The Eagles were a frustrating team to watch in 2019.
Philadelphia offered plenty of talent but failed to live up to it for large portions of the season thanks in part to some serious injuries along the way. A late push allowed the Eagles to press past the Cowboys for a postseason berth, but that too was a disappointment.
Even more unsettling? Yet another injury to quarterback Carson Wentz, who was knocked from the wild-card loss to the Seahawks due to a reckless hit by pass rusher Jadeveon Clowney. The Eagles have spent the offseason addressing key needs, such as a trade for cornerback Darius Slay to help boost their secondary. Those efforts continued in the 2020 NFL Draft, including a big surprise on Day 2.
Philadelphia's 2020 draft picks:
- No. 21: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
- No. 53 : Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
- No. 103: Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado
- No. 127: K'Von Wallace, S, Clemson
- No. 145: Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn
- No. 168: John Hightower, WR, Boise State
- No. 196: Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
- No. 200: Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Mississippi
- No. 210: Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
- No. 233: Casey Toohill, LB, Stanford
Best Pick: Jalen Reagor
The Eagles' pass-catchers have become a bit bogged down, but Wentz shouldn't have much issue finding separation with Reagor on the field. I love that Reagor will get to overlap his tenure with veteran DeSean Jackson, whose absence due to injury was a big missing link in 2019. Reagor wins vertically and has explosiveness to elevate for the ball. He'll pair well with Wentz’s big-play mentality.
Biggest Surprise: Jalen Hurts
Please do not adjust your screen. The Eagles, who signed Wentz to a nine-figure extension less than a year ago, drafted a quarterback in the second round of the 2020 draft. It was one of the stunners from Day 2 and Eagles fans have been understandably shellshocked by the decision. Philadelphia’s brass has pointed to Lamar Jackson's early usage in Baltimore and Taysom Hill's role in New Orleans as a comparison. But this team wrangled with conflict in the QB room when Nick Foles was around; too much success for Hurts will be a double-edged sword for the Eagles.
Day 3 Sleeper: K'Von Wallace
An overhauled secondary that now includes Wallace should have fans excited. This group has plenty of quick-footed defenders, but Wallace has the smarts to quickly wrestle away a prominent role in Philadelphia’s remade secondary. I like him to work his way into the primary nickel package.
X-Factor: Chemistry with QB Carson Wentz
This has layers. People were quick to gravitate to Foles after he commandeered a run to the team's first Super Bowl. Wentz has had some durability concerns throughout the early portions of his career, which further exacerbated this issue. Having a fringe top-50 pick in Hurts may do the same with too much success, which could threaten chemistry and polarize the locker room. Furthermore, chemistry will also be a variable for how well this remade receiving corps is able to contribute; an added bonus is the addition of Marquise Goodwin, who comes to Philadelphia via trade on Day 3.
Summary
Overall, Philadelphia should be pleased with two accomplishments this offseason: Its secondary got more diverse and receiving group got a lot faster. With better luck on the injury front, the Eagles should be back to contending for 10-plus wins and making a return trip to the postseason. They'll face stiff competition from their hated rivals in Dallas, but the Eagles' upgrades in team speed and to their two biggest positional weaknesses should help remedy what ailed them last year. Philadelphia will need to walk the tightrope to find the right mix for Hurts, but if it pulls the right strings there, this offense will be a headache to game plan against.
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