This is going to be my house tonight.  Sixers on the tv, draft on the tablet, me on the laptop message board'ing, my gf on her phone checking twitter. Skip to 50 sec mark if you dont want to watch the whole clip..

 

 

Devonta is that rare special talent that can be an all time great.  

1 hour ago, EaglePhan1986 said:

I never thought the Eagles would go CB round 1. Howie seems fixated on emulating the Chiefs. That being said, I really liked the Smith pick. I know he’s a toothpick but the talent is undeniable. 
 

I think I preferred Slater but I’ll take it. 

I’m in between, I preferred Waddle but was ok with Smith. The trade up is what bothered me, just let the chips fall because I was fine with Slater too. No need to chase especially when you need a lot of better candidates. There will be a good player missed with that 3rd because Howie hates draft picks, probably to avoid criticism for picking the wrong guy. There is more than one way to skin a cat. I’m ready to switch sides at this point

OK... having had a night to sleep on Smith, I am reminded of 'body type' and something came to my mind, my grandfather.

 

In his prime, my grandfather was about 6'2" and at his heaviest 165 lbs.  He would eat like a horse (as I heard from others) and never gain a pound.  But, he was extremely strong - wiry, you might say.   He worked for Belmont Steel before they went bankrupt (and stole the pensions of their employees, but that's for another time).   Anyway, he was as hard a man, as tough a man, as strong a man as any that I've ever encountered.   On not a few occasions, I'd meet one of my grandfather's former co-workers, big fellas that were likely in the 240s in their prime, and they'd all make a point to tell me that "he was the strongest son of a b... I ever knew".   

 

So... I am waning in my concern for his durability.  He is a plus-athlete, a technician, and a student of the game.   You can't ask for much more than that, and had he been the 200-lb WR, he'd have been gone earlier.   So, the Eagles would have had to get him at #6.  They were able to manuever and managed to 'flip' the 3rd round pick they got for Wentz for a first round pick in 2022 with that maneuver.  And, I remember back to when the season ended and everyone was watching the NCAA National Championship playoffs and NC game.  At that time, Smith was a popular name to throw about at the 6 pick.  Some bristled due to the position, but few bristled at the value.  Again, the only concern mentioned was his build.  So, to come away with Smith and likely two 2022 firsts for the #6 and Wentz, its hard to build a strong argument against it.    You can dislike going back to the WR position again, and not getting a CB.  So, this is a beautiful rose, with two small thorns - 1) they dipped at WR again, rather than CB & 2) they took a very talented player with a slight build.

 

Nice job, Howie.  You didn't screw it up.

1 hour ago, austinfan said:

Today is tricky, there is no standout player but a bunch of guys who might work out. Now you focus more on value than specific players, unless someone fell that you had much higher on your board.

Trust the Board, Howie, Trust the Board.

Rebuild, every single pick should be about VALUE. Bad teams try to be too cute 

27 minutes ago, NCiggles said:

Jenkins would be nice but I think if they stay at 37 it's to get a player like Basham.  There's also going to be a lot of good IOL available at 70. 

I mean with the amount of needs this team has, I don't believe there's one right answer. So boogie works as well. 

Howie has had a good offseason and did a good job last night considering the circumstances...yet the negadelphs still howl....too predictable...too funny

Trade down from 37 and recoup a 3rd or a 4th. 

It will be nice to have Smith beating press coverage.  Reagor not having to worry about that.  And Fulgham on the 2nd or 3rd best corner consistently.  And hopefully a breakout for Quez. Ward as a #5 at best. 

Even if Moore or Marshall are left,  I decided I'm passing on them. 

Could take another WR later to compete.  But I'll pass right now. 

 

10 hours ago, garingovt2000 said:

Welp called the Najee Harris pick a week ago as a lock.  A lot said this wouldn’t happen.  

Basically everyone said it would happen.

21 minutes ago, D-Shiznit said:

I really want them to wait till next year to address the DE position. Next year there are 3 bonafide, blue-chip, can't miss, mega studs coming out. I want one or more of them.

Agree DE can wait. LB and DB are where its at rd 2

Round 2 and 3 tonight or just 2?  Also just an fyi I timed some of the picks with twitter I knew 1 as much as 7 minutes before espn announced it (ours was about  1 1/2 minutes)

1 hour ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

He also moved from #6 to #12 and then back to #10 and in the process picked up an extra first next year! And drafted a guy who was in the talks about being traded at #6. So yeah he does deserve some credit there. I'm not celebrating Howie and I still want him out but credit where credit is due. All you are doing is proving you are a pure Howie hater.

He would’ve had Smith if he just played the cards dealt, that or even better the 20th plus a ‘22 first

Just now, HazletonEagle said:

It will be nice to have Smith beating press coverage.  Reagor not having to worry about that.  And Fulgham on the 2nd or 3rd best corner consistently.  And hopefully a breakout for Quez. Ward as a #5 at best. 

Even if Moore or Marshall are left,  I decided I'm passing on them. 

Could take another WR later to compete.  But I'll pass right now. 

 

Gimme dez Fitzpatrick later for the X

20 minutes ago, D-Shiznit said:

I really want them to wait till next year to address the DE position. Next year there are 3 bonafide, blue-chip, can't miss, mega studs coming out. I want one or more of them.

I want one this year, plus one of the blue chippers next. More went than I expected already. But an Elerson or Jordan Smith or Janrius Robinson or Dayo in round 3 would be solid. 

1 minute ago, greend said:

Round 2 and 3 tonight or just 2?  Also just an fyi I timed some of the picks with twitter I knew 1 as much as 7 minutes before espn announced it (ours was about  1 1/2 minutes)

The analytics department would be proud. 

24 minutes ago, Alphagrand said:

DE was overvalued, and DT was undervalued.  Barmore is disruptive and will be a very good pick for whoever gets him; a couple of those DE being first round picks was a real head-scratcher.

Which ? I think they were all drafted where they should have been ,DJ had Tryon at 21 to colts

oweh not shocked where he went 

Turner , ditto , most never heard of him , pre proday 

By the way,  the people who think Smith isn't fast are big stupid idiots.

I'm torn because I would love to add JOK at 37 but I'm terrified at what CB is gonna look like at 70.

5 CB were drafted in Round 1; if the Eagles are thinking of waiting until #70 to address the position they might be left with the ugly chicks at 2:00am, so to speak.

If Tyson Campbell and/or Asante Samuel Jr is on the board at #37 I'll be mildly surprised if the Eagles don't take either ..... it is the Eagles, so I said 'mildly'

1 hour ago, 4for4EaglesNest said:

You’re trying to get water out of a turnip from the wrong guy here.  I’ve been saying for months that I didn’t want a WR in round 1.  And out of the WR we could get, Smith wasn’t the guy I wanted.    So I’m not going to change my opinion now.  I like Smith as a college player and a person.  I’ll say this, when we traded up I was terrified it was for Slater or Paye.  So I am glad we didn’t do that.   Kudos Howie.   
 

And BTW, when we traded from 6 to 12, I was one of the loudest supporters, giving the little ish props for getting us a 1st next year.   When he nails something, I’ll give him props.   

Yep

Imagine if he had instead traded back with Chicago, W👀t W👀t

26 minutes ago, DeathByEagle said:

Honestly with what is still avail, I would not. Plenty to choose from at pick 37 OR I have a feeling they trade back from 37 to gain a pick or two. 

There had better be a run on WRs or something to push more of these defensive targets down to justify that.  

I like the idea of recouping some of that 3rd round pick by moving back about 6 picks... then maybe move up in the late 3rd with a pick and Ertz (if possible).  There is now a gap of 53 picks between the Eagles' 3rd and 4th round picks.  

1 minute ago, Iggles_Phan said:

There had better be a run on WRs or something to push more of these defensive targets down to justify that.  

I like the idea of recouping some of that 3rd round pick by moving back about 6 picks... then maybe move up in the late 3rd with a pick and Ertz (if possible).  There is now a gap of 53 picks between the Eagles' 3rd and 4th round picks.  

Legitimately was thinking the exact same thing you were. They go from 70 to 123 without a pick. I’d love to move up from 123 to like 85-100 area. Wouldn’t hate moving back from 37 to 43-45 range cause i think there’s going to be some good players there and you can recoup a pick or two. 

4 minutes ago, Peppersmacks said:

I'm torn because I would love to add JOK at 37 but I'm terrified at what CB is gonna look like at 70.

7 minutes ago, The guy in France said:

He would’ve had Smith if he just played the cards dealt, that or even better the 20th plus a ‘22 first

Giants would have taken Smith.

The WRs at #20 weren't as good as Reagor. While another 2022 1st would have been nice, not sure what Chicago offers at #12, maybe the same deal, maybe a little less.

Slater wouldn't have been a bad pick, but my suspicion is Brooks is 100%, in which case they expect him to start at a high level for 3 more seasons (Peters made four pro bowl teams after missing a season due to an Achilles injury). So that would allow them to draft interior OL later and develop them, rather than have to reach for a "plug and play" guy.

Howie has gotten in trouble in the draft by trying to be "too smart" to obtain extra value, losing players they wanted - this year he didn't get greedy.