'I'm a better player than that' — Tyler Steen eyes redemption, plus Eagles minicamp observations (2024)

PHILADELPHIA — The stability of one of the NFL’s most reputable offensive lines may depend on a second-year guard who must silence the ghosts of a small sample size.

Tyler Steen’s first start against the Dallas Cowboys demanded correction. Perhaps that’d been predictable. He’d entered Week 11 as the backup to a backup, a third-round rookie filling in for Sua Opeta, who’d filled in for Cam Jurgens until Opeta sustained his own injury. So, there was Steen, a collegiate tackle struggling at right guard, surrendering six total pressures against the Cowboys, according to Pro Football Focus, including a quarterback hit.

The Philadelphia Eagles still salvaged one of their most stressful victories of 2023. But Steen subsequently submerged into the background. Jurgens returned the following week, and, with Opeta healthy, Steen played just three more offensive snaps during the remainder of the season.

“I look back at it,” Steen said, pausing with a pensive click of his tongue. “Probably didn’t play as well as I wanted to play. I mean, we won the game. That was great. But as far as individually, I was kind of a little disappointed. I really just want to prove I’m a better player than that.”

The organization’s offseason handling of the line after Jason Kelce’s retirement suggests faith in Steen. The Eagles let Opeta walk in free agency, and, by signing Matt Hennessy, a depth lineman for the Atlanta Falcons, general manager Howie Roseman instead devoted the bulk of their budget toward landmark signings (Saquon Barkley, Bryce Huff, C.J. Gardner-Johnson) and extensions (Landon Dickerson, Jordan Mailata, DeVonta Smith, A.J. Brown). By spending two late-round draft picks on interior linemen, the Eagles instead invested higher capital in their defense.

The Eagles aren’t entering the 2024 season without a contingency plan at right guard. But their depth decisions underline the stakes. Steen is already the most unproven among the offense’s presumptive starters. Behind him is a precarious collection of journeymen, rookies and swing tackles. Mekhi Becton, the No. 11 pick in 2020, is a former left tackle who’s taking snaps at guard. On Monday, the Eagles signed Max Scharping, who hasn’t started in a game since 2021. That Nick Sirianni hasn’t spoken of Steen as a starter does little to inspire extra confidence in the position.

“We don’t have to figure out who our starters are at any position,” Sirianni said on Tuesday, the first day of mandatory minicamp. “Tyler’s done a nice job. He’s been working in with the ones. We were excited about Tyler when we drafted him. He added good depth last year. Played in some good games last year. Played in a game against a division rival that he played well in. Got some good experience in that against the Cowboys. Excited and love our depth.”

*Rookies highlighted in green

There’s a degree of urgency for Steen to establish himself this summer. Longtime Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland said he’d like to identify a group of starters early enough to get “as much and as many reps as possible so they can synchronize everything.” Stoutland called it the “Five-wheel drive.”

“It’s hard when you’re rotating people in and out and trying to get that certain ‘it’ factor,” Stoutland said Monday. “So, for me, I try really hard (to establish a group of five) unless there’s something that tells me, ‘You know, you better get a good look at this. You might be making a mistake.’ Otherwise, I’m like, ‘Let’s go.'”

Stoutland trusts his instincts. He’s entering his 33rd season as a collegiate or NFL offensive line coach, his 12th with the Eagles. He’s established a foundation of football principles based on those decades. He’s created a list of traits for each position along the offensive line and pursues prototypes. He’s long taught offensive tackles based on videotapes of Jason Peters. He believed Jason Kelce could be an elite center even in 2016, a year Kelce has often described as his most challenging.

As for guard? Steen fits Stoutland’s mold. Stoutland revealed an interesting insight on Monday that he wasn’t sure at first if Jurgens was going to be a good fit at right guard. They’d spent a 2022 second-round pick on the 6-3, 303-pound player from Nebraska with the purpose of Jurgens becoming Kelce’s eventual successor at center. Stoutland said he was “real impressed with the job” Jurgens did at right guard, considering he was undersized. Stoutland’s prototype is Brandon Brooks, a 6-5, 335-pound behemoth of a blocker, a three-time Pro Bowler and starting right guard on Philadelphia’s only Super Bowl title team.

“That’s who you’re looking for,” Stoutland said. “Ain’t many of them around. Size, lengths of arms, explosive power. All these things. Lower-body flexibility. All these things are like all into one, and it’s like, holy cow, how do you find these guys? You’re always comparing everybody. In my mind, I’m comparing (Steen) to (Brooks). He has a little bit of that. A lot of that, actually.”

Stoutland said Steen is “on the right track” in terms of his development. The position coach said he’s “seen definite improvement” in Steen’s strength, power and quickness. He remarked how Steen’s time in the weight room is noticeable. He also believes Steen has improved his technique; he thought Steen played too high in 2023, and he’s recently shown an ability to play with his hips lower.

Mandatory minicamp marks the most on-field instruction Steen has received this offseason. After each practice, he returns to the locker room where a symbolic structure awaits. The starting offensive line’s five lockers stand at the far end of the room. After Kelce cleaned out his locker, staffers slid Jurgens over. Steen was then designated in Jurgens’ vacant spot.

“I know I’ve got to earn every day,” Steen said. “I’m not going to be given anything. I’ve got to prove that I should be able to play. So, that’s just how I’m kind of looking at it, and how I’m looking at it.”

Observations from Tuesday’s viewing of mandatory minicamp

• Starting left guard Landon Dickerson did not attend mandatory minicamp due to personal reasons, Sirianni said. It is an excused absence. Sirianni said Dickerson came to him a few months ago and let Sirianni know he wouldn’t be available.

• James Bradberry, a career outside cornerback, will now be cross-trained to play multiple positions, including safety, Sirianni said. It is a notable development for Bradberry, a 2020 Pro Bowler who regressed in 2023 immediately after signing a three-year, $38 million extension that expires after the 2025 season.

• Bradberry, who did not attend the two OTAs open to media, was in full pads during warmups. Then, just before practice began, he exited the field with a trainer. He returned to the field after a few minutes without a helmet and watched the rest of the practice from the sideline.

• Jalen Hurts was 6-of-8 passing during seven-on-seven drills, 3-of-4 passing during 11-on-11 drills. On the second play of seven-on-seven drills, Hurts tried to dart a slant to DeVonta Smith that was batted and intercepted by linebacker Devin White. The majority of Hurts’ completions were in the short-to-middle range. He attempted a deep shot to John Ross, who was guarded by Kelee Ringo along the left sideline. The pass fell incomplete, long.

• Mekhi Becton should remain a player of note during the summer. The No. 11 pick in 2020, Becton started in 30 games for the New York Jets in three seasons as an offensive tackle. He’s being cross-trained as a guard since signing with the Eagles, and he practiced as a first-team left guard in Dickerson’s place. Stoutland said he “didn’t realize” Becton could play other positions. Becton may emerge as Steen’s top challenger for the right guard spot.

• As in OTAs, Darius Slay and Ringo remain the first-team cornerbacks. No. 22 pick Quinyon Mitchell and Isaiah Rodgers still rotate in second. Second-round pick Cooper DeJean still plays nickel in the Mitchell-Rodgers rotation, then bumps out to cornerback on the third rotation. Mitchell is also being trained in the slot. He and Avonte Maddox are platoon slot defenders in dime packages. This may be where Mitchell sees his first on-field action during the preseason.

• Maddox, the team’s starting nickel safety in 2023, is playing more deep safety than he did during his first six seasons with the Eagles. Before practice, Maddox said he’s being cross-trained for the position. The Eagles appear to be moving in a new direction at nickel. As in OTAs, Tyler Hall starts out first at nickel, with DeJean entering second.

• New defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s system has historically used a “Penny front” in nickel personnel, which features three interior defensive linemen and two outside linebackers on the line of scrimmage and one inside linebacker on the second level. The Eagles currently roster seven defensive tackles. Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis are sure-fire starters, and Milton Williams, a 2021 third-round pick, should be considered the leader for that No. 3 DT spot.

(Top photo of Tyler Steen: Steph Chambers / Getty Images)

Brooks Kubena is a Staff Writer for The Athletic covering the Eagles. Brooks has covered the NFL since 2021, most recently as a reporter for the Houston Chronicle covering the Texans, and he previously reported on LSU football for The Advocate | Times-Picayune from 2018-2020. Brooks, a graduate of the University of Texas, has received APSE National Top 10 honors eight times for his reporting, which includes his beat writing coverage during the 2022 season. Follow Brooks on Twitter @BKubena