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The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into the 2021 NFL Draft looking to bring in a few players to help get them back on track. After a disappointing 2020 season that saw them finish the year with a 4-11-1 record and a last place finish in the NFC East, they made some major moves. Most notably, they chose to trade longtime starting quarterback Carson Wentz to the Indianapolis Colts.
Not only did they trade Wentz, the Eagles also made a move at head coach. After relieving Doug Pederson of his duties, they went out and hired Nick Sirianni away from the Colts, where he was their offensive coordinator.
Needless to say, some change was needed in the City of Brotherly Love. They are no longer a contender in the NFC, at least for now. A good draft could help change that and turn things around.
With the move to trade Wentz, the Eagles are going all-in with second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts as their starter. Having that in mind, the Eagles could look to add more weapons for their young quarterback, especially with both Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson leaving town this offseason. At this point in time, the Eagles are scheduled to make their first selection at No. 12 overall.
It will be interesting to see what the Eagles end up doing in the draft this year. They could draft the best talent available on the board or they could look to shore up some needs. Either way, they cannot afford to miss on picks.
All of that being said, let's dive in and take a look at three last-minute predictions for the Eagles in the 2021 NFL Draft.
3. Eagles Trade Down From No. 12 Overall
One thing that should be expected from the Eagles in the first round is that they will be actively working the phones. They need talent and trading down from No. 12 overall would make a ton of sense. If they can net more draft capital, that would be a wise decision.
When everything is said and done, the Eagles will get an offer that they like for their first-round selection. They will move back in the first round and will still have plenty of options to select.
Some teams to keep an eye on in a potential trade with the Eagles for the No. 12 overall pick are the Las Vegas Raiders, Carolina Panthers, and possibly even the Green Bay Packers. Philadelphia will be very active and fans should not be shocked if they choose to trade down and gather more draft picks to work with.
2. Philadelphia Targets A Wide Receiver In The Second Round
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Next up, as we mentioned earlier in this article, the Eagles will likely look to add more firepower around Jalen Hurts. They aren't going to use their first-round pick on a wide receiver, but they will use their second-round pick at No. 37 overall on one. Looking at the projected draft board, there are plenty of players who could be potential targets with that pick.
Among those targets could be Ole Miss wide receiver Elijah Moore. Philadelphia could also consider taking Purdue standout Rondale Moore with their second-round pick. No matter which player they choose, they need to find someone who can develop into a potential No. 1 target for Hurts.
Over the last couple of years, injuries have depleted the Eagles' wide receiving room. They no longer have their top two wideouts from last season and they need to add more young talent at the position. A second-round wide receiver should be expected.
1. The Eagles End Up With Greg Newsome II In The First Round
Finally, everyone wants to know who the Eagles will end up with in the first round of the NFL Draft this year. We have them trading down, but not too far from the No. 12 overall pick. They will end up still getting a talented cornerback in Greg Newsome II.
Newsome has been drawing comparisons to current Eagles' star cornerback Darius Slay. Having a one-two punch of Slay and Newsome for the foreseeable future would be lethal. He has some work to do on his game, but Newsome has star potential at the next level.
During his three-year career at Northwestern, Newsome ended up with just one interception. That number doesn't impress at all, but he also racked up 71 tackles and 24 defended passes. A lot of that had to do with the fact that opponents didn't throw his way much, but no one should be concerned about the lack of huge production in college.
If the Eagles can trade down, add more picks, and still end up with Newsome, they would have to feel very good about their first-round action. Newsome could be an instant game-changer and might be exactly what the Eagles need to get their defense back on track. This would be a best-case scenario for Philadelphia.
