2021 Eagles Draft Preview

All of the misery and suffering of the 2020 season helped deliver the number six pick. GM Howie Roseman traded that to land pick 12 and a first rounder next year. The Eagles have 11 overall picks, several of them early in that particular round. A torturous season can make for a fun NFL draft weekend. It helps if the team makes smart choices, of course.

The picks:

1 – 12
2 – 37
3 – 70
3 – 84
4 – 123
5 – 150
6 – 189
6 – 224
6 – 225
7 – 234
7 – 240

Needs:

CB is the weakest position on the team. The Eagles need to draft a starter and to find depth. I think they need to take at least 2 CBs.

The team has a young, speedy group of receivers, but they need to add at least one player with starting ability to this group. They can go for an outside guy and then move either Reagor or Fulgham to the slot. The team could leave them on the outside and draft a slot. Greg Ward is an effective player, but the team should look to upgrade on him.

LB is a bit of a mystery. The Eagles might like their LB corps more than you think. Even if they do, it would be smart to find talented players to add to the mix. Wilson is here on a one-year deal and counting on Singleton as a long term answer is risky.

Safety got a big boost with the addition of Harris, but he signed for just a year. Wallace has potential, but barely played last year. This is a position of need for the future, but could be okay in 2021. 

The OL is the strength of the team. That said, Kelce, Brooks and Johnson are older players. It would make sense to add young players to develop behind them.

Cox remains an elite DT, but the Eagles need to develop depth at DT.

DE is more of a need, with Graham being older and Barnett and Sweat being in the final year of their deals.

QB is another mystery spot. Hurts is the starter for now, but he doesn’t have much job security. I expect the Eagles to spend a middle or late round pick on a QB.

There is a need for another RB to be added to the mix. This is a weak class so it will be interesting to see if that makes the Eagles more or less aggressive about adding a RB.

Depth Chart

I’m only listing players that I think have a realistic shot at making the roster in 2021.

WR  Travis Fulgham ..… J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
WR  Jalen Reagor …… Quez Watkins …….. John Hightower
WR  Greg Ward
QB  Jalen Hurts …….. Joe Flacco
RB  Miles Sanders ..… Boston Scott … Jordan Howard … Jason Huntley
TE  Dallas Goedert …… Jason Croom …… Caleb Wilson
LT  Jordan Mailata …….… Andre Dillard
LG  Isaac Seumalo …….. Nate Herbig
OC  Jason Kelce ………. Luke Juriga
RG  Brandon Brooks … Matt Pryor
RT  Lane Johnson ……. Jack Driscoll

DE  Brandon Graham …. Josh Sweat
DT  Fletcher Cox ……….. Hassan Ridgeway
DT  Javon Hargrave …… T.Y. McGill …… Raequan Williams
DE  Derek Barnett ……… Joe Ostman
WB Eric Wilson ……… Davion Taylor …… Rashad Smith
MB T.J. Edwards ……. Shaun Bradley ….. Joe Bachie
SB  Alex Singleton ….. Genard Avery
SS  K’Von Wallace ….. Andrew Adams ….. Elijah Riley
FS  Anthony Harris …. Marcus Epps ……… Grayland Arnold
CB  Darius Slay ……… Michael Jacquet
CB  Craig James ……… Kevon Seymour
NB  Avonte Maddox

P Arryn Siposs
K Jake Elliott
LS Rick Lovato

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Normally this section would be Eagles Draft Interest, where we track which players the team brought to Philly, worked out at Pro Days or focused on at all star games. I started keeping track of that back in 2003 (with plenty of help from some good people on the EMB). There is no section this year. All star games were limited. There was no Combine. Teams had to go to Pro Days because of that so it is more challenging to figure out who a team really likes.

Can’t wait to track this next year. I’ve missed wasting time scouring the internet for details on where Jeff Stoutland was last weekend or which player took pics at the Philly airport.

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The Eagles usually have 5 targets for their first round pick. Let’s take a look at the likely targets.

WR DeVonta Smith

Smith is my favorite college player from the 2020 season. He posted gaudy statistics and the game tape was equally impressive. Whatever Smith did, he did well. Good receiver. Good blocker. Good on special teams coverage. Good punt returner. Smith lacks ideal size, to put it mildly. He’s not a dynamic athlete. What he is…a damn good football player. He is a smooth route runner who knows how to get open. He has great hands and incredible body control. Smith combines ability, skill, brains and an ultra-competitive spirit.

Smith would be a terrific addition to the Eagles receiving corps. Beyond that, he’s also the kind of guy you want when you’re trying to turn a team around. He is the kind of foundational player that a new coaching staff wants to work with.

WR Jaylen Waddle

Waddle is the most explosive receiver in the draft. He is the closest thing I’ve seen to Tyreek Hill, with his ability to pull away from defenders. We’ve all seen fast receivers get open deep, but Waddle runs by/around guys in a way that’s unique. They think they have the angle…but they don’t.

He’s not huge at 5-10, 180, but you are drafting him for his speed, not his size. Waddle averaged 19 yards per catch for his careeer. He was a dynamic return specialist as well. The Eagles want to make RAC yards a bigger part of the offense and Waddle would help in that area quite a bit. He’s not just fast. Waddle has great instincts when he’s on the move. He also is strong enough to break arm tackles.

https://twitter.com/247Sports/status/1385613864222535680

Waddle can go up and make tough grabs. He’s good down the field as well as on quick throws. He could be an NFL star.

CB Patrick Surtain

Surtain has size, athleticism and skill. He is what you want in a CB. The big question is whether he could make it out of the Top 10 and that doesn’t seem likely. Still, this is the draft and if he gets anywhere close to 12, the Eagles could consider moving up if they really want Surtain.

He would project to instantly start across from Darius Slay and would be an immediate upgrade to the Eagles secondary. Surtain played in a complex system and that should ease his transition to the NFL. He will hit and tackle. He’s also a smart player.

CB Jaycee Horn

Horn has an amazing combination of size and athleticism. He is a freak. South Carolina moved him all over the field, using him as a chess piece to take away the offense’s best weapon. Horn can play outside or in the slot. He can cover speedy guys or TEs.

The knock on Horn is that he’s too handsy. He’ll have to clean that up in the NFL. Still, I think coaches will love the way he plays and the mentality he has. While Surtain is smart and part of a complex system, Horn is out there as his team’s best player. It is up to him to shut down whoever he’s covering. Horn embraced that and played with a lot of emotion and attitude. The Eagles coaches could love that side of him. Will he make it to 12?

OL Alijah Vera-Tucker

If the WRs and CBs are gone… the Eagles might just focus on the line of scrimmage. AVT played LG and LT at Southern Cal. He isn’t dynamic in any way, but he doesn’t have many weaknesses either. AVT feels like one of the safer picks in the first round.

The Eagles could play him at either T or G spot. He wouldn’t necessarily start right away, but would give them a key player for the future. In that sense, he would be somewhat of a luxury pick. Then again, if the OL has another rash of injuries, AVT could be a critical player. The Eagles want to give Jalen Hurts a chance to succeed. If you can’t get him a playmaker, get him a protector.

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• I don’t think Rashawn Slater makes it to 12 and he’s not a guy you trade up for.
• I don’t think Kwity Paye is worth pick 12, despite the rumor that the team loves him. Trade back and get him.
• I think trading back is more likely than trading up. It feels like the Eagles are hoping a QB slides and some team wants to move up to get him.
• Zach Ertz will get traded. I’m now thinking it could be for a 2022 pick

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DRAFT BOARD

I left some good players off this for a few reasons…fit, character or medical. This is all a guess on my part.

-1st Round Board for the Eagles-

QB:

RB: Najee Harris, Travis Etienne

WR: Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith

TE: Kyle Pitts

OL: Pennei Sewell, Rashawn Slater, Alijah Vera-Tucker, Teven Jenkins

DE:  Kwity Paye

DT:  Christian Barmore

LB:  Micah Parsons, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Jamin Davis, Zaven Collins

IB: 

S:  Trevon Moehrig

CB:  Patrick Surtain, Jaycee Horn, Greg Newsome, Caleb Farley

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-2nd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB:

RB:  Javonte Williams

WR:  Elijah Moore, Kadarius Toney, Terrace Marshall, Rashod Bateman, D’Wayne Eskridge

TE:  Pat Freiermuth

OL:  Samuel Cosmi, Alex Leatherwood, Liam Eichenberg, Dillon Radunz, Creed Humphrey, Quinn Meinerz

DE:  Jaelan Phillips, Carlos Basham, Payton Turner, Joe Tryon

DT:

LB:  Pete Werner, Jabril Cox

IB:  Nick Bolton, Baron Browning

S:  Richie Grant, Jevon Holland

CB:  Asante Samuel, Tyson Campbell, Elijah Molden, Eric Stokes

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-3rd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB:  Kyle Trask

RB:  Michael Carter, Kenneth Gainwell

WR:  Dyami Brown, Amari Rodgers, Cornell Powell, Tylan Wallace

TE:  Hunter Long

OL:  Walker Little, Ben Cleveland, Wyatt Davis, Deonte Brown, Jackson Carman, Trey Smith, Aaron Banks, Josh Myers, Robert Hainsey

DE: Joseph Ossai, Ronnie Perkins, Rashad Weaver

DT:  Dayo Odeyingbo, Daviyon Nixon, Alim McNeill

LB:  Chazz Surratt

IB: 

S:  Divine Deablo

CB:  Aaron Robinson, Keith Taylor, Ifeatu Melifonwu

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ALL TOMMY TEAM 

(my favorite non-1st round players)

QB Ian Book – Notre Dame
RB Khalil Herbert – Virginia Tech
WR  D’Wayne Eskridge – Western Michigan
WR Amari Rodgers – Clemson
WR Tylan Wallace – Oklahoma State
TE Tommy Tremble – Notre Dame
OT  Brenden Jaimes – Nebraska
OG  Ben Cleveland – Georgia
OC  Drake Jackson – Kentucky
OG  Kendrick Green – Illinois
OT  Royce Newman – Ole Miss

DE Jordan Smith – UAB
DT  Osi Odigizuwha – UCLA
DT  Tommy Togiai – Ohio State
DE Tarron Jackson – Coastal Carolina
LB  Pete Werner – Ohio State
IB Buddy Johnson – Texas A&M
LB  Tony Fields – West Virginia
S  Tyree Gillespie – Missouri
S  Ar’Darious Washington – TCU
CB Elijah Molden – Washington
CB  Shemar Jean-Charles  – Appalachian State

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Please draft a couple of these players

WR DeVonta Smith – Alabama
WR D’Wayne Eskridge – Western Michigan
WR Terrace Marshall – LSU
RB Khalil Herbert – Virginia Tech
RB Elijah Mitchell – Louisiana
OL Robert Hainsey – Notre Dame
OL Brenden Jaimes – Nebraska
OL Royce Newman – Ole Miss
OL Quinn Meinerz – Wisconsin-Whitewater

DE Carlos Basham – Wake Forest
DE Rashad Weaver – Pitt
DT Dayo Odeyingbo – Vanderbilt
DT Bobby Brown III – Texas A&M
LB Pete Werner – Ohio State
LB Baron Browning – Ohio State
S Richie Grant – UCF
S Jevon Holland – Oregon
CB Tyson Campbell – Georgia
CB Eric Stokes – Georgia
CB Eric Taylor – Washington
CB Zech McPhearson – Texas Tech

Please avoid these players

CB Kelvin Joseph – Kentucky – Big time talent, but has character issues. A rebuilding team should avoid guys like that.
WR Kadarius Toney – Florida – Special player, but I didn’t get good vibes when watching him at the Senior Bowl.
WR Amon Ra-Brown – USC – Good player. No character issues. Just never did it for me. Solid prospect, but not compelling in any way.
LB Cameron McGrone – Michigan – Loved some of his highlights, but there were too many Nate Gerry moments for me. I’ll pass.

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Here is my ideal scenario for the Eagles.

1 – 12 – WR DeVonta Smith – Alabama
2 – 37 – CB Tyson Campbell – Georgia
3 – 70 – DE Joseph Ossai – Texas
3 – 84 – OL Robert Hainsey – Notre Dame
4 – 123 – CB Tre Brown – Oklahoma
5 – 150 – S James Wiggins – Cincinnati
6 – 189 – CB Shaun Wade – Ohio State
6 – 224 – TE Kenny Yeboah – Ole Miss
6 – 225 – OT Dan Moore – Texas A&M
7 – 234 – DT Marquiss Spencer – Mississippi State
7 – 240 – QB Sam Ehlinger – Texas

I tried to keep those values as realistic as possible.

Smith would be a terrific addition to the Eagles WR corps.

Some people prefer Campbell’s teammate Eric Stokes, but Campbell stood out more to me on tape. He’s got the size, speed and skill to be a good CB in the NFL. The Eagles desperately need corner help.

Ossai is a gifted athlete and has solid size. I don’t know if he lasts to the third, but he would be a good addition to the Eagles front seven. He combines athleticism with a great motor.

Hainsey is an experienced, versatile OL who could play anywhere except LT. He would give the Eagles a lot of flexibility.

Brown is the kind of feisty, ultra-competitive player Jonathan Gannon and Nick Sirianni should love. Good athlete. He’s also productive and tough.

The Eagles have had good luck with Cincy players in the 5th round (Trent Cole, Brent Celek). Wiggins could play FS or SS. Can cover, hit and tackle.

There were high expectations for Wade coming into 2020, but he didn’t live up to them. Wade has the size, speed and raw talent to play in the NFL, but he needs work. He’s worth a risk late in the draft.

Yeboah played at Temple for 3 years before transferring. Good athlete. Good receiver. Pretty good blocker. He could develop into a good role player.

Moore played LT in college. He looked good at the Senior Bowl and could come in and compete for a backup OT spot.

Spencer is very athletic for a DT, but he needs work. He would be a project. I think he could develop into a good interior pass rusher.

I don’t like this QB class, but Ehlinger is the kind of guy Sirianni could like. He is a gamer. Ehlinger would be a career backup, but the Eagles could use someone behind Hurts and Flacco.

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