Round 4 pick 145: WR Devin Duvernay, Texas
From one draft crush to another, hello.
The Eagles need to find two types of receiver in this Draft. A deep-threat, and a slot guy. Duvernay ticks box B with the potential to one day move outside to box A as well. Here’s what I wrote about Duvernay ahead of the Senior Bowl.
If we’re talking slot receivers, Devin Duvernay has my heart. If you could imagine Greg Ward Jr. (similar size at 5’11, 210 lbs) but zippier, that’s Duvernay. The man is just electric as a route-runner, but projects to be a day-two pick due to some rawness in his game. His hips are a little tight and every cut seems to be like a jagged stab as opposed to fluid motion.
However, his lightning speed, ability to pick up YAC, and nasty mentality to defeat tacklers more than make up for that. He’s not quite there yet as someone ready to start day one, but if you want a secret weapon, his 1,386-yard season speaks for itself.
Round 4 pick 146: CB, Lamar Jackson, Nebraska
I’m a sucker for long, rangy corners who feast at the top of routes and although schematically they don’t tend to be favored in Philadelphia (Just ask Rasul Douglas). But if the Eagles do go after Byron Jones, then bringing a corner who compliments his weaknesses as opposed to weakens his strengths (ahem, Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills), makes a lot of sense, especially if Douglas still struggles to get on the field.
Jackson smothers at the line of scrimmage, using his range to make life ridiculously difficult for receivers and relying on his length to get him back into plays where he’s beaten, purely by feeling his way down the route. That can get the better of him and his size (6’2, 206 lbs) may lead to a different role at the NFL level, with a potential Safety or even OLB switch on the cards down the road.
BUT
Considering where Sul was drafted, I’m more than happy to hit reset on that cycle with Jackson. His ability to mirror and match is salivating for someone his size and oh, I forgot to mention something. 12 passes defensed last year. Bring him in.
Round 5: Pick 166 WR Tyrie Cleveland, Florida
The Eagles still have that need for speed…until now.
Tyrie Cleveland.
Hear me out. The guy is 6’2 and ran a 4.46 40-yard dash. Different. Gravy.
Cleveland chomps up acres of space with long strides and punishes anyone who dares give him space underneath by going 0-100 real quick. He was only ever really used on go-routes and screens with the occasional post so it’s hard to get a gauge on his route-running, but the Eagles aren’t expecting DeAndre Hopkins here. In fact, it’s supposed to be the worst draft ever, so give me a speedster who is…literally just a speedster.
Round 6: Pick 190: QB, James Morgan, FIU
Ugh, we’re back here again. The Eagles need a backup QB and Jeffrey Lurie wants to draft one every year.
The Eagles got a good look at Morgan at the Senior Bowl and we know how much the team value those collegiate all-star games.
At 6’4, 213 lbs, he (shockingly) also has a frame that Pederson covets, and completed 61.5% of his passes with 40 touchdowns and 12 picks during his two-year stint with FIU.
Morgan can make all the throws and has a cannon for an arm and has really impressive pocket navigation. He really is the perfect prototype for a budget developmental arm and that’s exactly what the team need.
Overall, it’s not THAT bad….right?
