The Eagles Need To Be Able To Stretch The Field For Wentz

New York, NY—Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman has a lot to think about with the 21st pick of the 2020 NFL Draft.

The Birds overcame adversity by winning their final four regular-season games (9-7) to win the NFC title and advance to the playoffs for a third straight year under head coach Doug Pederson.

The Eagles were ranked (14th) 360.8 yards per game in total offense last season without a legitimate number one receiver. Alshon Jeffrery turned 30 on Feb 14 and DeSean Jackson is 33 so the Birds need to get younger and faster in this position.

Philadelphia really likes Alabama’s Henry Ruggs III who has blazing speed and can make an impact on the defense by simply being on the field. Ruggs has a knack of locating the creases and lanes before shooting through them to escape defenders. If by chance Ruggs is gone, the Birds will probably select Colorado’s Laviska Shenault.

Defensive Line

The Eagles signed Javon Hargrave to join Fletcher Cox at defensive tackle. Immediate upgrades are needed at the right and left defensive end positions for them to be successful. There will be a more pressing concern if Josh Sweat doesn’t pick it up in his third season.

Linebackers

Nigel Bradham was a tackling machine for the Eagles last season and was an extension of defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz on the field. He’s gone and without Bradham the Birds are average at best. Look for them to draft Oklahoma’s Kenneth Murray or LSU’s Patrick Queen if available.

• Philadelphia traded a 2020 sixth-round pick (that could have become a fifth-round pick, but didn’t) for then-Chicago RB Jordan Howard.

• The Birds traded the seventh-round pick acquired from Tampa in the DeSean Jackson trade along with Johnathan Cyprien to Atlanta for Duke Riley and a sixth-round pick.

• Philadelphia was awarded three compensatory picks.

• The Eagles traded their original third- and fifth-round picks (No. 85 and No. 166 overall) to Detroit for DB Darius Slay.