By Tucker Bagley, Sports Talk Philly staff writer 
As a quarter of a million people partied on the Ben Franklin Parkway this weekend, eight prospects learned they would start their NFL careers as a member of the Philadelphia Eagles.
Each guy offers a something different to a team that is hoping to make the jump from 7-9 a season ago to contending for a playoff spot. Here is a player-by-player breakdown of what is to be expected of each guy in 2017 and beyond.
Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
In His Own Words: "I think my get-off is pretty good. I prepare hard mentally for games. A lot of people don't see that, but you have to prepare for a game so you can go in and dominate."
2017: Over the past decade, only five defensive ends have been drafted in the first round and contributed more than six sacks in their rookie season. It takes time for pass rushers to get acclimated to the NFL game, so expecting Barnett to be an elite presence in 2017 would be asking too much of the Tennessee product.
Instead, expect Barnett to be a consistent presence in the Eagles' defensive end rotation, splitting snaps with Brandon Graham, Vinny Curry and Chris Long. Getting four or five sacks in limited playing time would be a good start to Barnett's career.
Beyond: As a first-round pick, it is safe to assume the Eagles see high-end starting potential for Barnett down the line and maybe a few Pro Bowls. If he can refine his pass-rushing technique, Barnett could be a consistent double-digit sack guy in his prime and be the cornerstone of the Eagles defensive line when Fletcher Cox and company move on.
Sidney Jones, CB, Washington
In His Own Words: “I don’t think [the injury] going to affect me — not a touch. They say once you injure this thing, it’s very unlikely you’ll injure it again and you’ll come back a lot stronger, a lot more explosive."
2017: Much like Barnett, Jones can not be counted on to be a consistent contributor in 2017. As he nurses his Achilles injury, it seems like him playing at all this year remains in question. I cannot see Jones being ready for Week 1 like he predicted earlier in the offseason, but the Eagles could place him on the injured reserve at the beginning of the year and hope he's ready to return by mid-season.
Beyond: Jones was at the top of many teams draft boards before his injury and he has the potential of a shut down cornerback when he is healthy. If the Eagles are patient and allow him to fully complete his rehab, Jones has a chance to be the Eagles first Pro Bowl cornerback since Asante Samuel in 2010.
Rasul Douglas, CB, West Virginia
In His Own Words: "I feel like there is a lot of room for improvement, I've only been playing corner for a few years, so I'm still learning."
2017: Douglas is a strong, physical corner, albeit one who struggles with press coverage. As it stands today, it seems like he is already penciled in to start opposite Jalen Mills when the Eagles take the field against the Redskins on Sept. 10. Having Douglas on the team makes sitting Jones a bit easier, as he can fill in for his fellow rookie, at least for the time being.
Beyond: It's easy to see Jones and Douglas patrolling the sidelines as the Eagles top two corners for the next decade, while Mills mans the slot. Douglas' skill set is much different than Jones and the Eagles could benefit from having two complementary cornerbacks to match up against the NFL's top receivers.
It's hard to project a third-round pick as more than a solid starter, but Douglas was a very good value in the third round and should be counted on to play some major snaps for the Birds.
Mack Hollins, WR, North Carolina
In His Own Words: "I didn’t get targeted all that much in college, but when I got my opportunity, I made the most of it. I scored one out of every four times I touched the ball, so I know I can do that, but also, in my mind, I think I’m the best special teams player there is in the country…I know how important special teams is. You might not get the glory and all of that, but it wins games, and that’s what is important to me."
2017: Hollins is a flat-out beast on special teams, and rather raw as a wide receiver. If he's going to make the team in 2017, it will be on the back of his special teams work, due to the crowd the Eagles currently have at wide receiver. Working behind Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith, this year will also help his route-running.
Beyond: Hollins was a touchdown machine in college, so there's hope he can develop into a jump-ball and down-field threat in the NFL. Standing at 6'4" and running a 4.53 40-yard dash certainly points to Hollins having the measurables of an elite receiving prospect, but it will take a lot of work to get there. For now, he can be expected to develop into a special teams ace.
Donnel Pumphrey, RB, San Diego State
In Joe Douglas's Words: "Lightning feet. Great feet and great hands. And don’t let the size fool you: this guy, he’s a little dog that thinks he’s a big dog, and he plays that way. I love the way he plays."
2017: I really don't see how Pumphrey fits in the Eagles plans in 2017. If Kenjon Barner struggled to get touches a year ago, Pumphrey will really have a hard time seeing the field, outside of time on special teams. Why use "the next Darren Sproles" when the current one is still playing at a high level?
Beyond: Since Sproles is expected to be gone after 2017, Pumphrey can certainly grow into the third-down, change of pace role he's occupied for the past few seasons. Pumphrey isn't nearly as strong as Sproles, but he is a small, shifty 'back who knows how to make guys miss when he gets into space.
Shelton Gibson, WR, West Virginia
In His Own Words: "I talked to you after my sophomore year, when I had a lot of drops with my deep balls. I said, ‘I’m not dropping any more deep balls.’ I dropped two balls last year, and none of them were deep balls. Every single year, I’m trying to be better at something."
2017: Gibson is a great deep threat, but like Hollins, he will have an uphill battle toward playing time. With Jeffrey, Smith, Hollins, Jordan Matthews and Nelson Agholor already ahead of him on the depth chart, the Eagles will have to take a hard look at carrying six wide receivers in 2017, or else they will have to make a tough decision during the final round of cuts.
Beyond: If Gibson can become more of an all-around receiver, he has a great shot of sticking in the NFL for a long time. His elite speed will be coveted by teams and if he figures out how to get open in the league, he can be a huge matchup problem for opposing defenses. I have a hard time comparing a fifth-round pick to DeSean Jackson, but he has that type of potential.
Nathan Gerry, LB, Nebraska
In His Own Words: "I got a lot of positive feedback about my versatility. In my conversations with GMs and coaches there were some who said that even within their teams there was debate about where they could see me playing. I think it’s a positive that I can fit two different molds — it doesn’t have to be set in stone yet where I’m going to play."
2017: Gerry was a safety in college, but the Eagles want him to bulk up and play linebacker. A player with his size and speed could be a good addition on special teams, but he should be stashed on the practice squad for the year in order to get bigger and learn the nuances of playing his new position.
Beyond: Like most late-round picks, Gerry's first shot at an NFL career will be special teams, and he certainly has the measurables and hard-hitting attitude to make a difference for Dave Fipp. Maybe he can grow into a coverage linebacker who can play in sub-packages on passing downs.
Elijah Qualls, DT, Washington
In His Own Words: "I kind of just did a little research project trying to see what the long-term [outlook] was like for both running backs and defensive linemen. And defensive linemen tend to last longer, have less severe injuries, and honestly, on average, probably make more money. So I decided to be a defensive lineman."
2017: I really like Qualls a lot and he could fight with Destiny Vaeao for the Eagles fourth defensive tackle spot this year, similar to what Beau Allen did in his rookie year.
Beyond: Qualls may not ever develop into an above-average player, but a lot of evaluators had a Day 2 grade on him, so maybe his "business decision" will really pay off for himself and the Eagles. With Allen and Tim Jernigan set to be free agents at the end of this season, the Eagles will need reinforcements should they both walk. Qualls could be a decent complement to Cox if he fulfills his potential.
