The Eagles had their playoff hopes swept away after a loss to the Cowboys and that means they joined the Jaguars and 18 other teams in the NFL Draft.
The Eagles are currently scheduled to have sixth choice in next year’s April draft and depending on how things are going to happen in week 17, Philadelphia could move up to third place in the selection process.
With Philadelphia officially scheduled to choose between 3rd and 10th place in April, we are taking a look at some of the first round targets for Howie Roseman.
Ja’Marr Chase, WR, LSU
January 13, 2020; New Orleans, Louisiana, USA; LSU Tigers wide receiver Ja’Marr Chase (1) runs the ball against Clemson Tigers linebacker Isaiah Simmons (11) during the third quarter of the College Football Playoff national championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. Mandatory credit: Chuck Cook-USA TODAY Sports
(6-1, 200)
Eagles need a “dawg”, as they say, a guy who will win every fight, no matter the opponent or the situation.
The best wide receiver in college football in 2019 has played nothing this season and he will enter the NFL fresh and hungry.
Chase had a monstrous second year, leading the LSU attack that included Justin Jefferson in receiving yards (1,780), receiving touchdowns (20) and receiving yards (21,2), and he could leave before the Eagles were chosen.
Penei Sewell, OT, Oregon
November 23, 2019; Tempe, AZ, USA; Oregon Ducks face Penei Sewell (58) against Arizona State Sun Devils at Sun Devil Stadium. Mandatory credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Sewell joins the list because he is a must-see player and the only guy Howie Roseman can’t mess with.
A “generational perspective” in the tackle position, the 20-year-old weighs 6-6, 330 pounds, and during his last season in Oregon, Sewell became the first Ducks player to win the Outland Trophy last season, which is given to the best offensive striker in college football.
While protecting Chargers star Justin Herbert, Sewell did not allow a layoff in 926 crackles last season.
Kyle Pitts, TE, Florida
December 19, 2020; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Florida Gators tight end Kyle Pitts (84) runs the ball against Alabama Crimson Tide, defender Brian Branch (14) and defender Daniel Wright (3) during the first quarter of the SEC Championship at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory credit: Adam Hagy-USA TODAY Sports
The Philadelphia native is a rare prospect built in the style of Raiders Darren Waller.
Pitts can create his own split, has great ball skills and can win clashes with defenders.
Pitts is the first All-American of the Associated Press team, the first Florida Gator to be named All-American from the first team since Vernon Hargreaves received the honor in 2015.
A finalist for the Mackey and Biletnikoff awards, Pitts ended the 2020 season with 43 receptions for 770 yards and 12 touchdowns, despite having played just eight games.
Pitt’s 12 touchdown catches are the second tightest in SEC history.
Rashawn Slater, OT, Northwestern
December 1, 2018; Indianapolis, IN, USA; The defensive side of the Ohio State Buckeyes Chase Young (2) runs to the line (2) in the first half against Northwestern Wildcats striker Rashawn Slater (70) in the Big Ten championship game at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory credit: Thomas J. Russo-USA TODAY Sports
Northwestern’s Rashawn Slater is the next best block in the class behind Sewell, and it wouldn’t be difficult for Howie Roseman to grab him in the first 10 choices.
With the Eagles urgently needing to face an aging offensive line, the versatile northwestern hybrid could be a name to watch if Penei Sewell is off the board.
Slater chose to leave the 2020 season and he can play the offensive tackle or the offensive line inside.
DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama
December 5, 2020; Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA; Alabama wide receiver Crimson Tide DeVonta Smith (6) makes a one-handed touchdown over LSU Tigers cornerback Derek Stingley Jr. (24) during the second quarter at Tiger Stadium. Mandatory credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports
Last season, while playing alongside Jeudy and Ruggs, Smith led Alabama with 1,256 reception yards and 14 touchdowns as a junior, and his 68 receptions came second in the team, behind Jeudy.
Smith’s numbers didn’t drop with Mac Jones taking over Alabama, they just got better.
Smith recorded 98 passes for 1,511 yards and 17 touchdowns, averaging 15.4 yards per reception.
His only disadvantage may be the small body of 75 pounds, but he may also be the next DeSean Jackson.
Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
November 16, 2019; Atlanta, GA, USA; Virginia Tech Hokies defender Caleb Farley (3) intercepts a pass against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the second quarter at Bobby Dodd Stadium. Mandatory credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports
Farley has the size and speed to help him match up externally and he showed surprisingly natural instincts to a player with his lack of experience in the position.
Farley originally intended to play as a wide receiver on his arrival at Virginia Tech in 2017, but missed his freshman season due to a knee injury.
As a redshirt freshman, Farley was converted into a cornerback, where he ended the season with 36 tackles, two interceptions and a sack.
Farley had an escape campaign as a sophomore in 2019, earning All-ACC honors from the main team after registering 20 tackles, four interceptions and a touchdown.
An All-American of the 2020 preseason, Farley returned to Virginia Tech for his junior season in red t-shirts, but later became the first prominent player to skip the 2020 season because of the coronavirus pandemic, announcing that in instead, it would focus on preparing for 2021 NFL Draft.
Micah Parsons, LB, Penn State
October 26, 2019; East Lansing, MI, USA; Michigan State Spartans quarterback Brian Lewerke (14) passes the ball in front of Penn State Nittany Lions linebacker Micah Parsons (11) during the second half of a game at Spartan Stadium. Mandatory credit: Mike Carter-USA TODAY Sports
Parsons chose to leave when the Big Ten initially postponed his fall season, and he entered the NFL’s 2021 Draft.
A generational talent, Parsons recorded 191 tackles in total, 19 tackles for loss, 6.5 sacks and six forced fumbles on his way to be named the Butkus-Fitzgerald Linebacker of the year and an All-American consensus during his two-year career in the Faculty status.
Parsons ended his career with a dominant performance in the 2019 Cotton Bowl Classic, registering 14 tackles, 2 sacks and 2 forced fumbles.
Although Parsons played a linebacker at Penn State, he could fill a multitude of roles for the defense of Jim Schwartz as a pass rusher or player in space.
Rashod Bateman, WR, Minnesota
A breeder in 2019, Bateman had 60 receptions for 1,219 yards and 11 touchdowns as a second year, averaging 20.3 yards per footprint.
In a 31-26 Minnesota win over Penn State, Bateman went 203 yards. A physical specimen along the lines of Alshon Jeffery, Bateman has very good hands and the ability to collect yards after capture.
During the shortened pandemic in the 2021 season, Bateman led the Gophers in receiving yards (472) and receiving touchdowns (2).
Jaylen Waddle, WR, Alabama
Waddle attacks well in the attack and also in the return game. In 2019, Waddle returned a kick and a punt for a touchdown and racked up 33 receptions for 560 yards and six touchdowns as Crimson Tide’s No. 4 receiver, behind Jerry Jeudy, Devonta Smith and Ruggs.
Waddle fractured his ankle at the start of the game on October 24 at Tennesseeand per AL.com, Nick Saban said the explosive wideout is now riding on solid ground.
Kwity Paye, DE, Michigan
4. Kwity Paye DE Michigan
A crazy athlete, Paye is just scratching the surface of what he could become and after getting a passing score of 77.8 in 2019, and he could replace Brandon Graham on the edge, continuing the Michigan tradition.
Paye had 37 pressures throughout 2019, but only reached 22 in four games before suffering a groin injury this season.
Patrick Surtain II, CB, Alabama
Alabama defender Patrick Surtain, II, (2), against the state of Mississippi at Davis Wade Stadium on the MSU campus in Starkville, Ms., on Saturday, November 16, 2019.
Surtain1001
The Eagles need a cornerback alongside Darius Slay, and the son of a former NFL star may be enough.
Surtain has only allowed 551 yards on 931 coverage snaps in the past two seasons.
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
December 28, 2019; Orlando, Florida, USA; Irish Notre Dame Fighting linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah (6) celebrates his resignation from Iowa State Cyclones quarterback Brock Purdy (15) (not pictured) during the second half at Camping World Stadium. Mandatory credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Howie Roseman loves to convert security guards into linebackers, so the Notre Dame star can be a natural fit because of her teenage status.
Koramoah plays safe when in space, but a linebacker when asked to face blockades.
Its versatility to go from slot to box whenever necessary is something that can finally lead the Eagles to overcome the elite attacks.
Owusu-Koramoah is a player of former LSU star and current Ravens Stud linebacker Patrick Queen.
The Hampton native, Virginia, is a bizarre six-foot six-foot six-foot athlete with an elite speed of 4.4, who is also an extremely versatile tackle machine. According to the Pro Football Focus snap tracker, Owusu-Koramoah made 107 clicks from the defensive line, 218 from the area and 352 from the slot.
For Fighting Irish, he allowed only 197 yards on 31 targets this season, while playing as a hybrid safety, CB, linebacker.