nick87
Coach
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My thoughts on the Eagles
General comment: Think it was a good draft thought maybe not one that the fans will like. They really did stick with their board and much to the fan bases chagrin, didnt go chasing LB and CB when the value wasnt there. Would i have liked to address those earlier? Sure. I think if i were in control of the draft given how it fell, i probably end up with 1. Smith 2. Samuel Jr 3. Meinerz in the first three.
The draft showed a measure of self evaluation about where the Eagles are, something i didnt think Roseman and Lurie were capable of. So that's a positive.
1. 10: Devonta Smith WR: Absolutely pumped about this. I went through a weird arc with Smith... loved him to begin and then in the middle of the cycle started to feel like he was too risky given the size... but i kept going back to his play, and he's so good. Not like this dude was playing in the Pac 12. He's in the SEC. This is the College football king. LSU, A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and then in the play offs OSU, Clemson... this is where NFL corners are playing and he smoked them all. He'll start and be the best weapon on the roster day 1. A+
2. 37: Landon Dickerson IOL: Ultimate upside pick. The dude was arguably the most dominant OLer in the entire draft when healthy. He grades out right there with any in the draft... probably is he's hurt a lot. He's had an ACL on both knees, and both ankles with issues... that's not ideal at all. But Alamaba loved and respected this guy so much that they marched him out in the Natty to give him a snap. This guy would be above AVT as the top IOL if not for those injuries. But they exist and it's a big risk so i cant give it a A, though if he stays healthy this will be viewed as one of the steals of the draft. Think he'll start at G this year and be groomed long term as a C for Kelce B+
3. 73: Milton Williams DT: Not everyone was on board with this pick, even in the Eagles draft room
. I dont think DT is a huge need but again, but after thinking about it, we've got Fletcher Cox coming to the end of his career and this guy is a similar style of player in that he's a pure DT with athleticism and pass rush ability to disrupt as an interior. The upside is fairly tantilising. Really high ceiling, low floor draft pick. New DC Gannon was very excited for this pick though. He'll be a rotational piece this year. B-
4. 123: Zech McPhearson CB: Finally a corner! My goodness finally. Have to say this is not someone i was very familiar with. I reckon i had a good feel for about 130 players in this draft. He was not one of them. So i did some work today and im OK with it. It's not a slam dunk by any means, but the book on him is good ball skills and is instinctive, should fit the Gannon scheme but inconsistent route recognition and not a particularly strong tackler. C
5. 150: Kenneth Gainwell RB: Love this pick, thought it was great value and the player is extremely explosive and compliments Miles Sanders very well. Siriani loves to have a RB like Nyheim Hines who he can flex out wide, who can burn LB's, work underneith and create explosive plays. Gainwell is a really good fit for that sort of player. I think he'll be a really good change of pace back. A
6. 189: Marlon Tuipulotu DT: Look, this is a damn good two down run stuffing DT and the value here was really good. no way he should have been on the board still... but two DTs? Cant help but think sometimes, especially late in the draft... maybe just take a swing on a need position? The player itself is cinder block. You're not going to move him in the run game. He's going to have a long career in a limited role. C-
6. 191: Tarron Jackson DE: Another one i didnt know too much about. Not really grinding the Coastal Carolina tape. But in looking at this, he's got pretty good production and solid measurables. But the production isn't really against very good competition. His strengths are his motor and he's really good using his hands to get off blocks. He's a developmental guy. Can't help but think they'd have been better swinging on a higher pedigree player. D
6. 223: JaCoby Stevens LB: This is the type of pick i like late. Super good athlete, who was a 5* recruit coming out of high school. He slides because he's one of those guys who isnt quite fast enough for Safety, but it lacks the physicality for LB. The eagles announced him as a LB, so i think they're going to put some weight on him, and turn him into a really athletic LB. Will it work? Probably not, few 6th rounders work out, but it's a good value pick and the sort of player you like to take a swing on. B+
7. 234: Patrick Johnson LB/DE: Bit of a weird fit. Probably an ideal 3-4 OLB. But he's a pretty productive pass rusher, and a reasonable athlete. But dont think he'll make the roster, given the low risk, i'd have rather taken a swing at Dylan Moses or Ar'Darius Washington, both players i thought should have been drafted in round 4-5. Not a big a fan at all. F
Overall, i'd give the Eagles a B- grade. Really solid draft. Wont be on any winners lists, or losers lists. But i could very easily see Milton developing into a very disruptive interior DL and if Dickerson stays healthy, he'll be a yearly pro bowler... So this could very easily see this grade jump 2 years from now.
General comment: Think it was a good draft thought maybe not one that the fans will like. They really did stick with their board and much to the fan bases chagrin, didnt go chasing LB and CB when the value wasnt there. Would i have liked to address those earlier? Sure. I think if i were in control of the draft given how it fell, i probably end up with 1. Smith 2. Samuel Jr 3. Meinerz in the first three.
The draft showed a measure of self evaluation about where the Eagles are, something i didnt think Roseman and Lurie were capable of. So that's a positive.
1. 10: Devonta Smith WR: Absolutely pumped about this. I went through a weird arc with Smith... loved him to begin and then in the middle of the cycle started to feel like he was too risky given the size... but i kept going back to his play, and he's so good. Not like this dude was playing in the Pac 12. He's in the SEC. This is the College football king. LSU, A&M, Auburn, Georgia, Florida and then in the play offs OSU, Clemson... this is where NFL corners are playing and he smoked them all. He'll start and be the best weapon on the roster day 1. A+
2. 37: Landon Dickerson IOL: Ultimate upside pick. The dude was arguably the most dominant OLer in the entire draft when healthy. He grades out right there with any in the draft... probably is he's hurt a lot. He's had an ACL on both knees, and both ankles with issues... that's not ideal at all. But Alamaba loved and respected this guy so much that they marched him out in the Natty to give him a snap. This guy would be above AVT as the top IOL if not for those injuries. But they exist and it's a big risk so i cant give it a A, though if he stays healthy this will be viewed as one of the steals of the draft. Think he'll start at G this year and be groomed long term as a C for Kelce B+
3. 73: Milton Williams DT: Not everyone was on board with this pick, even in the Eagles draft room
4. 123: Zech McPhearson CB: Finally a corner! My goodness finally. Have to say this is not someone i was very familiar with. I reckon i had a good feel for about 130 players in this draft. He was not one of them. So i did some work today and im OK with it. It's not a slam dunk by any means, but the book on him is good ball skills and is instinctive, should fit the Gannon scheme but inconsistent route recognition and not a particularly strong tackler. C
5. 150: Kenneth Gainwell RB: Love this pick, thought it was great value and the player is extremely explosive and compliments Miles Sanders very well. Siriani loves to have a RB like Nyheim Hines who he can flex out wide, who can burn LB's, work underneith and create explosive plays. Gainwell is a really good fit for that sort of player. I think he'll be a really good change of pace back. A
6. 189: Marlon Tuipulotu DT: Look, this is a damn good two down run stuffing DT and the value here was really good. no way he should have been on the board still... but two DTs? Cant help but think sometimes, especially late in the draft... maybe just take a swing on a need position? The player itself is cinder block. You're not going to move him in the run game. He's going to have a long career in a limited role. C-
6. 191: Tarron Jackson DE: Another one i didnt know too much about. Not really grinding the Coastal Carolina tape. But in looking at this, he's got pretty good production and solid measurables. But the production isn't really against very good competition. His strengths are his motor and he's really good using his hands to get off blocks. He's a developmental guy. Can't help but think they'd have been better swinging on a higher pedigree player. D
6. 223: JaCoby Stevens LB: This is the type of pick i like late. Super good athlete, who was a 5* recruit coming out of high school. He slides because he's one of those guys who isnt quite fast enough for Safety, but it lacks the physicality for LB. The eagles announced him as a LB, so i think they're going to put some weight on him, and turn him into a really athletic LB. Will it work? Probably not, few 6th rounders work out, but it's a good value pick and the sort of player you like to take a swing on. B+
7. 234: Patrick Johnson LB/DE: Bit of a weird fit. Probably an ideal 3-4 OLB. But he's a pretty productive pass rusher, and a reasonable athlete. But dont think he'll make the roster, given the low risk, i'd have rather taken a swing at Dylan Moses or Ar'Darius Washington, both players i thought should have been drafted in round 4-5. Not a big a fan at all. F
Overall, i'd give the Eagles a B- grade. Really solid draft. Wont be on any winners lists, or losers lists. But i could very easily see Milton developing into a very disruptive interior DL and if Dickerson stays healthy, he'll be a yearly pro bowler... So this could very easily see this grade jump 2 years from now.
