Eagles Receive Two Compensatory Picks, How It Changes Their Draft Plans
The Eagles were awarded two compensatory picks for their year’s NFL draft, the 40th and 41st picks of the sixth round (224/225 overall). The two picks moved the Eagles total count to ten in the 2021 NFL draft, giving them some much needed draft assets as they enter an offseason looking to rebuild.
The 2021 draft’s compensatory picks were announced on Wednesday, and the Eagles found themselves holding the fourth and fifth latest picks given out. Combine that with a roster that’s $28 million over the cap ($182.5 million), Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has his work cut out for him this offseason.
I published a seven round mock draft before the compensatory picks were announced, but now that we know which extra picks the Eagles will have to work with, here are a few routes the Eagles could take with their two sixth round picks.
QB Factory Lives On
The only quarterback certain to return next season is last year’s second round pick Jalen Hurts, who’s job is apparently more secure than most thought with reports of Eagle’s owner Jeffrey Lurie instructing the team to prioritize Hurts as the starting QB, per Chris Mortenson.
Behind Hurts is where the question mark lies, with many assuming they’ll bring a veteran (perhaps Tyrod Taylor) to back him up. The third string position in the quarterback room is even more unpredictable, but the Eagles would be smart to use one of their compensatory picks as a flyer on a late round QB in hopes to develop him into a competent backup or eleven starter, living up to their self proclaimed QB Factory reputation.
Some possible QBs = Sam Ehlinger (Texas), Shane Buechele (SMU), KJ Costello (Mississippi State)
Best Player Available
With a team lacking talent as sorely as the Eagles, taking the best player available is almost always the correct approach as GM’s take as many shots as they can at a late round gem. The Eagles have needs all over the roster, skill positions and lineman on both sides of the ball. Because of this, taking a BPA with these two extra picks would likely fit a need anyway. Even with Howie Roseman restructuring veteran players on the roster like Darius SLay and Jason Kelce, a player picked this late would need a few years of development anyway and ideally would be ready to start when those players make their exit.
Package The Picks
Another option for Howie Roseman will be to take advantage of his double digit pick count and package the compensatory picks with some others of the Eagles picks to move up into the draft. While the Eagles are in need of talent in almost every position, they could maximize their talent by packaging their picks to jump up a few rounds. By doing this, the Eagles will be much more able to get prospects higher on their board.
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Categorized:Eagles