Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Grade 2026

 

Overall Grade: A-

Overall, I like this draft. The Eagles did not have many premium picks after trading up in the first round and moving some middle-round picks, but they still came away with two real offensive weapons and several late-round developmental swings. Makai Lemon and Eli Stowers are the reason I am comfortable keeping this class at an A-. Both were very productive, both can help the offense in the middle of the field, and Stowers in particular has rare athleticism for his position.

I do have some concerns. The Eagles gave up picks No. 114 and No. 13
7 to move from 23 to 20 for Lemon, so he needs to be more than just a solid receiver. Markel Bell has rare size, but he was more of
a developmental projection than a clean third-round value. Cole Payton is athletic and productive, but he is a one-year FCS starter with questions about whether his arm talent is good enough to ever be more than a backup. Still, the late picks make sense because they mostly have either production, athleticism, or both.

The theme of this draft is upside. The Eagles bet on players who either produced at a high level or have some unusual athletic trait. I would rather take swings like that than draft players who clearly do not have the athletic ability to make it.

Round 1: No. 20 — Makai Lemon, WR, USC, 5’11”, 192 lbs

Grade: B+

Makai Lemon was one of the most productive receivers in college football last year. He had 79 catches for 1,156 yards and 11 receiving touchdowns, which is a 14.6 yard average. He also had 13 total scrimmage touchdowns and won the Biletnikoff Award as the top receiver in college football. For his career, he had 137 catches for 2,008 yards, 14 touchdowns, and a 14.7 yard average.

Those are good numbers. I especially like the 14.6 yard average because he was not just catching short passes. He also reportedly created over 500 yards after the catch and had only a couple of drops, so he looks like a pretty reliable player with the ball in his hands. He is not a huge receiver and he is not an elite burner, but he is productive, competitive, and good after the catch.

Athletically, I am not completely blown away. He ran around a 4.47 to 4.50 in the 40, which is fine, but not special for a 5’11” receiver. I also would have liked to see a vertical, broad jump, shuttle, and three-cone because those numbers help confirm explosiveness and short-area quickness. Since he is not an elite size-speed prospect, the missing athletic testing matters a little more.

That being said, Lemon wins with route running, hands, toughness, instincts, and yards after the catch. He can line up outside or in the slot, and he should help the Eagles get more easy completions. The Eagles have had too many stretches where the passing game feels like it depends on low-percentage throws, so adding a receiver who can separate underneath and create after the catch makes sense.

The only reason this is not an A is the value. The Eagles traded up from 23 to 20 and gave up two fourth-round picks. If Lemon becomes a high-end number two receiver or eventually replaces some of what A.J. Brown gives them, then the pick will look very good. But if he is just a solid slot receiver, that is a lot to give up.

Overall, I like Lemon a lot as a prospect. I just would have preferred either keeping the extra picks or getting a more elite athletic profile before trading up.

Round 2: No. 54 — Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt, 6’3”, 239 lbs

Grade: A

This is probably my favorite pick in the draft. Stowers was very productive for a tight end. In 2023 at New Mexico State, he had 35 catches for 366 yards and 2 touchdowns, which is a 10.5 yard average. Then he transferred to Vanderbilt and improved. In 2024, he had 49 catches for 638 yards and 5 touchdowns, which is a 13.0 yard average. In 2025, he had 62 catches for 769 yards and 4 touchdowns, which is a 12.4 yard average. For his career, he had 146 catches for 1,773 yards and 11 touchdowns, with about a 12.1 yard average.

That is really good production for a tight end. The 12.4 and 13.0 yard averages stand out to me because a lot of tight ends are basically just short-area possession players. Stowers was getting more chunk plays than that. He also won the Mackey Award and earned first-team All-American honors, so this is not just an athletic projection.

His combine numbers are ridiculous. He ran a 4.51 in the 40, had a 45.5-inch vertical, and an 11’3” broad jump. The vertical and broad jump were tight end combine records. That is the kind of athleticism I love to see, especially because he also produced. A lot of workout warriors do not have the stats to match, but Stowers does.

The concern is that he is more of a receiving tight end or big slot right now than a complete in-line tight end. He is not a dominant blocker yet, and at 239 pounds he is not built like an old-school tight end. But in today’s NFL, that is okay if the Eagles use him correctly. He can create mismatches against linebackers and safeties, and he gives the offense another weapon in the middle of the field.

With Dallas Goedert getting older, this pick makes a lot of sense. Stowers may need time to become a complete tight end, but he has the athleticism and receiving production to become a major piece of the offense. I love the upside here.

Round 3: No. 68 — Markel Bell, OT, Miami, 6’9”, 346 lbs

Grade: B

Bell is a very interesting pick, but I am lowering the grade a little. He is huge at 6’9”, 346 pounds, with 36 3/8-inch arms and an 87 1/8-inch wingspan. That is rare size even for the NFL. He also started 16 games at left tackle last season and reportedly did not allow a sack in 558 pass-blocking snaps, which is impressive.

But I do not want to overstate his athleticism. His 5.36 40 is not really good statistically for an offensive tackle. It is better than it would be for a 300-pound lineman because he is 346 pounds, but relative to offensive tackles it is still below average. His 10-yard split was also not great. So this is not a case where he is 6’9” and also a freak mover. He is more of a giant tackle with rare length and pass-protection upside.

The height is both a strength and a concern. You cannot teach 6’9” with those arms. He can swallow up pass rushers once he gets his hands on them. But tall tackles can struggle with leverage, pad level, bending, and redirecting against speed or inside counters. If a rusher gets underneath him or makes him change direction quickly, that could be a problem.

There is also some value concern. Some pre-draft boards seemed to view him more like a third- or fourth-round prospect, and the Eagles took him at 68. That does not mean it is automatically a reach because offensive tackles get pushed up, but I do think it keeps the grade from being higher.

I still like the upside. Bell had strong pass-blocking production, rare length, and a big improvement arc from junior college to Miami. The Eagles have usually been good at developing offensive linemen, and if he becomes a starting tackle this pick will look great. But he is a project, and without great athletic testing, I have to be a little more careful here.

This is a B for me. Good upside, useful position, but more risk and less clean value than I originally gave it credit for.

Round 5: No. 178 — Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State, 6’3”, 232 lbs

Grade: B-

I do not usually love taking a quarterback when the Eagles already have Jalen Hurts, but in the fifth round I understand the logic. Payton had a very productive final season at North Dakota State. He completed 161 of 224 passes, which is about 72 percent, for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns, and only 4 interceptions. He also ran 136 times for 777 yards and 13 touchdowns, which is a 5.7 yard average.

Athletically, he is very impressive. He ran a 4.56 40, had a 40-inch vertical, and reportedly had a 130-inch broad jump. For a 6’3”, 232-pound quarterback, those are excellent numbers. He is not just a quarterback who can move a little. He is a real running threat.

The problem is that I am not sure he has the passing profile to become anything more than a backup. Some reports like his short and intermediate arm strength, but other evaluations questioned his overall arm talent and drive velocity. That matters. In the NFL, you have to throw into tight windows, beat zone coverage with timing, and drive the ball outside the numbers. If his arm is only okay, then the upside is limited.

There are also competition and experience concerns. North Dakota State is a great FCS program and has produced NFL quarterbacks, but it is still not the same as playing in the SEC or Big Ten every week. Payton was also mostly a backup for four years and only became the full-time starter for one season. That does not mean he cannot develop, but it makes him more of a projection.

The fit does make some sense. Because he is athletic, the Eagles could keep some of the same run-game concepts if he ever had to play. Maybe he could survive in a short-passing, screen, RPO, and designed-run offense as a backup. But I do not think the Eagles drafted him expecting him to become a starter.

In the fifth round, I am okay with the pick because backup quarterback is valuable and he has athletic upside. But I am lowering this to a B-. He is interesting, but there are real passing questions.

Round 6: No. 207 — Micah Morris, G, Georgia, 6’5”, 334 lbs

Grade: A-

This is one of my favorite value picks in the draft. Morris has great size at 6’5”, 334 pounds, and his athletic testing was strong for a guard. He ran a 5.09 40, had a 29.5-inch vertical, a 9’4” broad jump, and 29 bench reps. Those are good numbers for someone that big.

He also played at Georgia, which matters because he practiced and played against NFL-caliber defensive linemen. He started all 14 games at left guard last season and did not allow a sack. Georgia also averaged 32.1 points, 182.1 rushing yards, and 220.3 passing yards per game, so he was part of a very good offense.

The only reason this is not an A or A+ is that he was not a multi-year dominant starter. He is more of a late-developing player who finally got his chance. But in the sixth round, that is completely fine. You are not usually getting clean starting prospects there.

I like this pick a lot. He has size, strength, athleticism, SEC experience, and good pass-protection production. He has a real chance to make the roster and eventually become a starter or at least a very good backup guard.

Round 7: No. 244 — Cole Wisniewski, S, Texas Tech, 6’3”, 219 lbs

Grade: B+

Wisniewski is a big safety with some real production in his background. Last year at Texas Tech, he started 14 games and had 78 tackles. He did not have an interception, but he was credited with 3 pass breakups. For a seventh-round safety, that is decent.

The better year to look at is his 2023 season at North Dakota State. That year he had 92 tackles, 8 interceptions, 5 pass breakups, 2 tackles for loss, and 1 forced fumble. Eight interceptions is a great number. I always like to see passes broken up and interceptions because it gives you some evidence that the player can actually make plays on the ball. He was not just a box safety piling up tackles.

He missed the 2024 season with a foot injury before transferring to Texas Tech, so that is part of the story too. He is older and has an injury history, but he also has size and production. At 6’3”, 219 pounds, he has the build to be a box safety, big nickel, or special teams player.

Athletically, I would have liked to see more complete testing. His vertical and broad jump were solid, and he had 20 bench reps, but I would really want a confirmed 40, shuttle, and three-cone for a safety. Coverage ability matters, and without those numbers it is harder to know how well he can handle NFL space.

Still, in the seventh round, I like this pick. He has size, tackling production, past ball production, and a path to making the team on special teams. I am moving him up to a B+ because the 2023 interception season is pretty impressive.

Round 7: No. 251 — Uar Bernard, DT, International Player Pathway Program, 6’4”, 306 lbs

Grade: A

This is the biggest boom-or-bust pick in the draft, but I love the swing in the seventh round. Bernard has never played a down of organized football, so obviously there is a huge risk. He could easily never become a real NFL player.

But the athletic profile is insane. He is 6’4”, 306 pounds, reportedly around six percent body fat, and he ran a 4.63 40 with a 39-inch vertical. He also reportedly had a 10’10” broad jump. Those are ridiculous numbers for a defensive tackle. There are first-round defensive tackles who cannot move like that.

Of course, athletic testing is not football. He has to learn everything: stance, hand usage, leverage, gap discipline, how to read blocks, how to rush the passer, and how to survive against NFL offensive linemen. That could take years. There is also a real chance it never happens.

But in the seventh round, this is exactly the type of gamble I like. Most seventh-round picks do not become major contributors anyway. If Bernard misses, it does not cost much. If he hits, the Eagles could have a rare athlete on the defensive line. The Eagles already developed Jordan Mailata from the International Player Pathway program, so they have at least shown they are willing to be patient with this kind of long-term project.

This is an A pick for me because of the upside versus cost. I would rather take a crazy athlete who needs to learn football than a low-upside player who is unlikely to make the roster.

Round 7: No. 252 — Keyshawn James-Newby, Edge, New Mexico, 6’1”, 240 lbs

Grade: A-

James-Newby is undersized for an edge rusher, but I like the production. He had 9 sacks and 15 tackles for loss last season at New Mexico. The year before at Idaho, he had 10.5 sacks. For his career, he had 23.5 sacks.

That matters to me. Late in the draft, I would rather take a pass rusher who has actually gotten to the quarterback than a bigger player who looks the part but never produced. James-Newby may not have ideal size, but he has shown that he can rush the passer.

The concern is obvious. At 6’1”, 240 pounds, he may not be big enough to hold up as a full-time edge rusher in the NFL. Tackles will be much bigger and stronger, and he may struggle against the run. He might have to become more of a situational pass rusher or special teams player.

But that is fine in the seventh round. If he becomes a rotational pass rusher, this is a great pick. If he only makes the practice squad, it is still a reasonable swing. He has production, some burst, and a clear role if he makes it.

I like this pick. For the last pick in the Eagles’ draft, this is exactly the kind of player I want.

Final Thoughts

This draft is not perfect, but I like it. Lemon and Stowers give the Eagles two productive pass catchers with different skill sets. Stowers is my favorite pick because the production and athletic testing both check out. A 4.51 40, 45.5-inch vertical, and 11’3” broad jump for a tight end is crazy, especially with his receiving numbers.

Lemon is probably the most important pick because of the trade-up cost. If he becomes a reliable high-volume receiver who can separate, catch everything, and create after the catch, then the move makes sense. If he is just okay, it will feel like they gave up too much.

Bell is the pick I am most cautious about now. I still see the upside, but the 5.36 40 is not good enough to call him a great athlete, and 6’9” can create leverage issues. I like the player, but I think B is fair.

Payton is also more of a backup projection than a future starter to me. He is athletic and productive, but one year as an FCS starter with questions about arm talent makes him a risky developmental quarterback.

The late picks are fun though. Morris could be a real steal. Wisniewski has ball production in his past. Bernard is an insane athlete with no football experience. James-Newby has actual pass-rush production.

Overall, I give the Eagles an A-. The class is carried by Lemon and Stowers, helped by Morris, and boosted by smart late-round upside swings. There is some risk, especially with Bell and Payton, but I like the philosophy of drafting production early and athletic upside late.

Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Grade 2025

Overall Grade: B

First Round – Jihaad Campbell, LB, 6’3” 235: Grade A

Campbell had one good year with 117 tackles, 12 for a loss, and five sacks. He didn’t do much in the passing game and had only 2 ints and 5 passes broken up in his three-year career. Had he gone back for his senior year, I imagine he would have improved on those numbers. He’s athletic for a LB and ran a 4.52 in the 40. His ten yard split was an impressive 1.53 and his broad jump was also impressive with a 10’7” mark. Campbell was considered the best LB in the draft and putting him on a team with an already impressive defense should work out very well. The fact that we got him at the end of the round also helps improve his grade. He still needs to work on his play recognition but I like his potential.

Second Round - Andrew Mukuba, Safety, 511” 186: Grade C+

Mukuba is built more like a nickel cornerback than a safety and could stand to put on some more muscle if he’s going to play safety. He may play nickel though since he did some of the time in college. He has pretty decent but not amazing stats. His best year was his senior year with 69 tackles, 5 ints, and 7 passes broken up. He was pretty good at breaking up passes throughout his career, which is a good sign for his pro chances. I’m not blown away by his stats by any stretch of the imagination, though. He ran a 4.45 in the 40 with a decent 1.53 10 yard. The issues is that he should be much quicker for his size. He rant the same 10 yard split as Campbell, but Mukuba is 49 lbs lighter. I would have liked it if he ran the 3 cone or shuttle since they are very important drills for the secondary. He was projected to go in the 4^th round so a second round pick isn’t good value.

Fourth Round - Ty Robinson, DT, 6’5” 288: Grade C+

Robinson had very few tackles each year in his long career. He also only had one reasonable year of sacks with 7 during his senior year. His other years the best he did was 2. He was pretty good at blocking passes with 10 in his last two years. He’s small for DT so, he’ll have to rely on his athleticism. He did well at the combine with a 4.83 40, which was the best among DTs.  He was top 3 or 4 in his other numbers as well. He is small though so it’s easier to get better times. At his weight I would have liked to see him as the top DT in more categories. He was projected to go in the 5^th round so a high 4^th isn’t good value. He has good effort and a strong motor that doesn’t quit, but I’m not sure if he’ll make a big impact on the team.

Fifth Round - Mac McWilliams, CB, 5’10” 191: Grade C-

I’m unimpressed by Mac McWilliams’ stats. He had few tackles and only 2 ints in five years. He had two pretty decent years for passes broken up with 10 and 9, but he only had 2 during his senior year. He had a solid 4.41 in the 40 which is necessary for a CB. His vertical was an unimpressive 34”. He didn’t run the other drills which are very important to determine how good he’ll be. Overall, I’m very unimpressed with McWilliams. He plays with good anticipation and burst, but his short arms and lack of production are concerning.

Fifth Round - Smael Mondon Jr., LB, 6’2 224: Grade C-

His production in college was weak. His best year was his sophomore year with 76 tackles. He had very few sacks, ints, or passes broken up. At his weight his 40 of 4.58 is not good. His 10 yard split is though with a 1.52. His broad jump is also good with a 10’10”. He seems to be explosive. He didn’t run the 3 cone or shuttle which many players seem to skip for the last few years. They are important drills and I wish players would run them. He’s a small linebacker with little production. He was projected to go in the 3^rd at least. He has some potential on special teams.  

Fifth Round - Drew Kendall, C, 6’4” 308: Grade A-

Kendall started 37 games at center and his father played offensive line in the NFL for 13 seasons which gives him a boost. He has one of the best 3 cone and shuttle times which show his solid movement skills. He has good footwork, hand placement and body control. He needs to improve his bend, though. Overall, he has a chance to make the team and contribute on the offensive line. He’s a strong pick in the fifth round.

Sixth Round - Kyle McCord, QB: 6’3” 218: Grade A

McCord had good size at 6’3”. He also had solid stats in college with about a 65% completion percentage his junior and senior years. He had almost 4800 yards his senior year also. He had a good TD to int ratio of 24 to 6 his junior year and a decent 34 to 12 his senior year. The 12 ints in his senior year a concerning though. He is unimpressive athletically and isn’t a threat in the run game. He was projected to go in the 3^rd or 4^th rounds so he’s a good value in the sixth round. He played in a high-volume, pro passing scheme which should help his prospects. He has decent arm strength and can make all the throws. He could become our backup QB and will battle with Tanner McKee. I like his chances.

Sixth Round - Myles Hinton, OT, 6’7” 323: Grade B

He has great size and experience at left and right tackles. He has long arms and is strong enough to hold his ground. He didn’t run many drills but had a slow 4.96 shuttle, which was the worst among offensive linemen. His dad was an all-pro offensive tackle so he has good bloodlines. He’s a developmental prospect that has potential.

Sixth Round - Cameron Williams: OT, 6’6” 317 Grade B-

Williams is another developmental offensive lineman. He’s not thought to be very athletic, but didn’t do any drills to confirm this. He has long arms and good size, but will need to improve his technique. He was projected to go in the 4^th so this could be good value for him. The Eagles are good at developing OTs so it’s good when they pick them later in the draft.

Sixth Round - Antwaun Powell-Ryland: EDGE, 6’3” 258 Grade B

He had someone lower tackles numbers with 40 and 43 during his junior and senior years. He did however have a decent 9.5 sacks his junior year and a very impressive 16 during his senior year. He also had 9 forced fumbles during his career. His athleticism is more middle of the back though. He doesn’t stand out in any drill he ran. He wasn’t on the low side at least. He doesn’t have good length or great speed so he might have trouble as an EDGE rusher in the NFL. He might be able to transition to LB though. Not a bad pick for late in the draft, though.

Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Grade 2024

Eagles 2024 Draft Grades 

Overall Grade: A-

First Round - Quinyon Mitchell, CB, 6’0” 195: Grade A+

The Eagles were lucky that Mitchell dropped to their spot, and they got a steal with this pick. Mitchell was likely the best corner in the draft. He ran a very fast 4.33 40 with a quick 1.51 10 yard split. He also had a 38 inch vertical which is strong, and an okay 10’2” broad. What really stands out are the amount of passes he broke up in college. He had an amazing 19 his junior year and 18 his senior year with a total of 45 for his career. These are wonderful numbers and usually translate to success in the NFL. He also had six interceptions for his career. He also proved himself at the senior bowl looking like the best corner there. He’s likely to be a longtime starter for the Eagles.

Second Round - Cooper DeJean, CB/Safety, 6’0” 203: Grade B

Cooper will likely play safety in the NFL. His 40 time was good with a 4.43. He also had a strong 38.5 inch vertical and a pretty good 10’4” broad jump. It would have been nice to see his cone and shuttle. Many people talk about his elite athleticism and it seems good but I’m not sure about elite. His lateral movement is okay, but nothing amazing. He’s also coming off an injury. He has 7 interceptions for his career which is pretty good but only 13 passes defended. His production and athleticism is much worse than Mitchell. He has a chance to be a good safety, but he’s not guaranteed to develop into a starter.

Third Round - Jalyx Hunt, EDGE, 6’4” 252: Grade C-

It was definitely a reach to take Jalyx Hunt in the third round. He had pretty bad production with only 7 sacks his junior year and 6.5 sacks his senior year. He’s a small school prospect. He did have 87 tackles his junior year but that’s when he was a safety so it’s not as impressive. He only had 46 his senior year as an edge rusher and had a half less sack than his junior year. He had a decent 4.64 in the 40 and a 1.6 10 yard split. He did have an impressive 37.5 vertical and an amazing 10’8” broad. Those are the most hopeful parts about Hunt. He needs to get stronger without losing any speed. There are better and more interesting picks here. I would have taken the linebacker Payton Wilson from NC state or WR Luke McCaffrey, Christian McCaffrey’s brother.

Fourth Round - Will Shipley, RB, 5’11” 206: Grade B

I would have rather not traded up in the second round to take cooper DeJean and have taken Trey Benson who was my favorite RB in the draft, but Shipley isn’t bad for the 4^th round. He’s little light, but not too light to play. He has a strong 4.39 40, a very good 6.81 3 cone and 4.11 shuttle. He also had a 38.5 vertical and a 10’2” broad. Overall his numbers are impressive and correlate well with successful NFL running backs. I’d like to have seen what his 10 yard split is though. During his best year, his junior year, he had 1182 yards and a 5.6 yard average. For his career he has a solid but not amazing 5.2 yard average and 2748 yards. He also had 602 receiving yards and a not that great 7.1 yard average. It’s debatable if he’ll be able to replace Gainwell as the backup RB. Gainwell had a much better college receiving average of 11.6 yards and rushing average of 6.3 yards. Gainwell, though, had a terrible 10 yard split of 1.62 and a 40 that’s not as good as Shipley with a 4.47. Shipley looks good, but not great on tape, but for the 4^th round, he’s a reasonable value.  

Fifth Round - Ainias Smith, WR, 5’9 190: Grade C-

Smith is short for a WR, but slot receivers are sometimes shorter. He has pretty good weight for his size at least. He ran an okay 4.48 but that’s not great for his size. He had a not that great 4.27 shuttle, but a strong 3 cone 6.86. He never had a big year of receiving in college, but his best was 795 yards and a 15 yard average his senior year. He never caught too many TDs. His college average per reception is an okay 13.4. Overall, none of these numbers are that impressive. His best attribute is his ability to run after the catch and his lateral movement.

Fifth Round - Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, 6’0” 228: Grade B

As Jeremiah Trotter’s son Trotter Jr. gets a boosted grade. Trotter was one of the best LBs the eagles
have had. Trotter Jr. had unimpressive an 4.6 40, 4.40 shuttle, and 7.13 cone. He had two pretty good years of 89 tackles and then 87 tackles. He also had 12 sacks and 4 interceptions, and 10 PD over those years. I would have liked to see his other combine numbers. He’s quick to diagnose plays and plays with a lot of heart, but I’m not sure if he has the athleticism to make it. Still for a fifth round pick and because of his bloodline, I like the pick.

Fifth Round - Trevor Keegan, G: 6’5” 310: Grade C+

Keegan is not athletic for his size and he’s not huge either. He started 37 games at Michigan which has been a top school. He needs to work on his technique and his athleticism could be an issue in the NFL. He could develop into a backup. I would have liked to have gotten a top offensive lineman in the second round to ensure Hurts is protected and Barkley has room to run.

Sixth Round - Johnny Wilson, WR, 6’6” 231: Grade A

For the sixth round Wilson was a great pick. He’s a huge receiver that could be moved to TE. He had good combine numbers for his size with a 4.52 40, a 1.55 10 yard split, an impressive 37” vertical and an amazing 10’8” broad jump, which shows his explosiveness. He also had a great 4.11 shuttle. Wilson is much more athletic than WR’s he’s compared to like Kelvin Benjamin and Devin Funchess, even though is 40 was similar to Wilson. His best year was his junior year with 897 yards and a 20.9 yard average. He doesn’t catch a lot of TDs, but had a strong 17.2 yard average for his career. He has a chance to develop into a good WR.

Sixth Round - Dylan McMahon: G, 6’3” 299 Grade B

He’s smaller than Keegan, but much more athletic. He’s one of the more athletic offensive linemen with a 7.26 3 cone, 33 inch vertical, 4.33 shuttle, and a 9’7” broad jump. He started 45 games for N.C. State. He has pretty good technique and awareness, but his lack of arm length could be a problem. He will also need to put on some mass. For a later sixth round pick it was a good pick.

Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Grades

 

Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Grades and Bonus Trade Grade

Overall Grade: B

Round 1: Jalen Carter DT 6’ 3” 314 lbs, Georgia: Grade: B-

Athletic on tape, but he didn’t participate of the combine so unfortunately we don’t have the numbers. He has a quick first step and a good swim move. Shows good strength over all but was neutralized by the stronger O’Cyrus Torrance who was drafted in the second round. Jalen’s production was limited in college. He was more comparable to average and even some below average defensive tackles. He looks like a star at times, but didn’t show it very much. For the ninth pick I would have liked to see him rack up a few more tackles for losses and sacks. I saw someone comparing him to Warren Sapp which would be amazing. The difference is Warren sap had 84 tackles and 10.5 sacks his last year in college while, Jalen had 32 tackles and 3 sacks.

 

Round 1: Nolan Smith LB 6’3 235 lbs, Georgia: Grade: B-

Elite athleticism by the numbers. He ran a 4.39 40, had a 41.5 inch vertical and a 10’8” broad jump. All top level numbers. He’s more athletic than some running backs that are twenty pounds less than him. He doesn’t look quite as athletic on tape. He also looks small with thin hips. He missed several games for two years so his production took a hit. Still he barely did anything his senior year in the eight games he played. Not impressive. His junior year was his best with an unimpressive 53 tackles, 4.5 sacks, and only 1 pass defended. He added an int and 3 forced fumbles. I don’t like to draft players who performed this poorly in the first round. He may just be a workout warrior, which the Eagles love to draft. If we’re just going on the combine A. He has a high ceiling, but also a low floor.

Round 3: Tyler Steen OT 6’6” 321 lbs Alabama: Grade: A

Steen has excellent size with powerful legs and pretty good athleticism. He’s in the 91.7^th percentile for the bench, the 72.7^th percentile for vertical and around 80^th for the broad jump and shuttle. His arm length is in the 17.2 percentile so he’ll likely have to move to guard in the nfl. He got second team All-SEC honors for his 13 starts at left tackle for Alabama. He only had one sack attributed to him for his senior year. He has a powerful and well timed punch and good feet moment. He needs to improve his pad level and his forward lean, but if he can improve these, he can be a solid starter eventually for the Eagles. They needed depth and found a solid player in Steen.  

Round 3: Sydney Brown S 5’10” 211 lbs Illinois: Grade B

Sydney Brown played for five years at Illinois and was injured twice. He had a couple years with his total tackle numbers in the eighties, but doesn’t get many tackles for losses or sacks. During his senior year he had an impressive 6 interceptions and a respectable seven passes defended (PD). I usually like to see more PDs overall than he had in his college career. For me, his statistics are so so, but it’s promising that his senior year was his best year in terms of defending the pass. Overall he’s much better at defending the run than the pass and might make a better in the box safety on obvious rushing situations. Based on his combine numbers, he should be athletic enough, but his change of direction skills are questionable. He didn’t run the 3-cone or shuttle, so we can’t confirm this with his measurables. The Eagles needed depth at safety, and Brown has a chance to develop into an at least part-time starter.

Round 4: Kelee Ringo CB 6’2” 207 lbs Georgia: Grade C+

The Eagles love the SEC and selected a cornerback from Georgia. He has good size and functions well as a press corner. He has excellent top speed and ran a 4.36 40. His burst speed isn’t as good and he ran a 1.54 in the 10 yard split. He’s also not very explosive according to his poor vertical jump at 33.5” and his so so 10’2” broad jump. He didn’t run the shuttle and cone, which for some reason hardly anyone ran this year. His change of direction skills are suspect. He may not have the athleticism to be a successful corner. He will have to rely on his press abilities to have a chance. He had a not very impressive 8 PD and 7 PD in his junior and senior years. He also had an okay 4 interceptions total for those two years. I don’t think Kelee can become a starter, but he may be able to make it as a backup or special teamer.  

Round 6: Tanner McKee QB 6’6” 231 lbs Stanford: Grade D

McKee has an excellent height and weight to play QB in the NFL. He has good enough arm strength, but struggles with accuracy. He also rushes his throws when under pressure. He also didn’t perform very well in college at all. He had 13 TDs to 8 Ints his senior year and 15 TDs and 7 Ints his junior year. These are very poor numbers. He had a solid completion percentage his junior year with 65.4% and an adequate one his senior year with 62%. He can’t run at all and had negative 86 yards for his career. Overall, his numbers don’t seem good enough for him to make it in the NFL. All he seems to have going for him is good size and a strong enough arm.

Round 7: Moro Ojomo DT/DE 6’3” 292 lbs Texas: Grade C-

He is versatile and can line up at DE. He’ll probably be a DT for the Eagles, but may play DE in goal line situations. His senior year was almost as good as Jalen Carter’s which is funny since he’s a seven round pick. They both had 3 sacks and 32 total tackles. Moro had 1.5 less tackles for a loss though. He generally lacks the speed to play DE, but also is a little small for DT. He’s also not very athletic especially for his smaller size. He likely won’t be a long term player in the NFL

Trade: D’Andre RB 5’9 208 lbs: Grade A+

The Eagles get a first round talent for a 4^th round pick in 2025. He only has one year left on his contract and he gets injured, but I love it still. He’s great at catching the ball and electric with the ball in his hands. He has a 4.6 yard average for his three years in the NFL which isn’t as good as it could be largely because of injuries. He had a 5.5 yard average last year which is more in line with where he should be. He also has over a thousand yards receiving in three years with a sold 7.7 yard average. It’s very likely that D’Andre is much better than anyone we would draft in the 4^th round. He can be a complimentary pass receiving back and we might not have to pay him too much when his contract is done to keep him.

Philadelphia Eagles 2022 NFL Draft Grades

 

Eagles 2022 Draft Picks:

Overall Grade: A

Round 1: No. 13 (from HOU via CLE) – Jordan Davis, DT, Georgia: Grade B+

He has great size at 6’6’ 341 lbs, which will help him anchor the run game. He has the strength to collapse the pocket and to be a force against the run. He’s also athletic with 4.78 40 a 32 inch vertical and a 123 inch broad jump. His change of direction and first step aren’t as impressive though. He didn’t produce very well in college 32 tackles, 5 for a loss, and 2 sacks his senior year, but his role in the defense was to take on double teams, so it kind of makes sense. Still, I would have liked to see confirmation that a player can produce before drafting them. There are many workout warriors who bust in the NFL. Overall, I like his, strength, size, and athleticism, but I would have gone elsewhere with this pick because of his lack of production.

Round 2: No. 51 – Cameron Jurgens, C, Nebraska: Grade B+

Cam didn’t run all of the athletic measurable tests, but did run a respectable 4.92 in the 40. Still, he looks athletic and quick on tape, with good lateral quickness. He’d probably be best in a zone scheme. He uses his hands well and show strength. He’s a little small for guard but would make a perfect center. He’ll need a year to learn from Kelce. As much as I like Jurgens, we probably could have gotten him lower if we traded down.

Round 3: No. 83 – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia: Grade A

Dean didn’t run at the combine, but he looks athletic and quick on tape. He covers running backs well, but can also blitz. He’s strong and explode in the run game, but overall he has average instincts. His junior year was okay with 71 tackles, 1.5 tackles for a loss, and 1.5 sacks, and he did better his senior year with 72 tackles, 10.5 for a loss, 6 sacks, 2 ints, 5 passes defended, and 2 forced fumbles. Overall it was a pretty good year, but I would have liked to see more tackles. In the third round though, he’s a great pick. He was projected to go in the first or second. It’s nice to the Eagles finally trying to address the linebacker positon. I believe this has been holding the defense back.

Round 6: No. 181 (from DET) – Kyron Johnson, LB, Kansas: Grade A+

For this sixth round Johnson is a great pick. He has reasonable size at 6’0 235lbs. He is super athletic for his size. He had a 4.4 40, a 39.5 inch vert a 120 inch bard, a 4.38 shuttle, and an impressive 6.98 3 cone. He also produced almost as well as Nakobe Dean except for his passing defense. He had 63 tackles, 4 forced fumbles, and 7 sacks. He’s a liability in the passing game as of now, but he is athletic enough to be a three down lb. He has incredible potential and it will be up to the coaches to help him reach that potential. He’ll be a first and second down lb at first who can also get to the qb. And if he can’t make it as a lb, he’ll be a monster on special teams.

Round 6: No. 198 (from JAX via PIT) – Grant Calcaterra, TE, SMU: Grade B-

Grant produced fairly well in college with a total of 1102 yards and a 13.9 yard average. The average is very good for a TE and could be a great receiving TE in the NFL. His blocking is a liability right now though and needs to get better. I like that he played with Jalen Hurts in college as well. He ran a respectable 4.62 in the 40 but didn’t run other drills. He also has a long history of concussions, which is a concern.

Trade for AJ Brown, WR: Grade A+

This is the greatest thing the Eagles have ever done. They traded their other first round pick and a third round pick for an amazing, proven receiver. He has nearly 3000 yards in three years with a 16.2 yard average. He also has 24 tds and a 62.7% career catch rate. He’s got good hands and is very strong. He’ll be a great compliment to DeVonta Smith. I wanted the Eagles to draft him coming out of college. He went a few picks before their two picks in round two but they could have traded up. Instead they took JJ Arcega-Whiteside, lol. It was obvious he wasn’t going to be good.

A rookie free agent I would have liked: Isaiah Weston, WR: He’s very athletic and had two years for over 1900 yards and a 24 yard average.

Potential NFL Draft Steals 2021:

 

Jacob Harris 6’5 211 WR – Round 4: He had two years with 987 yards which isn’t much production but he had an excellent 20.1 avg. He has elite athleticism with a 4.39 40, 40.0 vertical, 133 top broad amount 6.54 best 3 cone. His shuttle was an average 4.31. He needs to work on his hands, but could be a beast in the red zone or on long passes.

Simi Fehoko 6’4 227 WR – Round 5: two years with 1146 18.5 avg. Not a ton of production but a good average. He ran a 4.44 40, but didn’t have a great vertical or broad. He did however have a very good 3 cone 6.78 3 cone and a decent 4.26 shuttle. He has excellent height and size.

Elijah Moore 5’9 178 WR – Round 2: not great stats, but he did have a decent senior year 1193 13.9 avg in just 8 games. 4.35 40 42.5 40 the best. 6.65 3 cone, the best. 4.06 shuttle third best. Very athletic. He runs crisp routes and has great short area quickness. He’s also stronger than you’d think.

Zach Davidson 6’7 245 TE – Round 5: division two, but the best athletics for a tight end. And a 22 yard average. One of the best. But only 900 career yards. He’s more of a receiver than a great blocker, but with his excellent athletics and great senior year he could turn out to be one of the best receiving TEs.

Robert Rochell 6’2 195 CB – Round 4: Small school, but good senior year with 5 picks and 13 break-ups. Elite athletics. 4.41 40, 43 vertical, 133 broad (the second best) 6.84 cone. 4.08 shuttle (third best). He also has great size to be a press corner. He’s a little raw but has the potential to be a very good CB.

Philadelphia Eagles Draft Grades 2021

 

Overall Draft Grade: A-

Overall I liked the draft, mostly because of DeVonta smith and because of the potential of Landon Dickerson. I was surprised the Eagles took Smith instead of reaching for a third round projected WR who has bad hands, but sometimes they get it right. The Eagles desperately needed CBs and got a possible player in the 4^th. They also addressed the D-line with some potential. As always the Eagles don’t value linebackers even though they are very important to the defense. They drafted two late, which probably won’t make the team.

Round 1: DeVonta Smith, WR 6’0 170 

Grade: A+

DeVonta Smith is one of the best route runners in college football. He also has great hands. He’s basically the opposite of Jalen Reagor from last year. I hated that pick since I wanted Justin Jefferson, WR instead. I made it very clear last year. Jalen Reagor is fast, but otherwise isn’t a good route runner and has bad hands. Devonta was very productive in college partly because Waddle went down with an injury. Devonta had 3965 yards for his career with a 16.9 yard average. He also had 46 TDs. His 117 catches and 1856 yards won him the Heisman his senior year. His only issue is his size, but DeSean Jackson did very well in the NFL with a similar weight. DeVonta has much better stats in college than DeSean had. The Eagles finally have their number one receiver.

Round 2 Landon Dickerson, C 6’6 333

Grade: B

Landon’s biggest concern is his injury history. He has had multiple season-ending injuries. If he manages not to get injured, though, he has great size and strength. Although he has shorter than desired arms, he is good with his hand fighting and initial punch. We don’t have any measurable on Landon. As long as injuries aren’t a problem Landon should be a good pick. The Eagles needed depth at guard and will need a new center possibly next year since Kelce is getting close to retirement. If he doesn’t get injured often he’s probably an A.

 Round 3: Milton Williams, DT 6’3 284

Grade: B+

Milton is small for DT at 284 pounds. He also has shorter than desired arms. That being said he is measurably the most athletic DT ever including Aaron Donald. He ran a 4.67 40, had a 38.5 inch vertical, a 10 foot broad jump, ran a 6.96 3 cone, and a 4.33 shuttle. He’d even be athletic for a TE. He had decent stats where over two years he had 104 tackles, 19 tackles for a loss, and 10 sacks. All are good numbers for a DT. He needs to improve his pass rushing techniques and get bigger if he wants to play DT in the NFL. He could possibly play DE with some work on his pass rushing. Also, he could come in during pass rush situations as DT if he improves. Although he is lighter, he doesn’t have much fat like most DTs.

Round 4: Zech McPhearson, CB

Grade: B

Zech has some potential with his decent speed and good ball skills. He doesn’t have great route recognition and has a bumpy backpedal. His 6.88 cone and 4.00 shuttle, combined with his 40.5 inch vertical and 10.8 inch broad jump show that he has potential. His 4.48 40 isn’t as great as I’d like to see, however. Statistically, he did okay. He did have 104 tackles in two years. But only 11 passes broken up in two years. He did however have 4 ints his senior year, which is impressive. He’s not a bad selection in the 4^th round. I would rather have drafted Robert Rochell, CB.

Round 5: Kenneth Gainwell, RB 5’8 201

Grade: A

Kenneth is a little light, but it’s not really a concern since he’s 5’8. He did have a good senior year with 1459 yards a 6.3 yard average and 600 receiving yards with a 12 yard average which is great. He didn’t have much production his other years. He ran a solid 4.42 in the 40 and has above average reps in the bench. Unfortunately, he didn’t have other measurable. I like to ensure that a RB’s cone is under 7. He’s good at reading blocks and has decent lateral movement. He’s more of a one-cut runner than someone who can juke laterally multiple times like LeSean McCoy could. He’s not much of an inside runner, but he’s okay in pass blocking and could become a third down back. He looks explosive on tape and showed a nice spin move, but he isn’t very powerful. For the 5^th round he’s a very good pick.

Round 6: Marlong Tuipulotu, DT 6’2 307

Grade: B

Marlong is basically the opposite of Milton Williams. He’s not particularly athletic. He ran a 7.57 cone, a 4.69 shuttle, and an average 8’7 inch broad jump. He only played 5 games his senior year, and has average statistics for his other years. He’s not particularly impressive production wise. He does have much better size than Marlong though, but is kind of short for a DT. He has good hands, and is known to be tough but wears down as the game goes on. He looks okay and could become a backup at DT.

Round 6: Tarron Jackson, DE 6’2 254

Grade: C+

Tarron is a little small at 254 and doesn’t have very good length. He is very strong though and has some nice pass rush moves. He’s not very explosive though and not great at changing direction. He’s from a smaller school, but has good stats. He has 42 tackles for a loss in 4 years, 188 tackles, and 24.5 sacks. His measurable are not great for his size though and is probably not athletic enough to play in the NFL.

Round 6: JaCoby Stevens, LB 6’1 212

Grade: B-

JaCoby is too small to play LB and not athletic enough to play Safety. He has below average speed for safety and doesn’t have the athleticism for coverage. He’d have to put on 20 or 30 lbs of muscle to make it as a LB. He was decent statistically with 190 tackles, 21.5 for a loss and 9.5 sacks in three years. He also had 4 picks and 15 passes broken up in 3 years. He has an impressive 42 inch vertical and 10’8 foot broad jump. If he can maintain those numbers and his 40 of 4.63 as he puts on weight, he has some potential.

Round 7: Patrick Johnson, LB 6’2 240

Grade: A

Patrick has good size to play LB, unlike JaCoby. He was a DE pass rusher in college, but unless he puts on 20 lbs he’s going to have to move to LB. He has some good moves in the pass rusher and is good at shedding blockers, but in the pass rush he has below average burst. Statistically, he did pretty well with 34 tackles for a loss in three years, and 21 sacks. He didn’t have many tackles. He also had 6 forced fumbles and 11 passes broken up. Athletically he’s decent with a 4.59 40, a 35 inch vertical, and a 6.97 3 cone. I like the potential he has for a 7^th round pick.