Eagles will miss 33-51 this year, but might get there in 2019

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The Eagles unsurprisingly traded away their No. 32 pick last night when the Ravens wanted to hop up and get Lamar Jackson. 

In it’s simplest terms, the Eagles traded No. 32 for two second-round picks — No. 52 this year and wherever the Ravens finish in 2019. That’s pretty solid value. 

Of course, moving down 20 picks this year isn’t completely insignificant. In doing so, the Eagles might miss out on some really great players, but Howie Roseman explained they think they can get the same quality player at 52 as they can at 32. If that’s the case, then this should have been the no-brainer. And after winning a Super Bowl, guess what? They get the benefit of the doubt. 

But that drop of 20 spots got me thinking. Just how valuable an area is this? — from 33 to 51, the picks the Eagles will have to watch tonight. Thanks to ProFootballReference, I looked back at the last 10 years. Because while the Eagles will miss out on picks 33-51 this year, there’s a good chance that Ravens pick will fall into this zone in 2019. Think about the Ravens: they won nine games last year but just drafted a quarterback, their GM is leaving and their head coach doesn’t have the job security he once had. That pick will probably be better than 52 in 2019. So if you’re an Eagles fan: root against the Ravens in 2018. 

In the last 10 years, 190 players have been drafted in slots 33-51. Of those 190 players, 27 have become Pro Bowlers — a rate of 14 percent. The most decorated player in this zone of the last 10 years is Rob Gronkowski, who went 42nd in 2010. He has been an All-Pro four times and has made five Pro Bowls. 

The list of 27 players includes guys like Landon Collins, Bobby Wagner, Connor Barwin and Derek Carr, in addition to Gronk. Here’s a complete look at all 190 players.

Sure, the potential to get an All-Pro or Pro Bowl-type player in the first round is probably greater, but this zone, aside from the Pro Bowlers, is full of quality starters in the NFL — guys who become starters for their teams for years and years. 

The Eagles have had an up-and-down history in this zone. They have drafted eight players in the 33-51 zone over the last 10 years: DeSean Jackson, Trevor Laws, Nate Allen, Mychal Kendricks, Zach Ertz, Jordan Matthews, Eric Rowe, Sidney Jones. Some home runs, but also some swings-and-misses. 

Meanwhile, the recent record at pick No. 32 hasn’t been great. 

Ultimately, the Eagles thought picking at 52 and possibly picking in the 33-51 range next year would give them a chance to get two good players. We won’t know how it all worked out for a few years, but the odds look pretty decent. Now, it's up to Roseman and Joe Douglas to pick the right guys. 

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