Eagles get in on trade action, solidify Jalen Hurts as 2021 QB
By Cory Kinnan
It was a busy day across the NFL this past afternoon, as the 2021 NFL Draft order faced quite the shakeup. The teams involved? First it was the San Francisco 49ers making a massive move up to the third overall pick, trading up with the Miami Dolphins. Shortly after, the Philadelphia Eagles jumped in on the fun as well.
After the Dolphins fell back to the 12th pick, adding an additional two first round picks and a third round pick in the process, they then made another move as well. The Dolphins then took that 12th overall pick and one of the first rounders and packaged them up, sending them to the Eagles for the sixth overall pick in the draft.
With the Detroit Lions picking seventh and in desperate need of a wide receiver, it looks like the Dolphins were securing their fate to take the first receiver off the board in either Ja’Marr Chase, DeVonta Smith, or Jaylen Waddle. Florida tight end Kyle Pitts is also the potential dark horse to land with the Dolphins as well.
As for the Eagles? What does this trade mean for them as they fall back to the 12th overall pick in the draft? We take a look there next.
What this means for the Eagles
After falling back to the 12th overall pick in the draft, the Eagles have now gathered an additional first round pick for the future. This means two different things regarding the quarterback position: they are locked in with Jalen Hurts as their starting quarterback, with Joe Flacco sitting as number-two on the depth chart.
It also means, however, that if they will be in the market for a new quarterback in 2022, then they will have the assets to move up to nab him. Given the shortcomings of Hurts a year ago, so much so that this writer thought they should be in play for a new quarterback this year, this seems like the likely outcome.
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Regardless, the Eagles now fall back to the 12th pick in the draft, and will likely have a cornerback or wide receiver in their sights. South Carolina’s Jaycee Horn may be on the board for the Eagles here, with the likes of Jaylen Waddle or Rashod Bateman as wide receiver targets. Now out of the top-ten and the quarterback market, the Eagles now have options on the board after completing a deal with the Dolphins.