair.
The fourth-round pick out of San Diego State figured to be a depth option who could be utilized in both facets of the offense. Unfortunately, a torn hamstring injury suffered in practice leading up to the Week 2 game landed Pumphrey on injured reserve.
Pumphrey's loss became more gutting when fellow change-of-pace back Darren Sproles went down for the season. But it's possible Sproles' injury would have been the only thing that got Pumphrey off the inactives list, where he spent Week 1. With fellow rookie Corey Clement standing out, there became no need for Pumphrey in 2017.
Questions were beginning to be asked of Pumphrey following a shaky preseason, and that's what factors into his low grade. It's a positive for Pumphrey that the Eagles have enough weapons to not risk rushing him back, allowing him to focus on his recovery and getting back with something to prove in 2018.
Grade: D
WR Shelton Gibson
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When the Eagles drafted West Virginia wide receiver Shelton Gibson back in April, fans salivated over his spectacular highlights from his time with the Mountaineers. It didn't take long for everyone to lower their expectations.
Gibson struggled mightily with drops throughout training camp, and it carried over into the preseason. He did begin to show some flashes of potential in his final preseason outing, catching four passes for 40 yards.
The rookie did crack the 53-man roster after plenty of outsiders questioned whether he would be cut. But it's appearing Gibson's inclusion reflected his potential for the future more than anything the Eagles hoped he could provide in 2017. Through seven weeks, he's been on the inactives list for every game.
While Gibson has struggled to make a good impression on his coaching staff, fellow rookie wideout Hollins is dazzling and getting opportunities to catch deep balls in critical divisional games. Perhaps Gibson's speed and elusiveness will allow him to develop into a contributor next season, but he's been nothing other than a disappointment as a rookie.
Grade: D-
DT Elijah Qualls
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Any sixth-round draft pick begins his career behind the eight ball in terms of making an impact as a rookie. As if that alone weren't enough adversity, Elijah Qualls had a delay in graduation that prevented him from joining the team until the three-week voluntary workouts were finished, per 247Sports' Jeff Kerr.
When you put all of that together, making the 53-man roster in itself was a huge accomplishment for the rookie out of Washington.
Qualls made the transition from a 3-4 scheme in college to the 4-3 almost seamlessly, making a huge impact in the preseason that included half-sacks in the final two games. He got stowed on the inactives list until Fletcher Cox's injury, which allowed Qualls to make his debut Week 4 against the Chargers before getting his first career tackle the next week versus the Arizona Cardinals.
Considering his making the roster and the impact the defensive line still had with Cox out, Qualls has defied expectations and become the go-to depth defensive tackle behind Cox, Timmy Jernigan and Beau Allen. It's not hard to envision him earning a bigger role next season—or perhaps later in 2017 if more injuries strike.
Grade: B+
RB Corey Clement
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Carrying five running backs on a team's opening 53-man roster is a bit nonsensical for most teams. However, Corey Clement left the Eagles no choice when he outperformed almost every other back throughout camp and the preseason.
It's safe to say Philly doesn't regret holding on to the undrafted rusher out of Wisconsin. He's dressed out in all seven games, getting carries in the past five, and he has become a pivotal member of the by-committee rushing attack in 2017.
Clement's first carries didn't come until Week 3, when he went for 22 yards on six carries and scored a touchdown against the Giants. The following week, his 10-carry, 30-yard outing against the Chargers included a number of key third-down conversions on short-yardage situations that essentially won the Eagles the game.
Overall, Clement has 26 carries for 77 yards on the season with two receptions for 31 yards. Despite LeGarrette Blount and Wendell Smallwood combining as a potent one-two punch, the Eagles have shown they will continue to rely on Clement late in games as a chain-mover.
Grade: A
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