The Eagles brought in serious talent during the 2021 NFL Draft, but these three picks stood out above the rest for Philadelphia.
Eagles fans can finally start to look forward to the 2021 regular season after a tumultuous offseason. There are still plenty fo questions about how Philadelphia is going to look next season, but it’s safe to assume several rookies from this year’s draft class will play major roles.
The front office deserves credit for finding value with almost every pick at their disposal. The following three selections graded out as the Eagles’ best work of the weekend.
3 best picks for Eagles in 2021 NFL Draft
3. Patrick Johnson
Round 7 is a spot to take fliers on players with above-average athleticism. That description fits Johnson to perfection. The former Tulane linebacker projects as a solid outside linebacker prospect at the next level. It’s possible he can add the weight required to become an edge rusher in a 4-3 alignment, but he should be in line to participate on special teams no matter what.
Johnson is just the sort of player the Eagles should look to stash at the back-end of their roster. He doesn’t have anything resembling star potential, but he should find a way to earn meaningful snaps on the defensive side of the ball due to his versatility. Combine that with his opportunity to become a special teams standout and it’s easy to understand why there’s serious potential value here.
Johnson isn’t going to get a ton of buzz heading into training camp, but Eagles fans should keep a close eye on him during the preseason. He’s got a chance to find his way on the two-deep by the time Week 1 rolls around.