“With the 10th pick in the 2021 NFL draft the Philadelphia Eagles select Devonta Smith. Wide Receiver. Alabama.”
The Pick
The Eagles struggled last season, and part of that had to do with poor drafting. After being one of the worst teams in the NFL, they finished the season with the sixth overall pick in the draft. After trading down with the Miami Dolphins, they started Thursday night with the 12th overall pick, but after seeing the picks fly off the board and their guy still there at 10, they pulled the trigger on a trade with the Dallas Cowboys to get their target.
The team has a lot of needs in order to become a competitor, and they made a perfect move to help the offense. With the addition of Devonta Smith, their receiving core is now an asset instead of a liability. He is a fantastic addition to the Eagles with his elite route running, speed, hands, and he can become a day one weapon for his former college teammate Jalen Hurts.
Best Available in Day Two
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah/LB/Notre Dame
JOK is one of the best linebackers in this draft class, and seeing him fall out of round one is shocking. He is a workhorse and was a big part of Notre Dame’s success this past season. He has excellent play recognition and a terrific motor that allows him to make plays no matter where the ball is. When you hear the name Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah mentioned the first thing that comes to mind is his versatility. As a primary coverage linebacker, he showed great coverage skills in the nickel, but that wasn’t the only thing he offered. With his toughness, and a high motor he is able to make tackles sideline-to-sideline.
Trevon Moehrig/S/TCU
Moehrig is a consensus safety one on most draft boards, and he should be a top priority for the Eagles in round two if he is available when they are on the clock. He offers a lot of upside with his instincts, run stopping, and coverage ability. Given the Eagles' need to help their secondary, Moehrig would be a perfect fit.
Pat Friermuth/TE/Penn State
The Eagles are likely moving on from Zach Ertz soon (maybe even before the weekend is over), and given how important the TE position can be for the Eagles in recent years, they could look for a complement to Dallas Goedert. Friermuth, who’s known as “Little Gronk”, could be the weapon to push the Eagles offense up a tier. Friermuth has in-line experience and can be an impactful blocker in the run game as well as a receiver in the passing game. With his versatility, and what his ceiling is, the upside to his game is too much to pass up.
Elijah Molden/CB/Washington
As stated above with Trevon Moehrig, the Eagles need to improve their secondary, and Molden has what it takes to be the start of reinventing their team. As a primary slot cornerback at the University of Washington, he showed a physical toughness to his game that jumps off the screen. Although not big-framed (5'10, 190lbs), he was able to press at the line and showed impressive ability to stick on man coverage.
