2021 NFL Draft grades: Biggest winners and losers
Arizona Cardinals
Kyler Murray has to be thrilled, but this haul for the Cardinals isn’t likely to push Arizona any closer to a playoff berth.
Rondale Moore is a big-play threat every time he touches the football, and he’ll be an explosive weapon opposite DeAndre Hopkins. After all, Moore averaged 7.1 yards after the catch per reception and Purdue quarterbacks produced a 104 passer rating when targeting him.
However, the Cardinals’ most gaping hole on this roster is at cornerback, especially after Patrick Peterson departed via free agency to the Minnesota Vikings, and Arizona didn’t address the position nearly early enough to make a real impact.
Grade: C+
Philadelphia Eagles
Thursday night in Round 1, Howie Roseman showed why he is one of the more adept NFL Draft wheelers and dealers in the league, but then the Eagles’ draft went careening off the tracks.
To be able to jump the division rival NY Giants, and take Alabama wide receiver Devonta Smith, who multiple sources tell FanSided was the top player on general manager Dave Gettleman’s board, and not surrender a future first-round pick to do so is a major victory. Smith is an electrifying downfield threat, and a major step towards building around second-year quarterback Jalen Hurts, while maintaining the flexibility to trade up and take a quarterback with one of the top-selections in 2022.
However, even though Landon Dickerson hasn’t allowed a sack since 2017, the former Alabama guard/center is a major injury risk after two ACL tears. At best, Dickerson is a long-term replacement for Jason Kelce and an immediate starter at one of the offensive guard spots, at worst, he is an injury-risk and reach. It also feels like a significant reach to select Milton Williams, a defensive tackle along an already stout defensive front, especially when video of what appears to be front office division over the selection was broadcast to the world.
The Eagles needed to hit a home run in this class, and seem to have come out managing only a double.