Day 1 of the NFL Draft is Over, and Eagles Fans are… Happy?!
Draft Day
Yesterday was the first day of the NFL draft. Where bad teams can change their future, teams on the bubble try to find the missing piece for a championship run, and great teams try to reload to stay on top. For most fans, the draft is full of hope and excitement — for Eagles fans the draft is full of anxiety and nerves as we’ve seen the front office stumble year after year. However, this year doesn’t feel quite the same, there is an excitement and buzz as the Birds head into Day 2.
With the Thirteen Pick the Philadelphia Eagles Select…
The Eagles have had a history of trying to be the smartest in the room and zig while everyone else zags — but last night was different. Howie Roseman traded up from 15 to 13 to pick the athletic anomaly who is Jordan Davis. The defensive tackle checks in at 6'6" and 340 lbs. and lit the world ablaze at the NFL combine. He ran a 4.78 40-yard dash and has a 32-inch vertical. Both nearing records for any prospect over 300 pounds. How about on the field? In between the lines Davis was a nightmare for opposing lineman and running backs while being a leader on the Georgia defense — which many are calling the greatest college defense of all time.
You can’t go wrong with an SEC defender who will help bolster the front seven. The current captain of the front seven, Fletcher Cox, is getting older and Davis looks like he could be his heir apparent. Cox has been a perennial pro-bowler and if Davis can follow in his footsteps it would be an incredible pick. A game wrecker who is ready to make an impact for the Philadelphia defense in Week 1. The only knock scouts had on Davis was his stamina and some worry about taking plays off and how that could be an issue at the next level. Scouts love to bet on players with strong intangibles and frames and bank on coaching and conditioning to help form them into solid NFL talents. Davis checks all the boxes for what you can’t teach and I’m confident in the Eagles staff to take care of the rest. A great start for the Birds but it was truly only the start. Five picks later the draft went from good to great.
There Has Been a Trade…
We all remember the botched wide receiver picks of Jalen Reagor and JJ Arcega-Whiteside over Justin Jefferson and DK Metcaf. However, yesterday Howie Roseman waved his magic wand and made a trade that no one saw coming. The 18th pick was traded to Tennessee in exchange for Pro-Bowl receiver AJ Brown. No chances on a rookie, no gamble, a sure fire guy who is going to ready to go day one and has proved he can do it in the NFL. The Titans were not prepared to give Brown the money he wanted and the Eagles were. Since the trade Brown has inked a 4 year $100M extension. Brown has tormented secondaries for the first three years of his young career. The Eagles are getting a game changer who becomes a threat whenever he touches the ball and gives the Eagles a new dynamic wrinkle to their offense. In Tennessee, Brown was productive down the field as well as catching short passes and picking up yards after the catch. Nick Siriani should be able to shake up the offense and keep it dynamic with another receiving threat after already having one of the best rushing attacks in the NFL last season.
A Look Ahead
The offense is going to be exciting. The line led by Kelce and Johnson should continue to be strong with the growth of Jordan Mailata at left tackle. A healthy Miles Sanders who showed flashes of what he can be last season. A Heisman winner, Devonta Smith, in his second season who now becomes a number two option after a standout rookie year. Dallas Goedert, a young tight end who is a threat whenever he steps onto the field. And Jalen Hurts, who has no shortage of critics — and now now shortage of weapons. Roseman has built an offense that is ready to succeed and that will be the expectation immediately for Jalen Hurts in his second full season as the signal caller in Philadelphia. The Eagles will go as far as Hurts can take them, the rest of the roster is set and there are no more excuses. I have faith in Hurts but we will have to wait until September to see what he can really do. Soon we will know wether or not he is ‘the guy’ but for now we can sit back, relax, and day dream about what this offense can be.
