I am not joking when I say this: the Eagles actually had a good draft. For once, the front office took the best talent available and seized the proper opportunities for trades.

I do not think there are enough words to describe my joy with the Devonta Smith pick. Typically, I would never support trading with the Cowboys, however, in this instance, it worked perfectly.

The Birds got an elite prospect in Devonta Smith while also screwing over their division rival New York Giants once again. 

Taking Smith at pick ten was an absolute steal. Yes, Smith is undersized and can be easily jammed at the line, however, defenders will need to catch him first, which, by no means, is easy. According to many SEC coaches and players, Smith was the best player they had ever played against. Quite honestly, you could make a fair argument that Smith should have been the first receiver off the board. 

The Smith pick also reconnects Jalen Hurts with his former teammate. The two played at Alabama and have a close relationship. This could be the beginning of a new dynamic duo in Philly. 

Many fans and analysts have criticized the Eagles for drafting four linemen, however, I actually like this strategy. Championship rosters are built in the trenches. Look at any recent Super Bowl-winning team: all of them had excellent offensive and defensive lines. Yes, it is difficult to pass on flashy wide receivers or star running backs in the draft, but the core of success in football is how talented your offensive and defensive lines are.

I acknowledge the injury issues with Landon Dickerson, however, his talent is undeniable. He was a tank at Alabama and has extreme versatility at all positions on the offensive line. That being said, as an Eagles fan, I am always wary of injury-prone players. If Dickerson can overcome his injury issues, I think he can be a star in the NFL and possibly the heir to Jason Kelce, the Eagles’ star center. 

Taking three defensive linemen—Milton Williams, Tarron Jackson, and Patrick Johnson—can prove to be an excellent move in the long run. When the Eagles won the Super Bowl three years ago, their defensive line was stacked from top to bottom. This allowed the birds to have a rotational strategy that helped preserve stamina. If Williams, Jackson, and Johnson pan out, the Eagles defense could return to its 2017 form in the near future. 

Kenneth Gainwell might be one of the biggest late-round steals the Eagles have had in a while. Draft analysts say that Gainwell reminds them of Alvin Kamara. Adding Gainwell to a running back room that already has considerable talent gives the Eagles’ offense lots of versatility, especially with the mobility of Hurts. Nick Sirianni is known for his love of the run game, so it never hurts to draft a running back when he is in charge. 

I also liked that the Eagles invested in the secondary through Zech McPhearson and Jacoby Stevens. The NFC East has become increasingly talented at the receiver position, so there is no such thing as investing too much in defensive backs and linebackers. 

Ultimately, only time will tell if the Eagles drafted well. However, for the time being, I would give the Eagles an excellent draft grade for taking the best talent available.