We are just a few days away from the NFL Draft, so it’s once again time to look at some recent Eagles draft picks to get an idea of what the team might do in the draft this time around. Most mock drafts out there have the Philadelphia Eagles drafting a wide receiver in the first round of the 2020 NFL Draft, and for good reason.
The Eagles were dreadful at wide receiver in 2020 and are currently projected to be even worse in 2021. Nelson Agholor left in free agency. Alshon Jeffery is recovering from a serious injury and could be released or traded any day now. DeSean Jackson played in just one full game last season and can’t be counted on to be healthy for all of 2021 (or beyond).
That being said, it is far from a given that the Eagles will take a wide receiver at the 21st overall pick (assuming they don’t trade that selection to move up or down). To get an idea of what Philly might do in this year’s draft, you have to look at their long-term needs and their recent draft history. Wide receiver is both an immediate and a long-term need, but what other positions could they target in the draft? Let’s take a comprehensive look at their drafts since Howie Roseman returned as executive vice president/general manager in 2016:
2019 Eagles Draft Picks
- 1-22: Andre Dillard, T (Washington State)
- 2-53: Miles Sanders, RB (Penn State)
- 2-57: JJ Arcega-Whiteside, WR (Stanford)
- 4-138: Shareef Miller, DE (Penn State)
- 5-167: Clayton Thorson, QB (Northwestern)
In 2019, the Eagles were short on draft selections when all was said and done. They drafted who they hope will be their replacement for Jason Peters at left tackle in Andre Dillard, and they appear to have hit a home run in their second-round selection in Miles Sanders after his impressive rookie campaign. Their other three selections did not exactly go as planned, however. JJ Arcega-Whiteside, their other second-round selection, had trouble getting onto the field and largely disappointed when he did see playing time. His poor rookie season is one reason why the team is expected to use an early pick on a wide receiver again this year. Shareef Miller is a relative unknown because he didn’t see any playing time last year. Clayton Thorson was waived during final cutdowns in August and landed on the Dallas Cowboys practice squad.
2018 Eagles Draft Picks
- 2-49: Dallas Goedert, TE (South Dakota State)
- 4-125: Avonte Maddox, CB (Pittsburgh)
- 4-130: Josh Sweat, DE (Florida State)
- 6-206: Matt Pryor, T (TCU)
- 7-233: Jordan Mailata, T (Australia)
The Eagles didn’t have a first-round pick in 2018 but did move up in the second round to select Dallas Goedert, who has emerged as one of the better young tight ends in the NFL. Avonte Maddox has been up-and-down over the last two seasons but overall looks like he could be a starting-caliber cornerback in the NFL, although he is probably best suited for the slot. Josh Sweat and Mark Pryor both started slowly in 2018 but flashed at times and made strides in 2019, but both have to continue to develop. Jordan Mailata was a raw prospect with a ton of potential, but he has not been able to stay healthy.
2017 Eagles Draft Picks
- 1-14: Derek Barnett, DE (Tennessee)
- 2-43: Sidney Jones, CB (Washington)
- 3-99: Rasul Douglas, CB (West Virginia)
- 4-118: Mack Hollins, WR (North Carolina)
- 4-132: Donnel Pumphrey, RB (San Diego State)
- 5-166: Shelton Gibson, WR (West Virginia)
- 5-184: Nathan Gerry, S/LB (Nebraska)
- 6-214: Elijah Qualls, DT (Washington)
After Teddy Bridgewater went down with a severe knee injury during the Summer of 2016, the Minnesota Vikings traded their 2017 first-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Sam Bradford. The Eagles had just given up multiple first-round picks in order to move up and select Carson Wentz in the 2016 draft, and this trade allowed them to start Wentz right away AND recoup some of the draft capital that they had just given up. Bradford is no longer in the NFL, while the Eagles turned that first-round pick into Derek Barnett, a young defensive end who helped Philadelphia win a Super Bowl in 2017. Unfortunately, Barnett might end up being the only hit in that 2017 draft. Sidney Jones was seen as a first-round talent that the team managed to get in the second round because of an injury he sustained during the draft process. He has struggled with injuries and consistency, and 2020 is a make-or-break year for him. Douglas has been a serviceable cornerback but might not be with the team much longer. Hollins, Pumphrey, and Qualls are already gone, while Shelton Gibson was cut but re-signed with the team last year because of injuries. Nathan Gerry has turned into a serviceable linebacker and could return as a starter in 2020.
2016 Eagles Draft Picks
- 1-2: Carson Wentz, QB (North Dakota State)
- 3-79: Isaac Seumalo, G (Oregon State)
- 5-153: Wendell Smallwood, RB (West Virginia)
- 5-164: Halapoulivaati Vaitai, T (TCU)
- 6-196: Blake Countess, S (Auburn)
- 7-233: Jalen Mills, S/CB (LSU)
- 7-240: Alex McCalister, DE (Florida)
- 7-251: Joe Walker, LB (Oregon)
Obviously, Carson Wentz was the story of this draft. The rest matters little since the Eagles were able to move up and grab their franchise quarterback. There were some other solid picks, though. Isaac Seumalo is now the team’s starting left guard. Halapoulivaati Vaitai was an invaluable swing tackle for four seasons and started at left tackle in the Super Bowl in 2017. Jalen Mills has his flaws, but it is hard to argue that he turned into a pleasant surprise after being a seventh-round pick. He’s reportedly converting to a hybrid safety role in 2020 after re-signed with the Eagles this past offseason.
So, what does this mean for the 2020 Draft?
For starters, the Eagles have to actually make their draft picks and not trade too many more of them away. General manager Howie Roseman has already stated what everyone else already knows: the Eagles have to get younger on both sides of the ball. They already traded away two draft picks to acquire cornerback Darius Slay from the Detroit Lions a few weeks ago. That move should help a secondary that has struggled over the last few years, but it also means the Eagles don’t have as much draft capital as they did a month ago. That means that trading up for a wide receiver like Jerry Jeudy, CeeDee Lamb, or Henry Ruggs III could be a little more difficult.
The Eagles are also unfortunately in a position where they desperately need help at the wide receiver position, and the rest of the NFL knows it. That means that, if they choose to sit tight at the 21st overall pick, teams behind them who are also eyeing a wide receiver could choose to trade up to move in front of the Eagles.
It also means that they are most likely going to be drafting for short term need, which is never a good strategy for the NFL Draft. The Eagles and Howie Roseman pride themselves on sticking to their board and taking the “best player available,” but it will be hard for them to ignore the wide receiver position in the first two rounds after doing nothing to address the position in free agency.
