The 2021 NFL Draft is less than a month away, and with 11 picks, Howie Roseman and the Eagles are facing perhaps more pressure than ever to find starting players throughout the draft.
As the team starts the rebuild there is a good chance they will be prioritizing the defensive line. While there is some young talent to be excited about (Josh Sweat, Javon Hargrave), the Eagles' best pieces along the line are over 30-years old. It is going to be up to Roseman to find their replacements through the draft.
This year's draft is not very deep along the defensive line, but there are a few players worthy of first-round picks, something the Eagles will definitely consider. Any prospect the Eagles go after along the defensive line is going to need one key quality — a quick step off the line of scrimmage, something the team has been clear they value in defensive ends.
Here is a look at 19 defensive linemen, at both defensive end and defensive tackle, that the Eagles could target in the 2021 NFL Draft:
DEFENSIVE ENDS (14):
Jaelan Phillips, DE, Miami
Weight/Height: 6-foot-5, 266 pounds
College Stats: 20 games, 86 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 12.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 1st
Analysis: Phillips, 6-foot-6, 260 pounds, has arguably the most upside of any pass rusher in the draft. He showed just how dominant he could be last season at Miami, finishing with 45 tackles, 15.5 tackles for a loss and eight sacks in just 10 games. He has a long wingspan and an extremely quick first step off the line of scrimmage, something the Eagles really value in their edge rushers. There are some concerns with Phillips. He has suffered hand, wrist and ankle injuries in college, plus has dealt with multiple concussions. He briefly retired from football in 2018 when he was at UCLA, but returned to play for Miami.
Azeez Ojulari, DE, Georgia
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 240 pounds
College Stats: 23 games, 68 tackles, 18.5 TFL, 15 Sacks
Projected Round: 1st
Analysis: Ojulari projects to be more of a 3-4 edge rusher, so it is possible the Eagles don't view him as a fit in what is likely to be their 4-3 defense. Ojulari is just 20-years old, however, and is arguably the best athlete in the draft among the edge rushers. That alone is going to get the Eagles' attention. Add in how much they value the defensive-end position and it is possible they decide to take a chance on Ojulari's athleticism if they trade down from No. 12.
Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
Weight/Height: 6-foot-4, 272 pounds
College Stats: 28 games, 97 tackles, 23.5 TFL, 11.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 1st
Analysis: One of Howie Roseman's first (an best) draft picks with the Eagles was Brandon Graham, so the idea of him using one of the most important picks of his career on a defensive end from Michigan makes sense. Paye comes into the NFL as a strong, physical edge rusher that has good speed off the line of scrimmage. Like Graham, he has a high motor that helps him against the run. Also like Graham, however, he has a tendency to get to the quarterback but not bring him down, stacking up pressures but not sacks.
Gregory Rousseau, DE, Miami
Weight/Height: 6-foot-5, 265 pounds
College Stats: 14 games, 59 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 15.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 2nd
Analysis: Rousseau might have been the top pass rusher taken in this year's draft if he played in 2020, but with just 14 games play in college he is considered very much a project at this point. There is plenty to like about Rousseau, who is not only one of the tallest edge rushers in the draft, but has a 84-inch wingspan as well. The concern with Rousseau is that he hasn't displayed much of a pass-rushing repertoire, which is why he is a safer pick in the second round as opposed to the top half of the first.
Quincy Roche, DE, Miami
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 245 pounds
College Stats: 45 games, 182 tackles, 54 TFL, 30.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 3rd
Analysis: Roche, a former Temple product who transferred to Miami, has perhaps the best resume of any defensive end in the draft. Not only do the 30.5 sacks jump off the page, but finishing his college career with 182 tackles shows he is constantly around the ball. Roche brings a solid set of pass-rushing moves to the NFL, which should help him get on the field right away.
Jayson Oweh, DE, Penn State
Weight/Height: 6-foot-5, 252 pounds
College Stats: 20 games, 63 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 7 Sacks
Projected Round: 2nd
Analysis: Oweh is going to need some time to develop, but he is certainly a 6-foot-5, 252 pound project worth taking on. Oweh has an incredibly high ceiling if he can reach his potential, and he has showed signs of improvement each season during his time at Penn State. Oweh is already solid against the run, which could help him get on the field early on, although he is likely not an impact player right away.
Ronnie Perkins, DE, Oklahoma
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 247 pounds
College Stats: 32 games, 98 tackles, 32 TFL, 16.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 2nd
Analysis: Perkins is considered a bit of a "tweener", as he could play in either a 3-4 or 4-3 defense. If he does land in a 4-3 he might need to put on some weight. What makes Perkins attractive as a pass-rushing prospect is his bend off the line of scrimmage, something the Eagles have mentioned in the pass they value in their defensive ends. Perkins has solid, but not spectacular, numbers in college.
Patrick Jones II, DE, Pittsburgh
Weight/Height: 6-foot-5, 260 pounds
College Stats: 40 games, 112 tackles, 32 TFL, 21.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 3rd
Analysis: Jones has really improved the last two seasons at Pittsburgh, finishing with a combined 17.5 sacks and 91 total hurries in 24 games. Jones relies mostly on his athleticism right now to get after the quarterback and doesn't come to the NFL with a strong set of pass-rushing moves. With the right coaching, however, he could be a steal in the 3rd round.
Chris Rumph, DE, Duke
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 235 pounds
College Stats: 35 games, 124 tackles, 33 TFL, 17.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 4th
Analysis: Rumph would be projected to go higher if he had a better set of pass-rushing moves, but he is such an elite-level athlete with an impressive resume during his time at Duke that it is unlikely he makes it that far into the draft. Some see him as a better fit in a 3-4 scheme as an outside linebacker, but with the Eagles' defensive alignment still up in the air, his potential to play in both could be attractive to the coaching staff.
Cameron Sample, DE, Tulane
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 280 pounds
College Stats: 41 games, 162 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 10.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 4th
Analysis: Sample has a quick first step and projects as being able to move inside on obvious passing downs, giving him the position versatility the Eagles look for in their linemen.
Daelin Hayes, DE, Notre Dame
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 258 pounds
College Stats: 43 games, 97 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 9 Sacks
Projected Round: 4th
Analysis: Hayes is a well-rounded player, as he is strong against the run but is also quick off the line of scrimmage as a pass rusher. He never had a dominating season at Notre Dame but he was consistent. His ceiling isn't as high as some of the other edge rushers in the class due to a lack of elite athleticism, but his floor is high, and would be a safe pick in the middle rounds.
Janarius Robinson, DE, Florida State
Weight/Height: 6-foot-5, 260 pounds
College Stats: 34 games, 104 tackles, 20.5 TFL, 8 Sacks
Projected Round: 5th
Analysis: Robinson has the ideal makeup for a defensive end in today's NFL, standing 6-foot-5 with long arms and a thick frame. While his eight sacks don't jump off the page, he did have 104 tackles and 20.5 tackles for a loss in 34 games, a sign he was constantly around the ball. Robinson is also a strong special teams player, which could be appealing to the Eagles as it would allow him to have a role on the team while he develops.
Shaka Toney, DE, Penn State
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 252 pounds
College Stats: 40 games, 111 tackles, 28.5 TFL, 20 Sacks
Projected Round: 6th
Analysis: If the Eagles are looking for someone to come in and contribute right away as a pass rusher they won't do much better in the later rounds than Toney. Toney averaged almost 3 quarterback pressures a game in college, finishing with 20 sacks in 47 games. He isn't great agains the run, but has the athleticism to be an impact player against it with better coaching.
Malcolm Koonce, DE, Buffalo
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 250 pounds
College Stats: 38 games, 109 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 17 Sacks
Projected Round: 7th
Analysis: Koonce is a great athlete who checks off a lot of the measurables the Eagles look for in a defensive end, including a quick first step. He doesn't have a ton of pass-rushing moves, however, and mostly got after the quarterback due to his athleticism. He will need time to develop but could be a late-round steal if he lands with the right coaching staff.
DEFENSIVE TACKLES (5):
Christian Barmore, DT, Alabama
Weight/Height: 6-foot-5, 310 pounds
College Stats: 22 games, 63 tackles, 19.5 TFL, 10 Sacks
Projected Round: 1st
Analysis: Barmore is the top defensive tackle in the draft and could end up being the top defensive linemen selected. His speed and agility at 310 pounds is rare, and it is especially evident in passing situations. Barmore finished with 42 hurries and 60 total pressures in 23 games at Alabama despite only getting limited playing time. At just 21-years old there is little question that Barmore's best days are ahead of him, and if he lands with the right coaching staff, he could develop into one of the more dominant defensive tackles in the game.
Jay Tufele, DT, USC
Weight/Height: 6-foot-3, 305 pounds
College Stats: 24 games, 63 tackles, 10 TFL, 6.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 2nd
Analysis: Tufele could be on the Eagles' short list if don't take a defensive linemen in the first round. Tufele is a great athlete that has an extremely quick first step, something the Eagles have made clear they value in their pass rushers. Tufele's 6.5 sacks in 24 games doesn't jump off the page, but he lived in the backfield during his time at USC, nothing 32 hurries and 13 quarterback hits in 24 games. Add in the fact that he is strong against the run and Tufele has the potential to be a high-impact starter at the next level.
Osa Odighizuwa, DT, UCLA
Weight/Height: 6-foot-2, 279 pounds
College Stats: 37 games, 120 tackles, 27.5 TFL, 11.5 Sacks
Projected Round: 4th
Analysis: Odighizuwa is an impressive athlete with a very quick first step that knows how to get after the quarterback, finishing with 43 quarterback hurries in 37 games. Odighizuwa is not as great against the run but he should be able to contribute right away on passing downs. In a draft that isn't that a deep at defensive tackle Odighizuwa's ability to get after the passer could cause him to be drafted higher than other years.
Jaylen Twyman, DT, Pittsburgh
Weight/Height: 6-foot-2, 290 pounds
College Stats: 21 games, 57 tackles, 13.5 TFL, 11 Sacks
Projected Round: 6th
Analysis: Twyman comes to the NFL with a decent set of pass rushing moves, as evident by his production in college with 11 sacks and 34 quarterback hurries in 21 games. Twyman is quick on his feet and has good lateral movement which could be appealing to the Eagles considering the body type they like at defensive tackle. He has shown the ability to rush from the edge as well as from the inside.
Mustafa Johnson, DT, Colorado
Weight/Height: 6-foot, 290 pounds
College Stats: 26 games, 100 tackles, 26 TFL, 15.0 Sacks
Projected Round: 7th
Analysis: Johnson certainly has the production to catch the attention of the Eagles' front office. Although he is undersized he finished his college career with 15 sacks in 26 games despite not having what is considered a strong set of pass-rushing moves. His athleticism is an issue but the production is so impressive he is worth taking a shot on in the later rounds.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
