Draft Plans

The draft is just over one week away. We know the Eagles will add a receiver. We don’t know who it will be or how aggressively the Eagles will be in trying to get a receiver. We know Howie would like to add speed. But even a generic statement like that leads us to more questions.

We don’t know much.

So, apparently from what I've read the Eagles are going to draft at least 2 WRs, a developmental QB, a big RB, a C to groom behind Kelce, a swing T, a 3rd TE, an EDGE, a DT, LB, CB who can run, and a S. And they should trade up, not down.

— Greg Richards (@igglesnut) April 13, 2020

Sounds right. Howie just needs to find a way to add 4 more picks, while also trading up to get the players he wants.

I’m as guilty of anyone of locking into certain positions and assuming the Eagles will definitely address them. Reality says that a team will never address of their needs in a given draft.

The Eagles are looking at a lot of different players and a lot of different positions because they don’t know how things will play out. They have to be ready for a variety of scenarios. I feel comfortable in saying they won’t draft a QB, RB or TE in the first round. After that, all bets are off.

The Eagles have a lot of DEs on the roster right now.

Derek Barnett
Brandon Graham

Josh Sweat
Genard Avery

Shareef Miller
Joe Ostman

We know Jim Schwartz loves BG and Barnett. The team had high hopes for Sweat. Howie liked Avery enough to trade a future fourth round pick for him and sings his praises when he gets a chance. The team spend a fourth round pick on Miller. The coaches had nothing but praise for Ostman prior to his injury last summer.

These aren’t just bodies. These are players the Eagles like.

At the same time, don’t you have to consider taking a DE if a compelling player is there at 21 or 53 or wherever? Graham is the team’s best pass rusher, but he’s on the wrong side of 30. Barnett is a good young player, but he hasn’t been a difference-maker to this point.

The Eagles need help at spots like WR, S, LB and CB. They are looking for talent all over the roster. If you can find a DE who makes  you better, take him.

Understand going into this that we will be disappointed by something. The Eagles don’t get the mid-round DT you liked. They passed on the underrated WR in the fifth round. They didn’t some spot at all.

The goal is to find young talent to address long term needs. There is no perfect plan.

Remember Dallas in 2016? They wanted QB Paxton Lynch. Didn’t get him. They wanted Connor Cook. Didn’t get him. Dallas had to settle for Dak Prescott. Sometimes you’re better off when  your plans don’t come to fruition.

Howie Roseman and his staff have run through a lot of scenarios. They know the players they want. They know the positions they would like to address.

They just don’t know what will actually happen.

*****

Regarding this trade, 2 spots to watch. Carolina at 7, Las Vegas at 12. https://t.co/74WZJwFfFh

— Joe Tordy (@JoeTordy) April 15, 2020

I don’t know Joe Tordy, but this sure feels like a stretch.

I’m guessing the reference to going up to 7 is to get in front of the Cardinals at pick 8. The thinking must be that they would have interest in reuniting QB Kyler Murray and WR CeeDee Lamb.

I would be shocked if the Eagles moved up to 7 from 21. That would cost a lot. It would go against everything Howie and Jeffrey Lurie have said for the past year or so. They’ve preached about the importance of having a lot of picks.

The part about the Eagles trading back if the top four receivers are gone…that is a common expectation.

Maybe I’m dead wrong and the Eagles feel adding an elite receiver is worth a steep price. It would be a lot of fun to watch a player like Lamb add some real juice to the offense.

I just have my doubts. And with the team’s recent injury history, I think building a deep WR corps might be as important as adding a single star.

*****

One DE that has really grown on me is Derrek Tuszka from North Dakota State. He didn’t do a lot for me when I first watched, but I made sure to give him a thorough look and he really impressed me.

Good player. And could be a good fit for the Wide-9.

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