The NFL Draft is in the books and despite a bumpy and confusing start, the Eagles ended up with a salivating draft haul. But where were the weak links and just how strong are the selections made by Howie Roseman? It’s time to get your markers out!
Round 1 Pick 21 – Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
It wasn’t the popular decision, but Reagor made the most schematic sense for the Eagles at pick 21. I had him as my 4th ranked receiver when grading by traits the Eagles covet and his usage at TCU reflects that. A rapid wideout who suffered from poor QB play in 2019, Reagor was used all across the field and even as a rusher and returner. If it’s speed the Eagles wanted, a wideout who clocked 22mph at one point last year does more than tick that box, and add a new level of explosiveness that had previously been missing from the WR group.
There’s nothing to dislike about this pick. Fans may have wanted Justin Jefferson, but drafting him would’ve likely resulted in an inability to double-dip due to the fact that most wideouts in the heart of the draft are also slot-based receivers. This was the smart pick, but it’s also damn sexy too.
Grade: A+
Round 2 Pick 53 – Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
This is still just as perplexing to me as it was yesterday, but the strength of this Draft class does somewhat negate the initial concern. You don’t spend a second-round pick on a backup quarterback without some kind of ulterior motive. You also don’t draft a ‘gadget QB’ unless he’s going to be a fundamental part of the offense.
Hurts deserves a chance to start and is an incredible football player, highlighted by his Heisman-runner-up campaign that saw him complete 69% of passes and amass a 32:8 TD:INT ratio. Add in his 1,298 rushing yards and you can certainly see the appeal.
This move is really hard to grade. If the Eagles want to develop and eventually flip Hurts, fair enough, but it didn’t need to be a second-round investment and every other QB slid drastically after what will now be considered a reach until proven otherwise. If the Eagles offense evolves into a different beast next year, it could be one of the smartest picks in recent memory.
Grade: C-
Round 3 pick 103 – Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado
Taylor is a raw prospect without much in the way of experience in comparison to most other backers in this class, but he does come with an insane amount of speed and range – making him a valuable weapon in this defense.
Taylor is likely going to pick up where KGH left off and will bring many of the same traits to the table but with a debatably higher upside. It’s a nice pick that correlates really well with the free agency safety additions and the next pick the Eagles made.
Grade: B
Round 4 Pick 127 – K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson
This is the most ‘Eagles’ pick possible. Wallace is an absolute animal who can play all over the field. He’s a little tight in coverage and his size may work against him in certain areas, but he plays with such a tenacity that he becomes hard to overlook. Wallace is a menacing run defender who hits hard and has a nose for the ball. If you’re looking for a ‘Baby Malcolm Jenkins’ to develop, Wallace is that guy and a pick of substantial value in round 4.
Grade: B+
Round 4 Pick 145 – Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn
This pick was a very interesting one in the way that just seconds later, the Eagles traded with the Cowboys, who took Center Tyler Biadasz. Driscoll then told reporters that he’d been working at a transition inside the offseason and suddenly, it doesn’t seem that bad.
Driscoll is a very athletic lineman with a slighter frame and happy feet. He’d be a great developmental heir to Jason Kelce and if there’s anyone who can take a tackle and make him a center, it’s Jeff Stoutland. I’d rather a very athletic tackle moving inside, than an unathletic center who could never be tasked with the duties that Jason Kelce makes effortless every week due to his freakish explosiveness. The foresight is smart.
Grade: B+
Round 5 Pick 168 – John Hightower, WR, Boise State
My. Dream.
Hightower graded out as my ninth-highest receiver when looking at traits the Eagles covet and snatching him in the fifth-round is a steal. The upside here is scary, with the Boise State product only needing a little more physicality to be a genuinely scary prospect. His release is exceptional, speed speaks for itself, and he catches everything thrown his way. A fifth-round steal.
Grade: A+
Round 6 Pick 196 – Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
The 6’1, 235 lbs, linebacker impressively ran a 4.51 second 40-yard dash. That basically sums up this pick. It’s safe to say that the Eagles were really valuing the need for speed this Draft and that desperation has spread across the entire team.
Bradleys is an athletic backer that may be able to earn his paydirt on special teams with an upside of becoming a rotational player. Fipp’s unit took a huge hit this free agency and someone of Bradley’s profile fits it perfectly.
Grade: C+
Round 6 pick 200 – Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss
4.35 seconds. That’s it. That’s the tea.
Watkins is another speedster that comes with a very raw profile and less experience than most. He’s definitely a project for new WR Coach Aaron Moorhead, but given that Shelton Gibson is the player we’re likely going to equate this selection to, it should be a fairly easy ceiling to pass if the Eagles can get this twitchy wideout involved in their offense.
Grade: C+
Round 6 pick 210 – Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
At 6’5, 308 lbs, the Eagles take one of the most underrated Tackle prospects of the entire Draft. Andy Weidl spoke about just how crazily athletic this man is and with Vaitai now in Detroit, the Eagles needed to find a replacement. Mailata will have some competition from a lineman who was named a second-team All-SEC pick for his 12 starts at left tackle as a Senior.
Grade: B+
Round 7 pick 233 – Casey Toohill, DE, Stanford
The Eagles may have waited a little late to replenish their EDGE spot, but despite being a little lighter and lengthier than most, he ran a 4.69 40-yard dash. I know, I’m shocked too. He can play OLB/DE so reminds me a lot of Genard Avery and could be a player to keep an eye on this summer in relation to teammate Shareef Miller.
Grade: C
Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
