Eagles Draft Prospects: Identifying Who Could Enroll at 'Jeff Stoutland University'

PHILADELPHIA - Typically offensive line coaches are under the radar to most NFL fans. This isn't the case with the Philadelphia Eagles, as run game coordinator and offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has become synonymous with stellar offensive play.

While Stoutland has always been well-regarded inside the league and among his peers, his “brand” got a little boost last season when Jordan Mailata introduced himself on national television as having matriculated at “Jeff Stoutland University.”

The one-time Australian rugby player-turned-football novice is perhaps Stoutland’s crown jewel when it comes to player development. An International Pathway project who needed help putting on his helmet on Day 1, Mailata has slowly morphed into one of the game’s best left tackles en route to earning a four-year, $64 million contract extension in September of 2021.

Eagles general manager Howie Roseman typically likes to give Stoutland at least one prospect he pounds the table for each year and that could be anywhere from the top of the draft all the way to undrafted free agency.

Because Philadelphia lost both Seumalo and Andre Dillard in free agency and developmental option Josh Sills to the Commissioner’s Exempt List due to ongoing legal troubles, you can bet that the offensive line will be addressed somewhere along the line. This could start at No. 10 overall, where Roseman has done plenty of homework on the two best options in the draft: Ohio State’s Paris Johnson, Jr. and Peter Skoranski.

Past Johnson and Soranski, players just about everyone likes to a certain degree, former Eagles scout and current NFL Network lead draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah was asked about “Stoutland guys” when talking with reporters earlier this week and began in Western New York with Syracuse’s Matthew Bergeron.

“To me, I could go in a couple of different areas for Stout,” Jeremiah said. “I would say Matthew Bergeron from Syracuse is one. He is big. He is 6-5, 318 pounds. He's played left tackle. You've seen what they've been able to do there, and [the Eagles have] been able to take tackles and make them guards. He is going to be ahead the game in terms of the pass protection.

“He can move. I think he is a really, really good player. That would be one I would keep an eye on as somebody in the second round that could kick [inside to guard].”

From there, Jeremiah turned toward TCU’s Steve Avila.

“Another guy you could say to fit Stout, you know, I'm always looking for bigger guys that kind of beat people up a little bit,” said Jeremiah. “I think Steve Avila will be gone from TCU [by the Philadelphia pick in the second round], but he would be one that would make some sense there.”

As far as an under-the-radar fit, Jeremiah turned toward Eastern Michigan.

“I think [Sidy Sow] strikes me as a Stoutland-type guy,” Jeremiah said. “... He has some length. He can move. He has some torque. He has some power. Those seem to be the kind of traits that Stout has appreciated over the years.”

Whomever the Eagles add Roseman is comfortable assessing Stoutland will get the most out of him.

“We have phenomenal coaches on the staff. Certainly Stout is one of them,” Roseman said. “When you give [Stoutland] guys with high football character, with unique physical traits, they will be developed.”

Stoutland, the Eagles’ longest-tenured coach is about to enter his 11th season with the club, and his impact in Philly through three coaches – Chip Kelly, Doug Pederson, and Nick Sirianni – is undeniable.

He’s coached some of the NFL’s best offensive lines over that span, including his 2022 group where all five starters – Mailata, Landon Dickerson, Jason Kelce, Issac Seumalo, and Lane Johnson – were honored in some form be it All-Pro, Pro Bowl selection or Pro Bowl alternate status.

Stoutland has coached at least one Pro Bowl player in each of his first 10 years with the Eagles. He's only the second offensive line coach since the 1970 merger to produce Pro Bowlers over a decade with the same team, joining Jim McNally (1981-91,) of the Cincinnati Bengals.

McNally, though, had Hall of Famer Anthony Munoz, a nine-time first-team All-Pro helping pave that path.

Stoutland's success is much more varied with six players earning 20 Pro Bowls berths – guard Brandon Brooks (2018-20), Dickerson (2023), Johnson (2018-20, ‘23), Kelce (2015, ‘17, ‘20-23), guard Evan Mathis and (2014-15) and tackle Jason Peters (2014-17). Additionally, Stoutland has aided four players to 11 All-Pro honors – Johnson (2017, ‘21-22), Kelce (2017-19, ‘21-22), Mathis (2013), and Peters (2013-14).

For those who like to point out that Mathis, Kelce and Brooks all played in the league before being coached by Stoutland, buyers beware on that criticism because none of them received any postseason recognition prior to working with him.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen