Philadelphia Eagles 2021 NFL Mock Draft Roundup 8.0
Throughout the year and leading up to the 2021 NFL draft, we will update our Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft Roundup showing picks for the Philadelphia Eagles from several prominent sites and draft analysts.
The following are picks in recent mock drafts for the Eagles:
In previous iterations of my 2021 NFL mock draft, the Eagles selected Kyle Pitts or DeVonta Smith at No. 6. Neither may last until No. 12, but the Eagles' brass would be thrilled if both were available here after acquiring a 2022 first-rounder and improving a fifth-round pick to a fourth-rounder this year.
A playmaker in the mold of Darren Waller, the 20-year-old Pitts won the John Mackey Award, given to the nation's top tight end, as he finished the abbreviated 2020 season with 43 catches for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns.
Let's start with the bad news: As we thought might be the case, the Eagles miss out on the top four pass-catchers in the class after their trade out of No. 6 overall. That's a problem. The WR room has Jalen Reagor, Greg Ward and Travis Fulgham as the top three options, not leaving QB Jalen Hurts in the best position to find success in an evaluation period. But here's the good news: The Eagles hold 11 picks this year (the most in the NFL) in a draft with a deep receiver class, the 2022 first-rounder received in the trade will certainly prove valuable, and Philly can still land a guy like Parsons here. He can do a little bit of everything in the middle of this defense.
It's Jalen Hurts' team now after Carson Wentz was traded to the Colts, and that means the Eagles should be thinking about upgrading the talent around him. Smith, Hurts' former teammate at Alabama, just finished one of the the best seasons in college football history, becoming the first receiver to win the Heisman Trophy in 29 years. His production should trump any concerns about his slender 6-1, 170-pound frame.
Eagles fans may be disappointed that they lost out on their shot at Kyle Pitts but have to feel good about getting the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, who is coming off one of the most impressive seasons any college WR has ever had. Smith posted 117 catches for 1,856 yards and 23 TDs and was on his way to a historic national championship game with 12 catches for 215 yards and three TDs before being knocked out of the game early due to injury. This is another spot where a college QB-WR duo are able to reunite at the next level and I am sure Jalen Hurts will be thrilled at the opportunity to once again throw to Smith.
Is it me or does it seem like the Eagles are always in need of help at receiver? The Heisman winner took his game to another level after Waddle was sidelined in 2020 -- he had 1,300 yards on 72 receptions and 19 touchdowns in his last eight games. The only blemish is his size.
The Eagles just traded with Miami to move back from no. 6 to no. 12, and that deal suggests the Eagles are comfortable heading into 2021 with Jalen Hurts as their quarterback. If that's the case, it would behoove the team to add talent around its second-year signal-caller. With reports indicating that Philly is looking to trade veteran tight end Zach Ertz, the Eagles could draft a replacement in Pitts, an electrifying pass catcher and terrific route runner who routinely comes down with jump balls. Alongside Dallas Goedert, Pitts would give the Eagles plenty of options in two tight end sets.
Yes, the Eagles drafted Jalen Reagor in the first round last year, but there's not much else after him. DeVonta Smith won the Heisman and emerged as Mac Jones' favorite target in Alabama's high-powered offense thanks to his excellent technique and soft hands. He's a bit on the thinner side at 6-1, 175 pounds, but he plays like a much bigger receiver and would be a great fit as the "X" receiver to complement Reagor's home-run ability.
