HEAD COACH DOUG PEDERSON
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
(On how the players have come together being back in the building) “You know, the biggest thing is the
number of guys that are here. I think that’s a credit to them with the voluntary program. I get it, there’s
workout bonuses and all that kind of stuff in contracts, but I think other than that, they want to be here.
The defensive guys, new staff and everything and learning, and then offensively just keep the new guys
going and even with the guys we’ve been with now for going on three years, just keep them coming as
well. It’s been good. Been a lot of energy out there. Phase two, we’re not competing against each other,
offense, defense, more so than just competing with yourself and to make yourself better.”
(On what he wants to see from WR Jarvis Landry) “I just think it comes together because you want to be
able to put eyes on as many players as you can. He’s obviously played several years in this league and
been a talented guy and just see where he’s at. He was out of ball I believe in 2023, and 2022 was kind of
his last time, he’s been hurt a little bit. We’ll see where he’s at health-wise, and just see where he’s at.
Nothing more than just coming in and a tryout type basis.”
(On if the evaluation of the veterans is different than the evaluation of the rookies) “Not necessarily. We
understand with Jarvis [WR Jarvis Landry] he’s played a ton of football, right, so we know that. Maybe
there’s a different expectation with a guy like Jarvis, but I think more than anything just kind of seeing
where he is physically, mentally. The rookies, they don’t know anything right now, so it’s different. We
won’t get them caught up this weekend to where the vets are, but at the same time this is a great
opportunity for them to learn and really show us how much they can retain in just a short period of
time.”
(On how he would evaluate where the wide receiver room is) “I think it’s hard to say right now because
Gabe [WR Gabe Davis] is still working through an injury, so he’s not really participating. He’s out there
and learning, so it’s hard to tell. Christian [WR Christian Kirk] is there. We don’t have Brian [WR Brian
Thomas Jr.] yet, obviously. So, it’s really hard to put the pieces together. Phase two is about development
and growth with the players more so than it is with the units. I think we’ll have a better understanding
going into OTAs, and coming out of OTAs even, we’ll see how much Gabe can give us. Again, I don’t want
to put him through something that’s going to set him back either. It’s just hard right now because we
don’t have everybody kind of working at the same time.”
(On if he asks WR Brian Thomas Jr. to follow along what WR Jarvis Landry is doing) “I think, yeah, it is a
really good learning experience for a guy like Brian to come in here and see Jarvis, see how he handles
these two days. Listen, this is geared more for rookies, these two days. Jarvis is a vet and he kind of
knows what it’s like. I think it will be good to see how Jarvis handles himself as a professional, and it will
really at least make an impression on Brian this weekend.”
(On what he hopes to see out of DL Maason Smith) “I just think just it’s going to be a lot of individual, a
lot of drill work. Fundamentals, teaching, just the retention, just see what he can retain, just see his
athleticism, see him move around. Again, there’s no pass rush, no offense, defensive stuff. It’s just a
matter of, I think, taking what he’s being taught in the classroom, obviously take it to the field, and then
no more than just watching him run around.”
(On if there was any thought in LB Ventrell Miller participating in minicamp) “Actually, him, [CB] Christian
Braswell, [OL] Cooper Hodges, because they’re on IR, they get a pension credit, so they can’t be a part of
the rookie minicamp, which is kind of interesting. But Ventrell’s doing extremely well. He’s healthy and
he’s moving around really well. He’s competing and doing some really good things out there.”
(On being surprised OL Steven Jones wasn’t drafted) “Yeah, you know, he was one of the guys we had
talked about towards the end of the draft potentially drafting, obviously we went a different direction,
but we were happy to get him, to get a guy of his caliber here and get him working with our guys. We’re
excited too to get him on the grass and watch him run around. Sometimes it’s just the way it goes. You
can never really predict where a guy’s going to end up. We’re just happy to have him and get him with
the guys that we have starting Monday when the rookies can stay and be a part of this. So we’re excited
about that, too.”
(On if he saw OL Steven Jones specifically at tackle) “No, no, I think he’ll start there. Then we can move
him around, move him inside, different things. So, the versatility that he can show, it will show us
something this weekend too.”
(On if that applies to OL Javon Foster too) “Yeah, yeah.”
(On where he’s at with play calling for the upcoming season) “I don’t play a game until September, so we
got some time.”
(On how DL Tyler Lacy and OLB Yasir Abdullah fit in the new scheme) “Lacy, obviously, is a d-tackle. He’s
a type of guy that can give you some minutes. That new three technique, I shouldn’t say new, but the
[DL] Roy Robertson-Harris position, and working inside right there. A guy like Yasir is more of your
second long or third down pass rush guy. In the new scheme it’s a Sam linebacker in that position, so if
you’re in a 3-4 he’s an outside backer. If you’re in a 4-3 he could be off the ball. But chances are he’s
going to be more in some pass rush situations.”
(On OLB Yasir Abdullah and LB Devin Lloyd being in the same category with the new scheme) “Yeah,
yeah.”
(On status of OL Cooper Hodges, CB Christian Braswell and LB Ventrell Miller) “Cooper and Christian,
they’re doing really well. All three of those guys have really done a great job. Doing their rehab this off-
season so far.”
(On if OL Cooper Hodges, CB Cristian Braswell and LB Ventrell Miller have been able to be on the grass
yet) “Yeah, all three of them have been able to work.”
(On when getting into special teams preparation will begin) “We’ve started from Phase one with our
special teams, introducing the new scheme, the layout. We’ve worked it. Even though we can’t compete
against each other in Phase two, we’re still working through the alignments and assignments and all
that. We’ll introduce it to the rookies this weekend. Then when we get to Phase three when we can kind
of go against each other a little bit more it will give us a bigger or a brighter picture, I think, as to how it’s
going to unfold for us.”
(On his hopes for CB Jarrian Jones and CB De’Antre Prince this weekend) “Again, I want to be able to just
watch them move around. It’s one of the things I explained to them last night is some of the techniques
and things might be a little different than what they learned in college, and to embrace that because
we’re trying to make them better as football players and how they can help us. But all three of those
guys talented guys, obviously guys we wanted here. They give us depth at the position. It’s hard because
we’re not doing one-on-ones, we’re not doing the seven-on-sevens and all this. This is a time just to see
how much they can really understand the defense just on air. We’ll know more obviously when we get to
training camp, when pads come on, and their physicality and all that stuff. But I’m excited to get them
out there this afternoon and watch them move, just watch their athleticism. I think that’s for us as
coaches, too, it kind of gives us a better picture as to how we can use them defensively.”
(On what kind of opportunities exist for the undrafted free agents this weekend) “Well, the undrafted
guys, we got a lot of them and we got a lot on our football team. I was one of those guys. So, they’re just
going to come in and compete like anybody else. Don’t worry about the number of guys in line as much
as just getting better at your craft, and then when you get an opportunity you make the most of your
opportunity. So we got a good group of undrafted guys that we signed after the draft and looking
forward to getting them out there.”
(On his early thought of WR Joshua Cephus) “Another one that’s very talented and it will be good for him
to be able to watch a guy like Jarvis [WR Jarvis Landry] as well and see how Jarvis handles himself this
weekend and just watch the detail of the routes. Again, we’re going to put these guys in to test them
mentally more than anything this weekend than we are physically. For us, too, it’s about getting lined up,
get out of the huddle, get lined up, where are we going, and then executing the play. So, all of this stuff
plays a big part into their development, their growth, and how best they can help us.”
(On this weekend being to prepare the rookies for the upcoming OTAs) “Yeah. These two days we kind of
prepare them for next week, because once they get in here, obviously they will be, now they’re with an
NFL club. Right now they’re just rookies. So, come Monday, when everybody starts walking in here and
they start seeing all the guys, it makes an impact on them. A lot of these guys, obviously they were
starters in college, and now they’re going to have to take backup roles and they’re going to compete for
starting positions or at least compete for that backup spot, and it changes just a little bit for them. This
weekend though, from the meetings to the on the field stuff is really going to prepare them for the next
five weeks I guess that we are here.”
(On what positions will adjust to Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen’s new scheme) “All of them. It’s just
a different scheme. It’s a different scheme. You’re switching gears a little bit from that 3-4 mode to kind
of four-down mode and even though you spend so much time in four-down defense a lot anyway and I
think some of the of the techniques are going to be a little different. Obviously, there’s learning with the
verbiage and terminology. Linebacker, you know, the fits and just the way, what I’ve seen so far, the way
the coaches have coached them and some of the drill work that they’re doing on the field. Secondary,
you know, if you go back and watch what Ryan’s done in his past, it’s a lot of shell defense to start. Even
though we’ll play some single high stuff, the corners are going to be in more press alignment, but not
necessarily press technique or press coverage, but press alignment. Still play man, mix it up so it’s all
different. So every position is going to have to learn and grow with the system.”
(On fulfilling goals of getting faster and more physical players) “The physicality part of it, I kind of chuckle
when people say be more physical. I mean, we play football. It’s a physical sport, right. It’s how we teach
our players. Maybe you can help them be more physical, just like you can help a quarterback be more
accurate with his throws. So it’s a matter of just doing it. I think, number one, we’ve gotten bigger, just
physically bigger, with some of the draft picks and undrafted guys, and even some of our players coming
back, we’ve gotten bigger there. I think speed, we’ve got a tick faster. Obviously we know Brian’s [WR
Brian Thomas Jr.] speed as a wide receiver and some of the DBs now. We’ve gotten faster. Then when we
put the pads on in July and August we’ll see where we are physically.”
(On Outside Linebackers Coach Bill Shuey being an outside or linebacker coach) “He’s a little bit of both.
A little bit of both. The way it’s structured is Jeremy [Defensive Line Coach Jeremy Garrett] has the inside
guys, the nose and the tackles and Bill still works the edge. But when you’re in your base defense there’s
some transition there to those Sam backers, which are also your kind of outside edge rushers so there’s
a little carry over there.”
(On why Outside Linebackers Coach Bill Shuey was kept on the staff) “He did a great job with those guys
and just that structure and what Ryan [Defensive Coordinator Ryan Nielsen] was looking for and how to
maximize the coaching on the field.”
ASSISTANT GENERAL MANAGER ETHAN WAUGH
MEDIA AVAILABILITY
FRIDAY, MAY 10, 2024
(On if any of the draft picks were directly involved with scouting early in the process) “No, I guess not
necessarily, I would like to think I was kind of involved in most of them, at least in the film review
process. Obviously, our area scouts are out on the road doing the boots on the ground digging through
and finding guys. But I think [WR] Brian Thomas [Jr.] is obviously a guy that stood out right away,
whether it’s on tape, whether it’s at the combine with how well he performed, that’s certainly somebody
that stands out and you’re like, wow, this is a guy you would love to have on your team.”
(On importance of CB Jarrian Jones’ ability to do multiple things) “I think it’s extremely important. I think
if you look at really kind of the numbers of corners and nickels drafted in recent years, it’s on the rise.
Really, everything that we do, we kind of have to see how it affects the run game, but really more so how
it affects the passing game, because that’s how you score points in this league, how you win in league is
by throwing the football or defending the pass. So, a guy who can go inside out gives us more flexibility,
as offenses move their slots and big guys around, having that flexibility is key.”
(On how the new coaching staff has helped with recruiting college players) “It’s tremendous. Coach
House [Inside Linebackers Coach Matt House] and all of the coaches and all of the scouts with the work
they do, the better connection that you have at a school or with a certain position coach or coach, you
can get maybe not the company line, you get the real truth. I think the closer we can get to that the
better. The hardest thing for us, I think everyone can see talent and speed and some of those things, but
finding out what’s at the core of a guy, how he practices, how he handles himself in the meetings, those
kind of things are really key to what makes a good professional.”
(On how much value he places on players that played multiple sports in high school) “Well, I think we
look at it quite a bit. One of the starting points we work at is like high school track times, high school
basketball. When you talk to Brian [WR Brian Thomas Jr.] and who offered him in playing basketball, that
should show you what kind of athlete he is. So that is important. We try and follow-up how it translates
to the NFL, I think that’s different in terms of the sport, but I think the big thing is that kids that like to go
out and compete and play sports, have fun, and be with teammates and be with teammates of different
takes. Track is different than football. So, I think that’s all part of building a well-rounded person and
player.”
(On how he evaluated WR Brian Thomas Jr.’s running ability at the combine) “Sure. I can start with how
the you guys see how the combine is set up and each team has a suite that they can watch from. Our
suite was the exact diagonal corner from the start of the 40. So, I couldn’t even see really what was
happening, so I kind of went down and sat by the starting line. Just feeling, when you’re that close you
can feel them get out of the blocks, and you see a guy that’s 6’3″, he’s over 200 pounds and really
exploding out with not just speed but power, and you can feel that when you’re that close, and maybe
you can’t further away. But that was really kind of my quick, one second review of him in that instance.
(On if he’s felt the feeling before of scouting a player as fast as WR Brian Thomas Jr.) “Yeah, sure, I can
think of a couple off the top of my head. One of the first guys very early in my scouting career was
Vernon Davis, who was right at a 4.40, but a heavier guy, obviously a tight end. But it’s not just speed but
it was power with him and, quite frankly, you could feel the same with [TE] Evan Engram when he was
coming out. When you watch all of the tight ends run and then you watch him run there’s a different
feeling to it. So you can, I think you can get a good feel of a guy’s pure power and speed at that point.
(On thoughts of the edge rush position with OLB Josh Allen and OLB Travon Walker) “I think we’ve got
some guys that are in the hunt, that are in the mix to make us better. We added [OLB] Trevis Gipson, we
had some guys there. We have some guys that were on the practice squad previously, [OLB] DJ Coleman
types. [OLB] Yasir Abdullah is playing the Sam spot, which is really kind of an edge rusher too at times.
What we want to do is see those guys fight it out and develop, because I think you do really need to
come up with four edge rushers if you want to play at a Super Bowl level, and finding guys that can affect
the quarterback in waves is really key to what we’re trying to do.
(On what part of DL Maason Smith’s evaluation stood out to him) “Yeah, I think there are a couple of
things. The first one being is tape as a freshman, as a 18-year-old freshman in the SEC and how his
physical traits really exploded off there. The sophomore year obviously he had the injury, then he was
kind of working back to health. So if you look at the very beginning of his tape, the very end of his
college tape, and then the health and the performance at the private workout we held with him, I think
you can see the progression of how he’s kind of getting back to himself and getting back healthy. I think
the sky’s the limit.”
(On if he foresaw Inside Linebackers Coach Matt House’s ability to get three LSU players) “No, we didn’t
foresee that, it just kind of happened that way, which is great. But that’s a place where they don’t take
many players that aren’t high-level players. So I think we’ve we would love to have as many LSU Tigers as
we can.”
(On how DE Myles Cole can be a productive player) “I think one, he has numbers. I think when it boils
down it’s a height, weight, speed, league. I think as you get later in the draft obviously not everyone is
perfect, everyone has a flaw. But what we see is a guy, I think we’ll see him out there shortly, but he’s a
great looking kid. He’s got exceptional length, he can run, and he has improved at football at each step of
the way. So, hopefully he can spend some time here, refine his game and help us out.”
(On if it’s a challenge for coaches to get the most out of players) “Absolutely. I think all of those kind of
those; it’s a challenge with every player, but the later guys where it’s like, this guy has the raw DNA to do
this, and now if you’re a coach and you can turn him into it, I think that’s a feather in your cap.”
(On how the organization feels about the roster now versus in January) “I feel a lot better. I feel like we
added players through free agency that fit us in terms of their just kind of their makeup. Obviously, their
ability as well, but also their makeup in terms of coming from winning programs that have played in big
games and big games late in the season and having those guys here will help the rest of our team grow
in that capacity. Then, we were fortunate enough in free agency, through that, we didn’t pigeon hole
ourselves in the draft in terms of having to take a specific position, so it was, we were able to take the
best player or the player that we thought could help our team the most. Rather than we have to have X
position. So I think that’s really good and we feel good about the team. We feel that there is, that there
will be competition at almost every spot. Glaring holes, that’s probably in the eye of the beholder, but I
think we have pretty good depth at most spots.”
(On what signing CB Ronald Darby did to provide flexibility in the draft) “Well, it plays a lot of flexibility.
He’s a starting NFL corner, and he’s a starting NFL corner from a good program. He has he can still run,
he’s still a talented guy and he’s a pro in every aspect. So having him means that we don’t have to take a
corner that has to start day one. It’s certainly somebody that we can throw in the mix and make a
competition and whoever wins, wins. But I don’t think it’s one of those where you’re completely devoid
of depth there.”
(On drafted a cornerback in the first round if the team wasn’t able to sign CB Ronald Darby) “I guess I
don’t know if I would tie it specifically together, but I think we look at our depth chart and we see we
have a guy there that can compete at an NFL level, so let’s pick the person that we think can help us the
most as a team, so that was the decision.”
(On what stood out about CB Jarrian Jones at the local pro day) “Energy. Personality. I think you’ll see
that when you guys get a chance to talk with him, if you haven’t yet. But he’s infectious, he enjoyed
being here, he enjoyed talking football, he enjoyed learning football, he enjoyed spending time with the
coaches. I think when our coaches spent time with him, asking a player to play inside and outside is
more mentally tasking than playing one spot. I think they felt really good about him in that role, so he
really impressed us while he was here.”
(On what was liked about CB De’Antre Prince) “Very similar athletic profile. He’s got length and he’s got
speed. So in this draft, I think we added four guys that are sub 4.4, two corners that can run. Again, it’s a
height, weight, speed, league. If you’re not the starting corner right away, you have a chance to make a
big contribution on special teams if you can really run. He can do that. He’ll tackle. He’s a competitive kid
out there. I think he’ll do good things.”
(On bringing in local players as undrafted free agents) “Sure. You’re exactly right. When we go into the
draft, we want to come out with enough receivers on our 90-man roster to practice. We have your [WR]
Christian Kirks and your [WR] Gabe Davis’s that are in the mix to be starters, the young guys we really
need are really look more so as developmental or have enough speed, skill to help really press the
defense and improve them. We needed numbers. It’s kind of difficult sometimes to fill that many spots
with capable players. But [WR] David White [Jr.] is a guy that we kind of, one of our scouts, Holden
McAbee, who is a young scout for us, really identified early in the fall and has kind of followed him
through the process and maintained great communication with him and his camp and was able to get
him drafted. He also came out here to the local day and did a great job. He’s a guy that we have high
hopes for. We’ll see how he adjusts to the NFL game.”
(On what interested the organization in WR David White Jr.) “Size, speed, and athleticism. He’s a long kid,
he’s got a higher-level body maybe than what he played at the level of football that he played at. So, I
think there’s room to grow there. He’s got good ball skills. He can really, route tree-wise, he’s pretty
good. I think it’s a pretty good find.”
(On the surprise of not being drafted and potential for OL Steven Jones) “Exactly. I think I was a little bit
surprised. I thought he would be a, certainly a late caliber draft pick for someone, and he was for us. We
would have considered taking him late, just kind of how the board shakes out is how it does. Yeah, he’s a
talented guy, and a talented big man that you can get in college free agency, that’s a huge get, because
there just aren’t enough big men around the league right now.”
(On making protecting the quarterback a priority in the offseason) “Well, I I think that’s, from the second
I got here, that’s kind of the goal. We feel like we have a great quarterback in Trevor [QB Trevor
Lawrence]. And as the season progresses, at the end of the day, hey, where can we get better, where do
we need to shore up. Obviously protecting him is key in keeping him upright and giving him the time to
make his plays with his arm, make the receivers, allow them to make plays. So, I think it’s kind of like an
ongoing process, I guess. But I think, again, you have to score points to win in this league and the more
we can shore up the offense the better.”
(On if it was alarming to see QB Trevor Lawrence injured frequently last season) “Don’t want to see him
injured [laughing] at all. Don’t want to see anybody injured, obviously. But yeah, that is concerning. I
think we’ve got to keep him upright and have to protect him, keep the bodies off of him, get the ball out
of his hands, I think we’re pretty good at that. But it’s part of the maturation of him as a player, part of
the maturation of us an as team is to play clean football and I think we’re heading that direction.”
(On if OL Javon Foster starts at right tackle or swing tackle) “He’ll start at both. He’ll take reps at both.
Obviously, we don’t have a full complement of guys here today, so I imagine he’ll take slides at both sides
and we’ll see how it goes.”
(On challenge with new kickoff rules from a personnel standpoint) “First of all, just trying to guess what
people are going to do. So, we spent a lot of time with the special teams coaches, you know what do we
think is going to happen, what are the schemes that you guys are looking at using, what do you think
we’re going to see and just trying to figure that out. I think the big thing is that you’re going to need a
second returner and, in our eyes, a second returner with speed, so that way they can’t just kick the ball
away from us. So if we put two guys out there that can run, that’s going to make us pretty dangerous.
Then we’ll see what the kickoff team’s answer to that is. But I think it’s all a little bit gray. I think
everybody in the league’s going to be watching that Hall of Fame game and see what teams do. The
preseason will show a lot of how different teams look at it and how they plan to exploit it.”
(On what stood out about K Cam Little) “Reliability, accuracy, and obviously the ability to, not just kick
off, but kickoff with some of the different kicks that may be required with the new rules. I think when
you guys meet him, you’ll see him he’s a really young guy, but he is, it’s not too big for him. He’s a
confident kid. I think you’ll find that when you speak with him. Inevitably you’re going to miss a kick at
some point in your NFL career, and do you have the resilience to bounce back from that and go out and
hit the next one. I think that’s the biggest thing we feel like we found that in Cam.”
(On how he feels about addressing the offensive line room) “I feel pretty good about it. I think when you
look out there, obviously we added [OL] Mitch Morse who’s been a high-level starter in this league. We
added Ezra [OL Ezra Cleveland] a year ago, or during the season, and I think he’s to the point now where
he’s fully healthy, which wasn’t maybe necessarily the case early. [OL] Brandon Scherff has been a good
player here. I think we have kind of a unique tackle situation where you have Anton [OL Anton Harrison]
who as a rookie played very well. I think he played every snap, if not almost every snap. Then with Cam
[OL Cam Robinson] and [OL] Walker Little you have some versatility there. So I think a lot of teams in the
league don’t have two tackles they feel great about. We feel like we’re pretty good at that position right
now, and we’ll let it sort itself out as to who is on the field.”
(On his perspective of Special Teams Coordinator Heath Farwell’s evaluation of K Cam Little) “Yeah, so
Heath every year kind of goes on his little junket around the country and works out all the kickers. He
really enjoyed that opportunity with him, and with everyone, everyone you want questions answered.
Hey, he’s a young guy, how is he going to handle this. He handled it greatly. Heath was really excited
when he came back and certainly a guy that we wanted and felt like he can do the job.”
