UPDATED 10/17/21, BELOW IS ORIGINAL STORY FROM APRIL 2021
Looking back at the 2021 draft it is hard to find many flaws. Trading pick 6 for pick 11 and gaining the Dolphins 2022 first in the process, and still landing DeVonta Smith, is amazing value. Landon Dickerson has played much sooner than anyone expected and has done so really well. (Especially considering how he was thrown into the mix without any offseason practices.) Milton Williams has shown flashes while playing in all six games and starting one. Kenneth Gainwell has been a great find thus far with overall pick 150 in the 5th round. Below is the mock I did back in April with the actual draft results. Looking back at this six months later, what should the Eagles have done differently? Hindsight is always 20/20. Let me what you would have done as GM.
Actual draft positions for the 11 players I mocked to the Eagles.
DeVonta Smith to the Eagles, round one 10th overall pick. The third WR selected. I was 1 pick off as I had him ranked 11th, to the Eagles.
Eric Stokes to the Packers, Round one 29th overall pick. 8 picks off
Jamin Davis to the WFT, Round one 19th overall pick. 51 spots higher than I projected.
Deonte Brown to the Panthers pick 193. Deonte fell 111 spots further down the draft then I had mocked. The pick I had the most wrong. I thought he was much more revered.
Chuba Hubbard to the Panthers, Round four pick 126. 24 selections ahead of my projection.
Kenneth Gainwell to the Eagles, round five pick 150. see above.
Tay Gowan, drafted by the Cardinals in round six with pick 223. (Now a member of the Eagles after being traded along with a 5th rd pick for Z Ertz)
Jimmy Morrissey to the Raiders in the seventh round with pick 230, 41 spots lower than I projected.
Jonathan Cooper to the Broncos, round seven pick 239. I had him at 224.
Tre Norwood, round seven to the Steelers with pick 245. I ranked him 225.
Cary Angeline, went un drafted. He did end up on the Eagles this spring as an unsigned free agent.
Khyiris Tonga to the Bears in round seven, pick 250. I had at 240.
What actually happened
| Round | Selection | Player | Position | College | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 6 | Traded to the Miami Dolphins | |||
| 10 | DeVonta Smith | WR | Alabama | From Dallas | |
| 12 | Traded to the Dallas Cowboys | From San Francisco via Miami | |||
| 2 | 37 | Landon Dickerson | C | Alabama | |
| 3 | 70 | Traded to the Carolina Panthers | |||
| 73 | Milton Williams | DT | Louisiana Tech | From Carolina | |
| 84 | Traded to the Dallas Cowboys | From Indianapolis | |||
| 4 | 110 | Traded to the Cleveland Browns | |||
| 123 | Zech McPhearson | CB | Texas Tech | From Miami | |
| 5 | 150 | Kenneth Gainwell | RB | Memphis | |
| 156 | Traded to the Miami Dolphins | From Dallas | |||
| 6 | 189 | Marlon Tuipulotu | DT | USC | |
| 191 | Tarron Jackson | DE | Coastal Carolina | From Denver via Carolina | |
| 224 | JaCoby Stevens | LB | LSU | Compensatory pick | |
| 225 | Traded to the Washington Football Team | Compensatory pick | |||
| 7 | 234 | Patrick Johnson | LB | Tulane | |
| 240 | Traded to the Washington Football Team | From San Francisco |
So what should they have done differently?
ORIGINAL STORY FROM APRIL 2021
The Philadelphia Eagles have so many needs on the team, that this season will be difficult to project which positions they draft, much less the actual the player. It is also challenging due to the team having a new head coach and all new coordinators. Defensively, does the new DC, run cover 2 and value LB more than the Eagles previouslyhave? Does the new OC and Head Coach Sirianni run an offense similar to what they did in Indianapolis or does he draft to build the system that he wants to run?
I have grouped the prospects by position and my rankings are done with thought into the fit with the Philadelphia Eagles.
CB, WR, LB, C, S, DT, OL, RB, TE –
The players in BOLD are the ones I feel underrated at each position!
The positions aren’t in any order, but the prospects at each position are.
Offense:
QB- Trevor Lawrence, Zach Wilson, Justin Fields, Trey Lance, Mac Jones, mid round favorite Kellen Mond
WR — Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, DeVonta Smith, Rashad Bateman, Kadarius Toney, Terrace Marshall Jr. , Elijah Moore, Rondale Moore, Amari Rodgers, Amon-Ra St Brown
RB- Najee Harris, Travis Etienne, Kenneth Gainwell, Javonte Williams, Trey Sermon, my mid round favorite Chuba Hubbard, Khalil Herbert, Michael Carter, Jermar Jefferson
TE- There is Kyle Pitts, then everyone else. Pat Freiermuth, Brevin Jordan, Tommy Tremble, Mason, Hunter Long and my late round favorite Cary Angeline
C- Creed Humphrey , Landon Dickerson, Josh Myers, Quinn Meinerz , Drake Jackson, Kendrick Green, Trey Hill, Michael Menet and late rounder Jimmy Morrissey.
OG — Alijah Vera Tucker, Wyatt Davis Trey Smith, Ben Cleveland, Deonte, Brown, Mid Rd to late round favorites, Aaron Banks, Robert Hainsey and late round favorite Jack Anderson
OT- Penei Sewell and everyone else, Christian Darrisaw, Rashawn Slater, Teven Jenkins, Liam Eichenberg , Dillon Radunz, Samuel Cosmi, Alex Leatherwood, Jalen Mayfield
Defense:
CB — Caleb Farley, Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain II, Greg Newsome II , Elijah Molden, Eric Stokes, Kelvin Joseph, Ifeatu Melifonwu, Assante Samuel Jr. , Tay Gowan, Tyson Campbell and mid round favorite, Paulson Adebo
LB — Micah Parsons, Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, Zaven Collin, Nick Bolton, Jabril Cox, Jamin Davis, Barron Browining, Chazz Surratt, Dylan Moses, Pete Werner, and later round favorite Tony Fields II
S — Richie Grant, Trevon Moehrig, Hamsah Nasirildeen, Javon Holland, Andre Cisco, Jamar Johnson, Talanoa Hufanga, Ar’Darius Washington, Caden Sterns and my favorite late rd choice, Paris Ford
DE — Kwity Paye, Azeez Ojulari , Gregory Rousseau, Jaelan Phillips, Jayson Oweh. Carlos Basham Jr. , Dayo Odeyingbo, Quincy Roche, Shaka Toney, and late rd Jonathan Cooper
DT — Christian Barmore, Levi Onwuzurike, Daviyon Nixon, Marlon Tuipulotu, Jay Tufele , Alim McNeill, Tommy Togiai, Jaylen Twyman and later round favorite, Darius Stills
The Eagles, armed with 11 draft picks, need to hit on a lot of players with upside and starting ability at many positions. I would be surprised if they end up using all 11 picks as I expect Howie to be active with trades and moving around the board.I cant see a scenario in which they don’t come out of this draft without two CB, one WR, a center to be a future replacement for Jason Kelce, a linebacker inside of the first five rounds, a QB to develop, a change of pace RB that can also return kicks, and both a DT and DE. I think they end up using 9 of their 11 picks. I’d be also be shocked if they don’t attempt to get into the first round for a second selection, at the expense of pick 37 or possibly even trading one of next years first round picks to make it happen. This is a rebuild, re-tool year, but they also plan on competing and believe they could make a run at the division.
Chuba is a very good inside runner and has proven to be a QB’s best friend with his pass catching ability. I think he would be a dream paired with Hurts when they run RPO’s, RB Kenneth Gainwell out of Memphis would also be a great selection here, but its less likely he falls this far in the draft.
I have DeVonta Smith as underrated as he has fallen in mocks lately. I still believe he is the 2nd best WR in the draft, even though I do not expect him to be the second WR drafted. He could fall to fourth overall, in which case the Eagles should select him.
Mock One, without trades AKA Howie standing pat
RD1 pick 12- Devonta Smith WR Alabama
RD2 pick 37- Eric Stokes CB Georgia
RD3 pick 70- Jamin Davis LB Kentucky
RD3 pick 84- Deonte Brown G Alabama
RD4 pick 123- Tay Gowan CB Central Florida
RD5 150- Chuba Hubbard RB Pittsburgh
RD6 189- Jimmy Morrissey C Pittsburgh
RD6 224-Jonathan Cooper DE Ohio State
RD6 225- Tre Norwood S Oklahoma
RD7 234- Cary Angeline TE North Carolina State
RD7 240- Khyiris Tonga DT BYU