The 2021 NFL Draft is now just three days away, which means soon we will start to find out what Howie Roseman plans to do with the 11 picks he currently has, the most of any team.
What should he do with the picks?
Here is Eagles Seven-Round Mock Draft, Version 5.0:
Round 1, Pick 12: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 175 pounds
College Stats: 235 catches, 3,965 yards, 46 touchdowns (47 games)
Projected Round: 1st (top 15)
Analysis: There seems to be a good chance that Smith is on the board when the Eagles go on the clock. If he is, they should jump at the chance to get him.
Smith is a lot like LSU’s Justin Jefferson last season. He has great hands, is a great route runner and has dominated at the highest levels (and biggest stages) of college football. Like Jefferson, Smith has one issue everyone is focusing on, and it seems to be impacting his draft stock. For Jefferson, it was that he played in the slot. For Smith, it is his weight. Jefferson overcame those concerns and was the best rookie receiver in the NFL last season.
Both Howie Roseman and Nick Sirianni made it clear this past week that they are willing to overlook Smith’s small stature. If they do, Smith can be the consistent, game-changing receiver they have spent the last few seasons looking for.
Round 2, Pick 37: 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: The Eagles would likely prefer to go with a defensive linemen with their first pick, but while the position would be a reach at No. 12, it isn’t at No. 37 where they should be plenty of great options.
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.
Round 3, Pick 70: Rodarius Williams, CB, Oklahoma State
Height/Weight: 6-foot-1, 195 pounds
College Stats: 43 games, 169 tackles, 27 pass deflections, 2 INTs
Projected Round: 3rd
Analysis: The Eagles will likely be playing plenty of zone coverage next season, which means spending one of their first two picks on a cornerback isn’t really needed. Still, they do need help at the position, and Williams would be an excellent pick in the third round.
Williams checks off nearly every box you can look for in a cornerback prospect in the NFL. He has good size, he has good speed and has shown he is a good enough athlete to stick with all kinds of receivers. He played well in man coverage during his time at Oklahoma State, but also switched over to zone when needed, as well as playing some time in the slot. The issue with Williams? He is going to be 25-years old when the 2021 season comes around — meaning he will be almost 30 when his rookie deal is up. Williams makes sense for the Eagles since they need someone to step in and play right away opposite Slay.
Round 3, Pick 84: Chazz Surratt, LB, North Carolina
Height/Weight: 6-foot-2, 225 pounds
College Stats: 24 games, 206 tackles, 22.5 TFL, 12.5 Sacs, 2 INT, 5 PD, 2 FF
Projected Round: 4th
Analysis: Another project at linebacker? The Eagles might be hesitant to do so after taking Davion Taylor last year, but Surratt is a player worth keeping a close eye on. Surratt, 6-foot-1, came to North Carolina to play quarterback, but was eventually moved to the defensive side of the ball. The difference between Surratt and Taylor is that Surratt put up huge numbers at North Carolina, totaling 207 tackles, 12.5 sacks and two interceptions in two seasons at linebacker. There aren’t many athletes in the draft at linebacker better than Surratt, who would fit nicely next to Eric Wilson in two-linebacker sets.
Round 4, Pick 123: 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.
Round 5, Pick 150: Chuba Hubbard, RB, Oklahoma State
Height/Weight: 6-foot, 208 pounds
College Stats: 638 touches, 3,928 yards, 36 touchdowns
Projected Round: 5th
Analysis: One of the top playmaking running back in the draft, Hubbard dominated during his time at Oklahoma State, finishing with 3,938 yards from scrimmage and 36 total touchdowns. Hubbard can be a threat out of the backfield as a pass catcher, but also comes to the NFL with great vision as well in the running game. He isn’t a big back to pair with Miles Sanders, but together the two will give the Eagles a dynamic duo to work with.
Round 6, Pick 189: Kendrick Green, OG, Illinois
Height/Weight: 6-foot-3, 315 pounds
College Stats: 33 starts, 20 total pressure allowed
Projected Round: 6th
Analysis: Green checks off all the boxes you would want physically from an offensive guard — he is quick, he is strong and he has good size. Green’s issue seems to be things that can be coached up, like footwork and hand placement. That shouldn’t be a concern to the Eagles, who have arguably the best offensive line coach in the NFL in Jeff Stoutland.
Round 6, Pick 224: 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.
Round 6, Pick 225: Bryce Thompson, CB, Tennessee
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 190 pounds
College Stats: 31 games, 100 tables, 8 pass deflections, 8 INTs
Projected Round: 5th
Analysis: Thompson clearly knows how to make big plays with eight interceptions in 31 games. The fact he has the same amount of pass breakups as interceptions during his time in college is both a good and bad thing. The positive is if he gets around the ball he has shown he is going to make a play on it. The negative is he doesn’t get his hands on many passes. Still, eight interceptions in 31 games is impressive, and he is good enough athlete to believe he could keep it up at the next level.
Round 7, Pick 234: Adrian Ealy, OT, Oklahoma
Height/Weight: 6-foot-5, 326 pounds
College Stats: 29 games, 23 total pressures
Projected Round: 7th
Analysis: The Eagles waiting until the seventh-round to pick an offensive tackle feels unlikely, but they have had arguably their best luck picking linemen late. Ealy has the physical makeup the Eagles want in their tackles, as he is plenty athletic and stands 6-foot-5. He won’t be able to play right away, but the Eagles don’t need him too — and Jeff Stoutland has shown he knows how to develop late-round picks into starters.
Round 7, Pick 240: Jacoby Stevens, S, LSU
Height/Weight: 5-foot-11, 197 pounds
College Stats: 36 games, 190 tackles, 4 INT, 15 PD, 1 FF
Projected Round: 6th
Analysis: Stevens is a great athlete that moved all over the defense during his time at LSU, and is a bit like Jalen Mills in his ability to play multiple positions without having elite-level speed. Stevens is strong against the run and dangerous as a blitzer, and if he is able to stick with receivers at the next level, he could be a late-inning steal.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!