Players Choose: Which Eagle Will Have a Big Year?

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This afternoon, I posed a simple question to players in the Eagles locker room: Based on what you’ve seen, which teammate do you think is poised to have a really good year?

Selection was based simply on who was available. But it just so happened to be four defensive players and four offensive players. Their responses are below.

Jason Avant: “I would say Darryl Tapp. Tapp or [Phillip] Hunt. One of those guys, because I’ve seen them working all offseason. I know their work ethic, and I know their work ethic apart from here, so one of those guys.”

Jason Kelce: “I think there’s been a lot of guys that have had a really good training camp. On the defensive side, obviously a couple of the rookies have shown some good stuff. Mychal Kendricks has been outstanding. Fletcher Cox has done an outstanding job. Offensively, Damaris Johnson has looked good. Bryce Brown’s looked outstanding. The problem is he’s behind one of the best running backs in the league, so how many opporutnities he’s going to get is uncertain at this point. Obviously, Nick Foles has done an outstanding job, so there’s been a lot of guys who, coming into it, guys didn’t really know what they were going to do, but have surprised.”

Jamar Chaney: “Phillip Hunt is one. I would say Phillip Hunt and probably Clay Harbor. With both of them, Clay and Phillip, [Brent] Celek was down in training camp. With Phillip, Babin was down, so they got a lot of reps, a lot of playing time in preseason games and did pretty well, especially Phillip. To get all those reps, to be as talented as they are already, isn’t going to do anything but make the transition easier coming into this year for both of those guys. Phillip had a heck of a preseason, and Clay had a heck of a preseason too. He had a couple touchdown passes. With a lot of teams using two tight ends, I’m pretty sure with just how fast Clay is, it’d be a great complement to Celek, the big tight end, and Clay, the fast tight end.”

Nate Allen: “I think Mychal Kendricks. He’s coming along real well. He’s excited about his first season and I think is going to be a heck of a player.”

Brandon Graham: “Fletch [Fletcher Cox]. For him to come in at d-tackle and to get it right away, it’s big. And I feel like he’s going to have a great year.”

[Right away?]

“Right away. First game of the season, y’all going to see Fletch everywhere.”

Evan Mathis: “There’s a lot of guys here who are ready to have a really good year. [Michael] Vick has been a great quarterback in this league, and I think one thing about him is he’s continued to grow and make progress every single day, every single year, so I expect a big year out of him.”

Cullen Jenkins: “If I had to pick one, I’d say Phillip Hunt. He’s had a pretty good preseason. He’s been out here working. He’s focused and determined, and I’m pretty anxious to see what he’s going to do.”

Danny Watkins: Probably, I’d say [Jason] Kelce. Looking back at where me and him started last year, he’s so far ahead with his football IQ, and I’m trying to learn from him. I think he’s going to do awesome this year. I’m excited for him.

Follow Sheil Kapadia on Twitter and e-mail him at skapadia@phillymag.com.