Julian Edelman was welcomed on the latest episode of “The Herd with Colin Cowherd,” where the three-time Super Bowl champion voiced concerns over Nick Sirianni’s approach and the Philadelphia Eagles’ playoff outlook. Although the Eagles are going strong with a 6-2 record, the former wide receiver’s concerns lie with Philadelphia’s leadership structure.
Julian Edelman’s Harsh Criticism of the Eagles
During the conversation, Edelman and Cowherd discussed the absence of veteran influence like that of Jason Kelce, who could confront Sirianni in a way that some believe Jalen Hurts might not be inclined to.
Edelman pointed to several “noisy” episodes that raise doubts about Sirianni’s ability to lead effectively under high-pressure scenarios, especially in playoff matchups against stronger teams. He stated, “I don’t think Jalen Hurts is that kind of guy. I don’t think he’s going to go for confrontation.”
The critique extended to the Eagles’ season thus far. Edelman believes that Nick Sirianni and his men haven’t faced many top-tier opponents and that the real test will come when they encounter stronger teams in critical games.
“It’s going to come down to can they beat the good teams when they have to play the good teams, and right now I just can’t pick them,” the former Patriots wide receiver said.
Eagles’ Mid-Season Inactivity Sparks Concerns
Philadelphia Eagles took a conservative approach at the trade deadline compared to other NFC teams. The Washington Commanders and Detroit Lions doubled down on playoff aspirations, putting mid-season trades to good use.
The former strengthened their secondary with the addition of Marshon Lattimore, and the latter shored up their pass rush by trading for Za’Darius Smith. In contrast, the Eagles’ GM – Howie Roseman, opted not to make any bold moves.
This decision was unexpected for fans, given Roseman’s past reputation as a proactive trader. Meanwhile, Philadelphia’s head coach, Nick Sirianni, defended the choice via Delaware Online.
“We like our team. We like where we are,” while defensive coordinator Vic Fangio added, “It’s hard to improve your team drastically this time of year.”
However, fans were quick to point out what could have been.
“The Jets traded a 3rd-round pick for Davante Adams. The Bills traded a 3rd-round pick & 7th-round pick for Amari Cooper. The Eagles traded a 3rd-round pick & two 7th-round picks for Jahan Dotson. Dotson has 6 receptions for 35 yards this season” one fan said.
However, the question remains whether the Eagles made the right choice, given they are missing key players like Jordan Mailata and possibly A.J. Brown due to injury.
For now, Philadelphia is betting on continuity and health over change. Yet, with two tough matchups against Washington and Detroit left, fans can only hope that Roseman’s quiet deadline approach won’t backfire when playoff time arrives.