We are just over a month away from the NFL draft and there is a new favorite for the Eagles in mock draft.
Eagles have a total of 11 choices, but the most valuable is the 6th overall choice.
Here is a look at some recent simulated drafts:
PFF, Mike Renner
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
What they said: damn positional value – you won’t find another Pitts in this draft or any other draft anytime soon. Eagles can find a receiver later or even use Pitts as such if they want. Florida’s tight end came in third among all college football players last year in yards per run against male coverage.
My opinion: there were four defenders leaving the board in the first five choices, which pushed some really good players into the Eagles’ range. The only non-QB to enter the top five was OT Penei Sewell. Then, in Renner’s joke, he has the Eagles passing Ja’Marr Chase and DeVonta Smith to take Pitts. I think Pitts is a very good player and he would be a good choice at No. 6 … but I wouldn’t leave Chase.
NFL.com, Lance Zierlein
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
What they said: A rare combination of length, speed and talent to win the ball helps make Pitts a confrontational nightmare – and a great addition for Jalen Hurts to pitch.
My opinion: while most people had the Eagles taking Justin Jefferson last year, Zierlein got Jalen Reagor right. So I’ll pay more attention here. In this draft, Chase is off the board for the Dolphins at 3. If that happened, it would probably make the Eagles’ decision easier.
TheDraft Network, Joe Marino
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
What they said: If Jalen Hurts wants to have a chance of success as a defender for the Eagles, Philadelphia needs more weapons in the passing game. Pitts may be listed as a tight end, but he is able to win in a variety of alignments throughout the offensive formation and provide a height / weight / speed mismatch. His skills with the ball are exceptional and his fluidity as a runner does not make sense to a man with his structure. It is rare.
My opinion: this is another simulation in which the eagles leave Chase to catch Pitts. Again, I wouldn’t go that far. But I also understand and Pitts would be a good choice. He’s a confrontational nightmare and seems like a pretty safe bet that his skills will translate into the NFL.
CBS Sports, Josh Edwards
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
What they said: Zach Ertz is going to be negotiated at some point: it’s time for both parties to move on. Philadelphia has sought to update its pass attack and everyone’s mind immediately rushes to the wide receiver. The Colts spent a modest 21% of the pressure on 12 people (1 running back, 2 tight ends) last season, but did not have two players like Dallas Goedert and Pitts. I think the Eagles could be very successful working out of the game on 12 people with Miles Sanders in the backfield.
My opinion: once again, the Eagles traded Chase for Pitts. If the Eagles were to recruit Pitts, they would probably use 12 people per ton in 2021. But it is important to note that Goedert is entering a year of contract, so his presence in the squad is no reason for the Eagles to consider passing the Pitts.
NFL.com, Bucky Brooks
Justin Fields, QB, Ohio
What they said: Are the Eagles really ready to hand over the franchise keys to Jalen Hurts? Otherwise, GM Howie Roseman should not refuse the chance to add a talented quarterback with franchise potential to the list.
My opinion: don’t get me wrong: I like the idea of playing with the Hurts in 2021. But I still think that the Eagles should really study this crop of defenders. And if they come up with the opinion that Fields (or whoever) is the player who could be their next defender in the franchise, then I would understand to choose him. You have to remember how much stock the Eagles put in the QB position. And if they’re not convinced that Hurts is the guy and they are convinced that Fields (or whoever he is) is, then it would make some sense to choose another QB, even with as many holes as they have to fill in their squad.
CBS Sports, Ryan Wilson
Switch to 12: Patrick Surtain, CB, Alabama
What they said: The Eagles have been mostly quiet in freedom of action, but they did Land safety Anthony Harris, although only on a one-year contract. Surtain may not seem like an immediate need for Philly, but other than Darius Slay, who signed until 2025, no other CB has a contract beyond the next season.
My opinion: in this scenario, the Eagles go down six positions and come back with choice 43 to do this. This would give the Eagles 12 choices in the draft and five in the first three rounds. Based on the graph of draft values, the difference between 12 and 6 is 400 points, while the number 43 is worth 470. Therefore, it appears to be aligned. And at the beginning of the simulation recruitment season, we saw some simulated drafts putting Surtain on the Eagles with the sixth choice. So, putting him in 12th place is great. And, as Wilson noted, the Eagles have a clear need in the CB. But they really struggled to work it out well. But would the eagles really be willing to leave Pitts and the main recipients?
Sporting News, Vinnie Iyer
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
What they said: The Eagles were quiet in their free agency to help Jalen Hurts, but they can hit a home run by reuniting him with one of his best Alabama targets to be No. 1 “X” and let Jalen Reagor settle in more the “Z” out of the deep threat mode. Smith is seen more as No. 2 or No. 3 wideout in this class because of concern for its structure, but it is difficult to ignore his dominant production worthy of the Heisman Trophy, especially when it peaked during the College Football Playoff games. It can have the same big impact as Chase and ex-teammate Jaylen Waddle.
My opinion: if you’re wondering, this mock draft has Pitts going to the Cowboys at 10. Iyer also has Chase leaving the board at 3. So, instead of catching Pitts, Iyer causes the Eagles to take the superproductive Smith out of Alabama. Some are concerned about Smith’s size (he is 170 pounds), but that didn’t stop him from having a great college career that ended with a Heisman Trophy.
Fox Sports, Rob Rang
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
What they said: The Eagles have more needs than a receiver, but if they are going to fly with Jalen Hurts, they will need to surround him with weapons. A bully with the ball in his hands, Chase would be an ideal complement to last year’s best pick, Jalen Reagor.
My opinion: I am a big fan of Chase and I would be fine with that. I would take over from Pitts if both were available.
Kyle Crabbs, TheDraftNetwork
Penei Sewell, OT, Orgon
What they said: The Eagles will not wait long to hand over the card for any choice the Bengals do not make, as they seem to be the two best consensus players available right now in the class to many in the draft space. Penei Sewell can intervene in the left tackle in Philadelphia and help provide new long-term stability for an offensive line that was recently destroyed by injury. What does this selection mean for former first round pick Andre Dillard? It is hard to say. But what we do know is that a good player should not stop him from making a big draft – and we don’t even know for sure if Dillard is * good * yet. He started four games for the Eagles in 2019 and lost the entire year 2020 with a break in his biceps.
My opinion: we probably haven’t talked about Sewell enough. Sure, the Eagles still have Jordan Mailata and Dillard, but if Sewell is a future Pro Bowl left tackle, then it would still make sense to beat him at 6. And we all know how much the Eagles value building on the lines. And in this scenario, Pitts and Chase leave with both choices before the Eagles were chosen. Perhaps in this case, the Eagles would be willing to switch to choice # 6 and return to a team that wants to catch Justin Fields. In this mock, three QBs are off the board before 6, so there may be another team wanting to move up. But if we’re talking about value, Sewell provides it as number 6.
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