Ripple Effect

The Eagles moved back from pick 6 to pick 12 for multiple reasons. The biggest was obviously the desire to pick up an extra first round pick in 2022. I think one of the other keys is that they felt one of their targets might still be on the board all the way down at 12.

I agreed with the thinking, but things got a bit more complicated on Monday.

Jets trade QB Sam Darnold to Panthers in exchange for a 2021 sixth round pick, 2022 second round pick and 2022 fourth round pick. pic.twitter.com/TcKGWesy04

— NFL (@NFL) April 5, 2021

The Panthers have the #8 pick. They were expected to take a QB. That now changes. And that could affect the Eagles.

Let’s walk through the top picks.

1 – JAX – QB Trevor Lawrence

2 – NYJ – QB Zach Wilson

3 – SF – QB Trey Lance

4 – ATL – TE Kyle Pitts

5 – CIN – WR Ja’Marr Chase

6 – MIA – OT Rashawn Slater

7 – DET –

8 – CAR –

9 – DEN –

10- DAL –

11- NYG –

The first six picks aren’t a lock. That’s my educated guess. Penei Sewell could be the first OT. I just happen to like Slater better. It is possible the Bengals and Dolphins could both take OTs, knocking Chase down a pick or two.

It feels like the Eagles would be targeting:

WR DeVonta Smith
WR Jaylen Waddle
CB Jaycee Horn
CB Patrick Surtain

Other guys who could go in that range:

QB Justin Fields
QB Mac Jones
OT Penei Sewell
OL Alijah Vera-Tucker
DE Greg Rousseau
LB Micah Parsons
LB Zaven Collins
LB Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah

It is possible that all four of the top guys are gone. I don’t anticipate that happening. I expect someone to take Sewell and at least one of the other QBs. If that happens, one of the top four guys will be sitting there at 12.

The Broncos reportedly were in the mix for Sam Darnold so they could go for a QB at pick 9. Drew Lock has been a major disappointment so far.

I don’t think the Eagles will go OT, but we can’t rule it out. Slater, Sewell and Vera-Tucker are all terrific prospects. The Eagles OL might actually be the strength of the team, though. With so many other holes to fill, going elsewhere would make more sense. Lane Johnson isn’t getting any younger so you could always look at the pick as being about the future. I’m just thinking 12 will be something other than OL.

I do wonder what will happen if Chase falls a few spots. How much do the Eagles like him? We know Howie isn’t afraid to make trades, up and down the draft.

A less likely scenario would be moving back, but anything is possible. That would make sense if the Eagles targets were gone and they felt the best value was moving back a few spots.

*****

Jimmy Bama did an Eagles mock.

https://twitter.com/JimmyKempski/status/1379033493347438595

Waddle

Newsome

Basham

If Howie could pull off that trio of picks without making crazy trades, I’d be ecstatic. The problem is that Newsome should go in the first and Basham could sneak into the late first as well.

As for the rest of the picks, why would Howie draft four punters? Seems highly unlikely.

I’ll be putting out my own Eagles mock in a couple of days. All the picks will be brilliant. I’ll try not to put too many players from Appalachian State in there, but I make no promises.

*****

Harsh, but true.

Only the department stores remember Bobby Hoying’s career fondly. @Ol_TimeFootball @NFL_Journal @SportsDaysPast @FootballHistory @WTHelmets @ban1helmetnfl @SportsCollector @80sFootballCard @70sBaseball @Baseball1960s @60s_Baseball pic.twitter.com/CKG3kZB3Gq

— Eagles Over the Years (@EaglesOrtheYear) April 5, 2021

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