Grading the Eagles’ First 4 Picks in the 2020 NFL Draft
The Philadelphia Eagles had a very interesting draft over this past weekend.
The team brought in some high-end talent at the receiver position and filled out needs on their roster. It may be too early to judge the on-field impact of these players. However, it is fair to judge Howie Roseman on the perceived value of his picks and how each one fits with the Eagles.
1st Round: Jalen Reagor, WR // TCU
In the first round, the Eagles took Jalen Reagor, a wide receiver from TCU. Reagor is an excellent playmaker and fits perfectly in place for what the Eagles needed, making him the best pick possible at 21 overall.
Reagor is a fast and elusive playmaker that also plays extremely well through contact at the catch point. He ran an unofficial 4.28 at his pro day and tested out of the gym during his explosive drills at the NFL combine. Reagor will be a year one contributor and makes the Eagles passing attack deadly.
Grade: A+
2nd Round: Jalen Hurts, QB // Oklahoma
In the second round, the Eagles shocked fans by selecting Jalen Hurts, a quarterback from Oklahoma. Hurts is a great prospect and a playmaker on his feet. He will be groomed under an excellent coaching staff that will likely maximize his potential as Wentz’s backup. Hurts can also be used in other gadget positions on offense to give the Eagles a diverse offensive attack.
The value in the second round is terrible for a backup quarterback, especially when you consider how durable Carson Wentz has actually been, but the Eagles have a great piece to use in the offense and a playmaking QB if Carson misses any time.
Grade: C
3rd Round: Davion Taylor, LB // Colorado
In the third round, the Eagles selected Davion Taylor, a linebacker out of Colorado. Taylor is a hyper-athletic thumper as a linebacker. He ran a 4.49s 40-yard dash at the combine and showed explosiveness on tape.
He can likely start in Schwartz’s overhang weak side position and improve to be a 3-down linebacker once he gets more experience diagnosing NFL offenses. Taylor will also step in and be the best tackler in the Eagles’ linebacker room.
Grade: B+
4th Round: K’Von Wallace, S // Clemson
In the fourth round, the Eagles found the gem of this draft in Clemson safety K’Von Wallace. Wallace was graded as the best pass defending safety in the nation from 2017-2019 by Pro Football Focus. K’Von will likely compete with Will Parks as the third safety in the Eagles defense and can grow into an every-down starter.
Wallace was a captain on Clemson’s team and will bring his tenacity and work ethic to the Eagles defense. He is excellent at covering tight ends and slot receivers and is also exceptional at playing middle safety. Wallace is also an excellent Blitzer and uses his athleticism to put pressure on quarterbacks and fill his run assignments.
Grade: A
It seems the Eagles were targeting athleticism in this class and succeeded. The Eagles also fixed their lack off explosiveness on offense with the three receivers they chose in the draft. They also added offensive line depth and explosiveness to the defense.
Many of the players the Eagles chose have starter upside and can all contribute to another deep playoff run.
Featured Image: Robert MacRae/The Clemson Insider
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