The future of the Eagles has arrived.
With the 2021 NFL Draft in the books, the Eagles have been reshaped. Time will tell if the picks turn out to be good, bad or ones that we talk about for the next 20 years. Results can wait. Immediate feelings and takeaways can't.
Here's what I was thinking as I watched the Eagles war room go to work over the weekend.
1. Howie Roseman isn't even close to the hot seat.
The Landon Dickerson pick in Round 2 was a tell. No general manager feeling real heat or needing to win now would take a lineman off December knee surgery. Dickerson may or may not contribute in 2021. It was a pick for 2022 and beyond. Then there's sticking to the board and ignoring the cornerback position until Round 4. If Roseman was drafting with his short-term status in mind, this entire class looks different. He's not going anywhere anytime soon.
2. It won't be hard for me to talk myself into the DeVonta Smith pick.
I was crystal clear with my feelings on Smith before the draft: He's a risky player at his size, and I'd prefer to build the team a different way than using another top pick on a wide receiver. But that doesn't mean I don't think Smith will be a good player (he will) or an impact Eagles rookie (he should be). It's been a long time since we watched a wide receiver as a great route runner in Philadelphia. Smith will be fun, and hopefully his competitiveness rubs off on the entire locker room.
3. Tom Donahoe, not Howie Roseman, is the loser of the now-viral video of the Eagles draft room.
I'm sure you've seen it by now. Roseman (awkwardly) fist pumped everyone in sight after the Eagles trade down and subsequent selection of Louisiana Tech defensive lineman Milton Williams in the third round. Then there's Donahoe, the former Steelers and Bills executive, pouting in the corner. The subsequent reaction was incredible, with many pointing fingers at Roseman and more interoffice dysfunction. Here's what I took away: Donahoe, who was 31-48 running his own drafts in Buffalo, came across as petulant and the opposite of a team guy. Sure, scouts pound the table for their guys. Disagreements happened. Perhaps Roseman has lost Donahoe's support. That's all fine. But how about growing up and getting on board with the pick once it is made?
4. An Eagles starting cornerback isn't on the roster yet.
Fourth round pick Zech McPhearson might turn out to be a good player. I bet he'll contribute from Day 1. But the Eagles aren't done shopping yet. I'd guess we see a free-agent signing (Steven Nelson) or trade before training camp to address the spot opposite Darius Slay.
5. Kenneth Gainwell is coming for Miles Sanders job.
Gainwell was my favorite pick of this class. The do-it-all Memphis running back reminds me of Chargers star Austin Ekeler. He can run it inside or outside, catch the ball out of the backfield and even lineup as a wide receiver. I was disappointed in Miles Sanders' 2020 season, which included wearing down late in games, missed time and drops. Gainwell will play early, and I won't be surprised if he's taking big snaps from Sanders sooner than later.
6. The defensive line rebuild is upon us.
Last year's draft was the start of Roseman adding youth and options to the offensive line. This year was about the other side of the trenches. Williams is a fascinating athlete with the ability to play inside or outside. Sixth-round pick Tarron Jackson out of Coastal Carolina has a Brandon Graham-lite profile. Fletcher Cox and the actual Graham is in his 30s, and both Josh Sweat and Derek Barnett are in walk years. This defensive line group could look very different one year from now.
7. Bold prediction for the 2022 draft: A major trade up, but it's not for a quarterback.
We're going to spend a year evaluating Jalen Hurts, assigning long-term meaning to every throw, touchdown, scramble and highlight. We'll juxtaposition that with what's happening with Russell Wilson's situation in Seattle and Deshaun Watson's issues in Houston. But if Hurts works out (I'm a believer) and is the guy here, the Eagles will have the fortune of figuring out how to use up to three first round picks in next year's draft. Here's a name to file away: Oregon defensive end Kayvon Thibodeaux. He's a monster, in the Von Miller/Chase Young mold. He'll be a household name by fall, and the guy the Eagles will package three No. 1 picks (thanks Dolphins and Carson Wentz!) to move up for next year.
