Grading The Philadelphia Eagles 2021 NFL Draft

First Round Pick No. 10: WR Devonta Smith Alabama

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The Eagles drafted the best WR in the class when they selected the reigning Heisman Trophy Winner in Devonta Smith. The Philadelphia Eagles have drafted WR Devonta Smith. Just typing that feels amazing. Last year at Bama Smith caught 117 passes for nearly 1,900 yards and 23 TDs! He should have been the first WR off the board however I’m elated he fell ever soo slightly to the Eagles at no. 10 prompting the Eagles to trade up from number 12 to no. 10 in the process to secure the elite WRs talents. The man caught 3 TDs to help Alabama pummel Ohio State en route to winning the national title in one game.

When I watched that game I told myself I really hope my Philadelphia Eagles draft him and a dream has come true as they did! Howie Roseman finally threw down a slam dunk with a first-round pick. (Granted this was an easy dunk to make as if someone had Roseman on their shoulders to dunk this first-round selection.) Mark my words WR1 Devonta Smith will be the NFL’s Rookie Of The Year in 2021! His presence will further unlock QB1 Jalen Hurt’s potential and the two will become a dangerous duo en route to getting the Eagles back into the playoffs this year! My Draft Grade: A+ (If could I would give the Eagles an A++ for this pick!)

Second Round Pick No. 37: C/G Landon Dickerson Alabama

Yes, the Eagle’s needed O-line depth and just as a player Landon deserves nothing less than an A, however, CB was a bigger need at this spot as was LB. I do understand the pick as last year’s O-line was riddled with injuries. OG Brandon Brooks was out for most of last season and while he’s coming back healthy it is good to have insurance at this spot. Jason Kelce may also retire after this season making Dickerson the heart of the middle of the Eagle’s O-line for several years to come.

It is a good pick and Landon Dickerson is one heck of a player. That being said the Eagles could have both traded back to attain a little bit of extra draft capital and still landed CB Asante Samuel Jr. at this spot. My Draft Grade: (this is a tough one because simply as a player id give Landon an A or A+ as he’s healthy and was the best IOL in the draft…yet they passed on the CB I thought was a no-brainer to draft at this spot. It is debatable. Other experts would have gone in the exact same direction as you can never have enough good O-lineman and Landon’s a great player.)

I want to give the Eagles a B+ just for passing on CB Asante Samuel Jr. however they picked up an A+ talent and after reminding myself that the Eagle’s organization doesn’t want to be reliant on the likes of OL Jack Driscoll in the case of an injury. I’m giving them an A for this pick.

Third Round Pick No: DE/DT Milton Williams Lousiana Tech

The Eagles needed to add another pass rusher, but with LB and CB still bigger needs at this point, I was initially surprised with this selection. I wasn’t the only one as Howie and one of his scouts got into a little bit of an argument. The good news is that Howie and scout Tom Donahue patched things up and were seemingly back on the same page for the rest of the draft as they consistently gave each other fist bumps after almost every other pick.

Howie and Co. got it right in the first two rounds but I’m not sure about Milton Williams being an immediate contributor as a rookie whereas a guy like LB Jabrill Cox would have been as a rookie unless he can beat (he should be able to) out Hasaan Ridgeway as a rookie. That said even then he’s the team’s DT3 as a rookie which is not quite as exciting as Jabrill Cox most likely starting as a rookie. From a pure depth perspective, it makes sense, and Fletcher Cox, while still a complete beast won’t, be able to play forever. Javon Hargrave when he’s healthy which he now seems to be is a stud DT2 but how long will he be in Philadelphia? The pick makes some sense for the 2022 NFL Draft and less so for this year.

Perhaps I’m wrong and he makes an impact as a rookie. Injuries unfortunately happen and Milton is a guy who can play both DT and DE and may be asked to line up at both spots. For what it is worth he does look like an athletic freak of nature who wreaks havoc against the run and the pass. The Eagles did sign an LB away from the Vikings as well that I am much higher on than most in LB Eric Wilson who had gaudy stats last year in Minnesota. If I were to make a draft grade solely based on the Eagles passing on Cox it would be in favor of Williams it would be a C however that’s not fair to the player who worst-case scenario could very well be a starter in his sophomore season in the NFL. My Draft Grade: B

Fourth Round pick no. 123: Zech McPherson CB Texas Tech

Finally, a CB! No, his name is quite obviously not Asante Samuel Jr. who I really wanted my Eagles to go after but he may be just as good. He actually has a very similar game to that of Asante’s as a ballhawk who can play inside and out in the backfield yet is a better tackler. Several had a late third-round grade on Zech Mcpherson and he is a playmaker. This to me makes up for passing on Asante Samuel Jr. in the second round because when you look at the tape you’re getting a very similar style of player who was an absolute playmaker for Texas Tech.

He had a career-high 4 Interceptions in 2020 to go along with 7 pass breakups and 58 tackles. He also blocked a few kicks and returned a fumble for a TD. He is an athletic playmaker who will start as a rookie on the outside opposite CB1 Darius Slay with Avonte Maddox or a free agent in the slot. Zech immediately upgrades the secondary and the more tape I watched the more I like about this selection. The Eagles found a surefire starter and potential star in the 4th round of the draft and that is not easy to do. The Eagles secondary suddenly looks a lot better than it did last year with the additions of free-agent signing FS Anthony Harris, SS/FS hybrid Rodney McCloud Coming back healthy, and the selection of Zech McPherson in the fourth round. This pick in my mind is a steal and makes the Landon Dickerson pick in the second round look much better.

The Eagles may have improved their secondary but they should still bring in a slot CB to compete for starting snaps with Avonte Maddox who has had a bizarre career as he had a great rookie season but has been average regardless of where he’s lined up in the defensive backfield. Perhaps Maddox can bounce back this upcoming season. That being said the team looks much better heading into the season at outside CB and at both FS and SS than they did a year ago. I was going to give this pick a B, however, after talking with a colleague you may know from The Eagle Eye In The Sky Podcast Seth Martin who is a Texas Tech fan, and watching some extra tape that was sent to me via the podcast members of the same name I have fallen in love with Zech’s clutch playmaking ability and athletism. Check out The Eagle Eye In The Sky Podcast for free on youtube! My Draft Grade: A

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Fifth Round Pick: RB Kenneth (Kenny) Gainwell RB Memphis

I really like this pick! He’s a steal! I was one of the few experts and one of the few fans of the Eagles that saw a big need for an RB2 who can come right in and be a great complement to Eagles star RB1 Miles Sanders. Sanders and Gainwell will form a formidable 1-2 punch this upcoming season.

Yes, I’m aware that Boston Scott is still on the roster and he’s a good player who will still see his share of snaps in certain packages as a pass-catching scatback but he’s more of an RB3 albeit a talented one. With Gainwell now on the roster I don’t think we’ll see Scott get many carries but he’ll still make some plays on screens and as a slot WR. Kenny Gainwell is also no slouch when it comes to his ability to catch the football as he had over 700 yards through the air to go along with a gaudy 1,459 yards rushing the football and 18 total TDs in 2019. In the case of an injury to Miles Sanders (let’s hope this doesn’t happen) Gainwell is also a complete three-down back and a slasher with great burst, speed, and surprising strength. He’s a highlight waiting to happen every time he touches the football.

Kenny Gainwell also has the ability to change direction on a dime and excellent patience. His pro Comparison is Antonio Gibson of the Washington Football team who had a great rookie season just last year. Gainwell will spell Miles Sanders but also make his own share of great plays as a rookie in 2021 for the birds. Kenny Gainwell also has a compelling story. He sat out during his 2020 season at Memphis after losing four family members to Covid-19 and aims to make his family proud in the NFL.

If he had not opted out of the 2020 season there’s zero doubt in my mind he would have been drafted higher. This is another easy one. My Draft Grade: A+ New Head Coach Nick Sirianni must be thrilled with this pick given how he likes to use his RBs.

Side note: The Eagles had four 6th round picks but traded one for an early 2022 5th Round Pick which is a good move.

Sixth Round Pick no. 189: DT Marlon Tuipulotu USC

Marlon has really good size and upside and I think he will be a really good player for the Eagles down the road. I just would have gone pure inside LB at this spot. Marlon had 9.5 (basically 10 sacks) sacks in his last two seasons at USC. He looked good against the run and the pass. A lot of other experts like the pick. The problem: The Eagles are loaded at DT. As a player, he’s at worst worthy of a B grade. I would have liked to see an ILB taken here. This may not be fair to the big man But this time based on the direction the Eagles took with this pick I’m giving them a lower grade. Prove me wrong Marlon Tuipuloto! My Draft Grade: C+

Sixth Round Pick no. 191: DE Tarron Jackson Coastal Carolina

Terror Tarron Jackson somehow fell to the Eagles at pick 191 and he most certainly should not have, but hey we’ll take it! He was projected to be a late 3rd or early fourth-round pick by many. Did anyone else happen to notice how fast the Eagles made this pick? Jackson had 25 sacks in college and 52 tackles for loss! How the heck did he last this long? He will rotate in as a rookie, he will start if there is an injury and he will be a star in the NFL. This pick has the potential to be one of the biggest steals in NFL Draft history. You turn on the tape and he’s always harassing the QB. He is always around the football. I was shocked that he was still there at 191 and he will make other teams pay for passing on him. This one is really easy. My Draft Grade: A+

Sixth Round Pick no. 224: S/LB Jacoby Stevens LSU

Stevens is a great FS but I’m not quite sure what to make of him as a LB and the Eagles say they plan to move him to LB…that being said perhaps they will use how they once used Malcolm Jenkins. Perhaps he will be asked to line up in multiple spots as a rookie and maybe after FS Anthony Harris who the Eagles stole away from the Vikings (good move) is no longer an Eagle Jacoby Stevens will move back from LB to FS…there’s a lot to unpack here.

I’m going to say that the team despite naming him an LB during the draft will ask him to play at both spots on certain downs. He had great college production. The Eagles do like their backers to have great coverage skills and have had some success transitioning DBs to LB. It’s just when you watch the tape Stevens looks soo very talented as an FS so why not keep him there as FS Anthony Harris is only on a one-year contract? I’m going to make a bold prediction: LB Eric Wilson who the Eagles signed in FA has a second straight career year at LB and the Eagles decide to use Stevens as an FS who will not only start down the road but will become a star. My Draft Grade for Stevens is based purely on instinct. My Draft Grade: A (Now watch me be wrong as he develops into the next Jordan Hicks)

Seventh Round Pick no. 234: DE/LB Patrick Johnson Tulane

I’ll be honest. I had not previously heard of Johnson, but I do feel really good about this pick after first hearing Mel Kiper and Co. call him a player who will be a star in the NFL and watching his game tape which was excellent. LB Patrick Johnson might just be one of the latest 7th round steals for Philadelphia. After I watched the tape Johnson looks more like a star Edge rusher to me than a LB however with a new DC in town In Jonathon Gannon perhaps the backers will be asked to get after the QB a bit more. He looks like a heck of an athlete. Johnson did play both LB and DE for Tulane before becoming strictly a DE for most of his college career so that does bode well. Johnson is an absolute freak of nature as an athlete which also bodes very well. As a DE for Tulane in 2020 Johnson had 25 sacks, (25 sacks!) 7 forced fumbles and he also batted down 11 passes. That’s excellent production. Upon further research new Eagles DC Johnathon Gannon has said he will indeed ask his LBs to rush the passer more than Eagles fans were used to seeing in past seasons which I think is great. Johnson is also 6Ft2 240 which is certainly too small to be an NFL DE, yet is the perfect size for an NFL LB. Before selecting Johnson the Eagles had already upgraded their LB unit at every spot except mike LB…I just have a gut feeling here that Patrick Johnson will beat out current mike/ILB T.J. Edwards at some point during the season. I had to do a little bit more research on Johnson and Gannon’s scheme on defense but I’m glad I did as I now have the feeling that both ILB Patrick Johnson and the Eagles via drafting him are set up for success at the position. Side Note: The Philadelphia Eagles have certainly in recent years had more success with their 7th round selections than any other team in the NFL see DB Jalen Mills and star LT Jordan Mailata. I have a gut feeling that Patrick Johnson will keep that trend going. My Draft Grade: A

My Overall Draft Grade for the Eagles 2021 NFL Draft Class: A- Hey it’s still an A! I do think the Eagles via this draft went from a team that would have finished 3rd in the NFC East to a team that will compete for the division title. Whether it’s via finishing in first place or via a Wild Card Spot I do have the Eagles making the playoffs in 2021 with a record of 10-7 or 9-8…and I have the Eagles winning a playoff game! I’m higher on QB Jalen Hurts than most and this draft class coupled with some underrated FA pickups will help him lead the Eagles back to the playoffs this season, and after a 2022 Draft where the Eagles will have three first-round picks and 10 overall picks turn this team into a real contender again in 2022.

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