Jefferson, Smith, and the 2022 WR Draft Class

[Philthy Jawn]

I was watching the Vikings-Packers game last night, and Jefferson was simply sensational--100 yards in the first quarter alone.  The Randy Moss comparisons are not far off, and as I mentioned in another thread, this may go down not only as the worst mistake in Howie's career--which will haunt him for years to come--but also the organization.  Yes, quite possibly worse than passing up on drafting Warren Sapp.  Only time will tell.

My question is this: albeit with such a limited sample size, do you believe that the drafting of Devonta Smith addresses this mistake?  Or, should the Eagles consider another wide receiver?  Yes, I know this is super preliminary, but do we have a feel yet for the quality of wide receivers in the 2022 draft?  

My feeling is that unless Smith can match or excel Jefferson's production, the Eagles may very well be forced to look at wide receiver again.  

[Infam]

Smith will be a star, if he isn’t already.

We still could do with another reciever though.

[D-Shiznit]

DeVonta is already a Bona Fide #1 WR.

We don't have even an average #2 WR.

So yes, we do need to address the WR position.

[NOTW]

Draft night a lot of fans were mad Howie didn't trade up for Lamb, didn't take Jefferson or didn't take a defensive player and then get a WR in the 2nd round.

Smith is a solid receiver.  Reagor looks like a bust.  JJAW is a bust.  Watkins is a decent piece but the group needs another talent at WR. 

I doubt Howie drafts a WR in the 1st round 3 years in a row.  He'll sign some veteran band-aid and keep hoping Reagor and JJAW improve.

[Infam]

2 minutes ago, NOTW said:

Draft night a lot of fans were mad Howie didn't trade up for Lamb, didn't take Jefferson or didn't take a defensive player and then get a WR in the 2nd round.

Smith is a solid receiver.  Reagor looks like a bust.  JJAW is a bust.  Watkins is a decent piece but the group needs another talent at WR. 

I doubt Howie drafts a WR in the 1st round 3 years in a row.  He'll sign some veteran band-aid and keep hoping Reagor and JJAW improve.

Maybe. Or maybe Lurie says: We got three firsts, I want another receiver if a good one is available.

[NOTW]

3 minutes ago, Infam said:

Maybe. Or maybe Lurie says: We got three firsts, I want another receiver if a good one is available.

There's no way they select three 1st round picks.  At least one will be used in a trade.  

[Infam]

4 minutes ago, NOTW said:

There's no way they select three 1st round picks.  At least one will be used in a trade.  

"no way", hm? 😄

Maybe they trade down with one a few spots, but I absolutely see us coming out of that draft with three first round selections.

[NOTW]

1 minute ago, Infam said:

"no way", hm? 😄

Maybe they trade down with one a few spots, but I absolutely see us coming out of that draft with three first round selections.

I'd love it.  I just don't see them spending money on three 1st rounders, plus Howie can't help himself he sees them as trading assets.  I actually wouldn't mind a similar trade back to this year where it gets an additional 1st in the 2023 draft to put them in a good position next year, and still take a player this year with that pick.  Howie's never had 3 firsts so we'll see, but he likes to trade.

[Iggles25]

Starting to warm to the idea of drafting Burks with one of those three 1sts.

Go D with the other two.

Imagine Smith, Burks, and Watkins. That'd be a formidable group.

[RememberTheKoy]

They need to focus their early draft picks on defense. 

[Iggles25]

Hutchinson, Burks, Llyod

Leal, Burks, Sanders 

 

[nipples]

They still need another WR. Reagor isn’t it, and I think he’s traded in the offseason. Watkins is a decent deep threat, but shouldn’t be more than a #3. There’s still a gap there. 
 

Now, I’m not sure I’d go WR super early again. I’d rather see the three draft picks used for a DB, LB and DE/DT. 
 

A mid-round receiver is where they should probably go, along with a free agent signing. They could definitely use a veteran presence. 

[315Eagles]

If they need a WR just draft one from Alabama.   They are the most NFL ready position group in the entire country. 

[Bwestbrook36]

I prefer they don't spend yet another early pick on a WR it took 2 busts and top 10 pick to actually get a good one. I'm not down for Howie wasting another early pick. Get defense for F sakes. The offense had been scoring 30 a game 

[Kz!]

There are way bigger needs on this team than spending another high pick on a WR. We look to have a really good #1 WR in Smith and there's no reason Reagor or Watkins can't become a good #2. I'd rather go defense heavy in the early rounds. We've neglected, well, everything on the defensive side of the ball. We could literally use high picks on a pass rusher, corner, LB (doubtful with our philosophy, but still needed), Safety, or even a DT with Cox on the decline. 

[GeorgeM37]

1 hour ago, Philthy Jawn said:

I was watching the Vikings-Packers game last night, and Jefferson was simply sensational--100 yards in the first quarter alone.  The Randy Moss comparisons are not far off, and as I mentioned in another thread, this may go down not only as the worst mistake in Howie's career--which will haunt him for years to come--but also the organization.  Yes, quite possibly worse than passing up on drafting Warren Sapp.  Only time will tell.

My question is this: albeit with such a limited sample size, do you believe that the drafting of Devonta Smith addresses this mistake?  Or, should the Eagles consider another wide receiver?  Yes, I know this is super preliminary, but do we have a feel yet for the quality of wide receivers in the 2022 draft?  

My feeling is that unless Smith can match or excel Jefferson's production, the Eagles may very well be forced to look at wide receiver again.  

In my humble opinion, there is no making up for it. He has passed on not just Jefferson but also Ceedee Lamb and DK Metcalf and all three are beasts this year.....it hurts looking at them knowing the damage they could have done on this team......I hate howie for those three mistakes alone...

[Philthy Jawn]

6 minutes ago, Kz! said:

We look to have a really good #1 WR in Smith and there's no reason Reagor or Watkins can't become a good #2. 

I've reached the point where I'm ready to write Reagor off.  I just don't see it.  Maybe he can excel on another team, but it's telling that both Smith and Quez and have more receiving yards than him.

[time2rock]

1 hour ago, D-Shiznit said:

DeVonta is already a Bona Fide #1 WR.

We don't have even an average #2 WR.

So yes, we do need to address the WR position.

Agreed.  I just wouldn't touch one in the 1st.  

[shlo]

25 minutes ago, GeorgeM37 said:

In my humble opinion, there is no making up for it. He has passed on not just Jefferson but also Ceedee Lamb and DK Metcalf and all three are beasts this year.....it hurts looking at them knowing the damage they could have done on this team......I hate howie for those three mistakes alone...

He didn't pass on Ceedee Lamb. Lamb was drafted before the Eagles pick, and I don't have an issue with not trading up. I can live with passing on Metcalf because of the injury concerns. Lots of teams had taken him off the draft board. The one I can't live with is Jefferson. He was the consensus choice to go there. My guess is every other team would have taken Jefferson off the board as the next receiver. We had the best receiver in the draft drop in our lap... and blew it. 

 

I love Smith, but I don't see him as a Jefferson-level guy. 

[GeorgeM37]

4 minutes ago, shlo said:

He didn't pass on Ceedee Lamb. Lamb was drafted before the Eagles pick, and I don't have an issue with not trading up. I can live with passing on Metcalf because of the injury concerns. Lots of teams had taken him off the draft board. The one I can't live with is Jefferson. He was the consensus choice to go there. My guess is every other team would have taken Jefferson off the board as the next receiver. We had the best receiver in the draft drop in our lap... and blew it. 

 

I love Smith, but I don't see him as a Jefferson-level guy. 

Ok so I stand corrected on Ceedee Lamb then. My question to you is because I am really curious: Is it because of the size and physicality that you dont see him on Jefferson's level? If not, very curious what that might be.....

[time2rock]

1 hour ago, NOTW said:

I'd love it.  I just don't see them spending money on three 1st rounders, plus Howie can't help himself he sees them as trading assets.  I actually wouldn't mind a similar trade back to this year where it gets an additional 1st in the 2023 draft to put them in a good position next year, and still take a player this year with that pick.  Howie's never had 3 firsts so we'll see, but he likes to trade.

I have been mentioning for some time now that I too think Howie will trade one .... I think he'll want to try to pick up another 1st in 2023 to stay in position for a QB in the event Hurts still hasn't proven to be "the guy" by then (and knowing the QB class is projected to be a better one in 2023).  But that doesn't necessarily mean we end day one with only 2 picks.  They could follow something similar to what KC did by trading their 1st (it was pick 27) in 2017, their 3rd that same year, and their 2018 1st to move up to 10.  Or they could follow what the Bills did when they moved from 12 to 7 to take Allen, giving up 2 x 2nd rd picks to do so (in the latter case they didn't end up with a future 1st).  

[Dwide Schrude]

I’d be ok with them going WR in the first, depending on who, but I’d prefer they didn’t. I wish we had more cap space because Davante Adams & Allen Robinson are both FA this year, I’d love to bring one of them in opposite Devonta. But that isn’t a realistic scenario. 
 

Defense is a huge priority, I’d argue OL could be also. Kelce will most likely retire this off-season, unless we finish the year out strong & make playoffs he might buy into another year. Brooks will be 33 going into next season and Johnson will be 32 going into next season, both have been struggling more often with injuries as well. Seumalo Only has 1 more year on his contract. So that’s 4 positions on the OL you might have to replace very soon. We have Dickerson sure but what position is he long term, also still have his injury history to he scared of. Driscoll is decent but also struggles with injuries. 
 

All that being said I’m really keen on the idea of drafting an OL high, preferably for the right side. It’s why I like Kenyon Green from A&M a lot who has a ton of position versatility, I’d keep him on the right side at either RG or RT. Would give the Eagles plenty of flexibility for long term and short term on the OL with good depth too.  

[nipples]

23 minutes ago, Dwide Schrude said:

I’d be ok with them going WR in the first, depending on who, but I’d prefer they didn’t. I wish we had more cap space because Davante Adams & Allen Robinson are both FA this year, I’d love to bring one of them in opposite Devonta. But that isn’t a realistic scenario. 
 

Defense is a huge priority, I’d argue OL could be also. Kelce will most likely retire this off-season, unless we finish the year out strong & make playoffs he might buy into another year. Brooks will be 33 going into next season and Johnson will be 32 going into next season, both have been struggling more often with injuries as well. Seumalo Only has 1 more year on his contract. So that’s 4 positions on the OL you might have to replace very soon. We have Dickerson sure but what position is he long term, also still have his injury history to he scared of. Driscoll is decent but also struggles with injuries. 
 

All that being said I’m really keen on the idea of drafting an OL high, preferably for the right side. It’s why I like Kenyon Green from A&M a lot who has a ton of position versatility, I’d keep him on the right side at either RG or RT. Would give the Eagles plenty of flexibility for long term and short term on the OL with good depth too.  

With the line I think Kelce retiring would slide Dickerson to center. I think guard is a priority, and could see Brooks moved in the offseason. 

[shlo]

1 hour ago, GeorgeM37 said:

Ok so I stand corrected on Ceedee Lamb then. My question to you is because I am really curious: Is it because of the size and physicality that you dont see him on Jefferson's level? If not, very curious what that might be.....

That's definitely part of it. Size,  physicality, and speed. Jefferson has him beat on all 3. I see an explosiveness to Jefferson that's not there with Smith. Also, Jefferson has better hands. I still think Smith is a legit WR1. It's not an insult to say he's not on Jefferson's level. 

[bitbased]

4 hours ago, D-Shiznit said:

DeVonta is already a Bona Fide #1 WR.

We don't have even an average #2 WR.

So yes, we do need to address the WR position.

Yup. We need a larger receiver that's able to win 50/50's more consistently ala Alshon. If we don't take pressure off Smith he's just going to consistently get doubled every game moving forward.