The NFL Draft is rapidly approaching and with the Carson Wentz saga now finally in the rear-view mirror, our attention can be turned to the future. This is an important offseason for the Eagles. With nine picks in this years' Draft, they have to provide Nick Sirianni with a strong foundation to begin building his legacy on. How can they do that? Here's one possible outcome.
Round 1, Pick .6: TE Kyle Pitts, Florida
The debates surrounding Kyle Pitts will rage on all offseason. Is he 'just' a tight end, or is he this super-human 20-year-old who can line up anywhere, move like a running back, and catch like a wide receiver with the frame of a tight end? I vote the latter.
The issues Eagles fans have with selecting Pitts largely revolve around the fact Ja'Maar Chase and the other top wideouts in this class should still be available. Those debates ignore the fact that Pitts may well have the highest upside of any skill-position player in the Draft.
The Eagles drafted Jalen Reagor one year ago along with two other wideouts. The only offensive coach retained not named Jeff Stoutland was WR coach Aaron Moorehead. The front office clearly believes in his ability to develop talent, so why put a cap on Reagor's ceiling after one year?
As a player, Pitts is a dream to watch. A monster in the red-zone, a crisp route-runner, and a YAC machine, replacing Zach Ertz (and maybe Goedert after next year) with an elite TE prospect makes sense both financially and logistically when rebuilding this offense.
Are the odds of Kyle Pitts landing in Philadelphia high? It's hard to say. But it may be worth keeping an eye on the market using a smarkets promo code here.
Round 2, pick 37: CB Eric Stokes, Georgia
The Eagles really need a cornerback over 6'0 who is comfortable in man and zone and has the deep speed to hold his own outside. Not only for the huge CB2 vacancy, but to become an heir to Darius Slay's throne. If they're not taking Patrick Surtain, Stokes is the guy.
At 6'1, 185 lbs, Stokes is a zippy corner with remarkable footwork. This enables him to mirror receivers well and ensures he very rarely gets left for dead. He only allowed one touchdown all season (to DeVonta Smith of all people).
He's not the most technically sound and can get very grabby if beaten off the line, but discipline can be taught, while raw traits cannot. The good news is that the Georgia product has them in abundance.
A physical corner with a nose for the ball, the concerns surrounding Stokes typically involve the fact that most of his interceptions rarely involve him contesting the catch at the high-point. This, again, can be coached. But swagger, physicality, and sheer athleticism cannot. Stokes has all three going for him and might be able to finally stop the bleeding at CB2 in Philadelphia.
Round 3, pick 70: LB Cameron McGrone
The Eagles need a MIKE linebacker and with a lot of rubber left on the tires, McGrone could be a snug fit here. The risk is that he only has 19 games of experience and his 2020 tape wasn't as impressive as his 2019 breakout in lieu of injuries, but there's a lot to like from a developmental standpoint.
He showed plenty of potential as a penetrative linebacker last year and his tackling is fundamentally sound (!!!). He would need to see some exposure to coverage snaps in order to ensure there's no glaring weakness in his game, but as someone who can blow up screen passes, hit the line with assertion and isn't afraid to get aggressive with the opposing OL, McGrone could be a name worth watching in Philadelphia.
Round 3, pick 85: S, Andre Cisco, Syracuse
A true boundary safety in every sense, Cisco is an absolute ballhawk. Through only 24 games, he amassed 13 interceptions and 14 passes defensed. It's worth noting he missed most of 2020 with an injury sustained in practice.
The Syracuse product isn't the most secure tackler and that will be problematic, especially in run defense. His angles are very all-or-nothing, as is a lot of his play, but it's a price worth paying when there's such an instinctive and rangy playmaker available.
Cisco not only has the speed to keep up with twitchy slot wideouts, but the agility to recover from a poor position. A fluid athlete who can keep the cap on centerfield through an impressive nose for the ball who can burst down onto a crossing route to cut it off, or flip his hips with grace to carry a route downfield.
Cisco could be the long-term replacement for Rodney McLeod while K'Von Wallace is the swiss-army knife used closer to the line of scrimmage.
5th round, pick 134: DE Jonathon Cooper, Ohio State
Being an Ohio State DE these days comes with a hefty reputation and Cooper lives up to it. He may not be the next Chase Young, but he's an interesting prospect who may well tempt a value-hunting Howie Roseman.
Cooper had to miss his 2019 season due to injury and his jump to the NFL was delayed as a result. 2020 offered a shot at redemption and he took it, rallying to 3.5 sacks and just as many tackles for loss in the shortened campaign.
His get-off is absolutely exceptional and he has a vast array of counters up his sleeve, but he doesn't have the bend to really hold his own just yet. This is worrisome against the run. It's clear he has the tools to develop into an impressive edge rusher, but he'd be a great addition beneath Josh Sweat on the depth chart while he learns...and hey, he has to be more productive than Shareef Miller, who was drafted one round earlier...
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Round 5, pick 140: C Drake Jackson, Kentucky
Hoping Jackson slides to the fifth is a stretch, but hey, it's possible. The Eagles are running out of time to find the heir to Jason Kelce's throne and while Jackson is nowhere near the freak athlete Kelce is, few centers ever will be.
However, Jackson was a four-year starter in the SEC and is every bit as tough as that sounds. The guy played through a separated shoulder at the Senior Bowl!
while he may lack the size at 6'2, 290 lbs, he's a solid pass protector who uses his hands well and maintains a low center of gravity when dealing with bigger bodies. Jackson invites defenders to put their hands on first, creating leverage, and uses some impressive footwork to compensate for the power loss.
While his ability to get to the second-level and shed those nose tackles is valid, Benny Snell Jr. had back-to-back 1,000-yard campaigns behind him, which is definitely worth noting. However, in short-yardage situations, he does lack the power to really push the pile and this is a concern.
According to Pro Football Focus, he allowed just one sack in three years. Not bad. Not bad at all.
With Jeff Stoutland in town, taking a punt on a player who already has strong fundamentals after seeing the incredible rise of Jordan Mailata could be all that's needed to find Kelce's replacement.
6th round, pick 165: WR Ihmir Smith-Marsette, Iowa
We had to bring in a receiver eventually and Smith-Marsette could well be this years' late-round sleeper at wideout. So, the Eagles missed out on DeVonta Smith. Oh no. But what about a similarly sized 6'1, 179 lbs wideout built like Smith, who can wreak havoc in the open field?
Smith-Marsette can be used all across the formation on screens, pitches, and as a vertical receiver due to his game-breaking speed. 'ISM' was also used on kick-returns, where he scored a pair of touchdowns in 2019.
The zippy wideout is a menace when he gets going and has some swagger to his release, showcasing a filthy stutter step, stunning hip control, and could be the perfect gadget player to fit snugly into a new-look Eagles offense.
In 2020, he caught 25 passes for 345 yards and 4 touchdowns in 7 games in Iowa's run-first offense. His season ended in injury which didn't help his stock, but an impressive 2019 where he tallied 722 receiving yards should be used as a reminder of how fun he can be.
7th round, pick 198: QB Zac Thomas, Appalachian State
Drafting a QB this late means that Jalen Hurts does not have to deal with the same level of chaos that Carson Wentz did last year.
Completing a career-high 63.9% of his throws in 2020 for 2,189 yards, 20 TD and 11 INT, it's clear there's work to be done as a passer. His touch on the deep ball is sporadic and he has a habit of forcing tight-window throws that are all too easy for a bursting DB to pick off. Conversely, in a run-heavy offense, one has to wonder if there is a high ceiling yet to be tapped into.
He's a smaller QB at 6'0, 200 lbs which will work against him, as will his poor decision-making in a pinch and lack of velocity when making tough throws.
However, he helped Appalachian State win four Sun Belt titles and five bowl games. I hate the 'he's a winner' argument, but when drafting a QB this late, knowing he won't be intimidated by the moment is a huge bonus.
Photo by Roy K. Miller/Icon Sportswire
