The Eagles drafted 10 players last month but this is an unusual offseason and those players won’t get a chance to be with their teammates in Philly for quite some time. It’s already hard enough to acclimate to NFL life and these guys will have to do a bulk of that work remotely.
So maybe we should temper our expectations for this class during their rookie seasons.
Still, a few of these guys are going to need to play roles in 2020. Here’s the outlook for all 10 draft picks for their rookie seasons:
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1-21: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Without a ton of reliable players returning at the position, Reagor should play quite a bit as a rookie. We just don’t know where yet. Reagor would make the most sense as a “Z” receiver in the Eagles’ offense but that’s the spot currently owned by DeSean Jackson. It won’t be good enough for the Eagles to simply sit Reagor behind Jackson and not play him, though. They used the 21st overall pick on Reagor and need to get him involved. They can play him at the “X” at times and can try to work him into the slot position too. It’s a lot to train a rookie at multiple positions but the Eagles need to get Reagor on the field early.
The good news with Reagor is that he can get involved in non-traditional ways. His ability on screens and end arounds shouldn’t be wasted. The Eagles wanted a dynamic playmaker and they have to find ways to get the ball into Reagor’s hands. That also means a role as a return man. He averaged 17.0 yards per punt return in college.
Here are the FanDuel over/under numbers for Reagor’s rookie season: 700.5 yards and 4.5 touchdowns.
NFL
The only rookies in Eagles history to put up those numbers are Jordan Matthews (67/872/8) in 2014 and Fred Barnett (36/721/8) in 1990. If Reagor has that kind of rookie season, that would be a nice success.
2-53: Jalen Hurts, QB, Oklahoma
The most talked about pick in this class was Hurts at No. 53. Had the Eagles taken a different position with this pick, there’s a pretty good chance he’d be expected to play a lot as a rookie. That same expectation does not apply to Hurts.
For all the talk about a Taysom Hill-like role, Hurts was brought in to be a backup quarterback and he might not even be the second-stringer to begin the 2020 season. I’d expect Nate Sudfeld’s experience to give him the edge as a No. 2. ’The only way Hurts plays very significant time is if something happens to Carson Wentz and Sufeld … or if Hurts, during a weird offseason, catches up quickly and beats out Sudfeld for the No. 2 job. I can’t see it happening.
Even if Hurts does play as much as Hill with the Saints or Lamar Jackson with the Ravens in 2018, that’s still not a ton. Last year, after already being with the Saints for a couple seasons, Hill played about 15 snaps per game. And in 2018, before he became a starter, Jackson played an average of fewer than 10 snaps per game. Playing Hurts would also mean keeping three QBs active on game day, which isn’t a given.
If you have a major hunch that Hurts is going to not just play, but be great, Hurts is +10000 to win Offensive Rookie of the Year in 2020, according to FanDuel.
3-103: Davion Taylor, LB, Colorado
At 6-foot, 228 pounds, Taylor is an athletic freak who ran a 4.49 at the combine and a 4.39 at the Colorado pro day. That speed shows up on tape and Taylor has the ability to move sideline to sideline and even chase down runners from behind. It’s easy to see why the Eagles like his upside.
But it’s hard to imagine he’ll play very much on defense as a rookie. Because of his family’s religious beliefs, Taylor didn’t play high school football and after two years at JUCO played just two total seasons at Colorado. He needs plenty of developing.
For now, the Eagles have Nathan Gerry, T.J. Edwards, Duke Riley and Alex Singleton as the incumbent players. No, there are no stars, so maybe Taylor’s athleticism is enough to get him on the field. I’d expect him to get reps at the weakside linebacker position, at least early in his career, to utilize his athleticism. And he’s going to play a ton on special teams. He can do that right now.
4-127: K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson
Aside from Reagor, Wallace probably has the best chance to play a lot among the members of the rookie class. He was a three-year starter at Clemson and played in 59 games with 36 starts. And with how multiple Jim Schwartz’s defense can get on the back end, finding snaps for Wallace shouldn’t be very difficult.
Also, remember that the only guys ahead of him at safety are Rodney McLeod, Jalen Mills and Will Parks (and Nickell Robey-Coleman at the nickel spot). We know McLeod will be the Eagles’ free safety but there’s a pretty big void at the other safety spot after the Eagles decided to let Malcolm Jenkins walk. While Mills will probably get the first crack at that job, he’s switching positions and Parks is switching teams. And both are on one-year deals. So there’s a really good shot Wallace will see time over one or both of those guys, at least at times, this season.
At the combine, Wallace ran a 4.53, which is probably one of the main reasons he was still available in the fourth round, that and his 5-11 stature. But Wallace was a playmaker in college and possesses the toughness, competitiveness and instincts Jim Schwartz likes. He could become a starter down the line after being a role player as a rookie.
4-145: Jack Driscoll, OT, Auburn
In his two years at Auburn, Driscoll was a right tackle and the Eagles listed him as a tackle when they drafted him. But Driscoll played left guard earlier in his college career at UMass and many think he projects better as an interior lineman. Heck, Driscoll even worked as a center in the pre-draft process to add more versatility to his resume.
But if things go to plan, Driscoll won’t see the field as a rookie. The Eagles have their starting five and then have Matt Pryor and Jordan Mailata as backups. While some people thought the fourth round was too early for Driscoll, it’s hard to imagine the Eagles cutting a fourth-rounder too. So that means he’ll be one of nine or 10 offensive linemen on the roster. It’s unlikely he plays but if injuries happen, he’ll have to be ready. Driscoll will still be behind Pryor at guard, Mailata at tackle and probably Seumalo at center.
5-168: John Hightower, WR, Boise State
At 6-1, 189 pounds Hightower ran a 4.43, but he had just two seasons at Boise after transferring from a JUCO school. He’ll be fighting for a roster spot with sixth-round pick Quez Watkins and veteran Marquise Goodwin. He doesn’t project to play a ton as a rookie but if there are injuries at receiver, like we saw in 2019, he has as good a chance as anybody else.
6-196: Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
As a sixth-round pick, Bradley doesn’t have a roster spot locked up but I really like his chances to make the team and then to play a role on special teams. And while Taylor, the third-round linebacker, arrived late to football, Bradley was a three-year starter at Temple and had at least 78 tackles in each of his last three seasons. Remember, T.J. Edwards ended up carving out a role as an undrafted rookie linebacker last year, so the idea that Bradley might play some in 2020 isn’t crazy at all.
6-200: Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss
Like Hightower, Watkins will be fighting for a roster spot. The Eagles love his 4.35 speed but he’s more likely a developmental player right now.
6-210: Prince Tega Wanogho, OT, Auburn
Many consider this pick to be the Eagles’ best value pick in the 2020 class. Some folks thought Tega Wanogho would go in the second or third round but he lasted until the sixth because of a knee injury and subsequent surgery. That might make him a prime candidate for a trip to IR and what would basically be a medical redshirt season as a rookie. But if he’s healthy, Tega Wanogho should compete with Jordan Mailata for swing tackle duties. Both are high upside tackles with minimal playing experience. But at least Tega Wanogho has played in the SEC, while Mailata has played just a few preseason NFL games.
7-233: Casey Toohill, DE, Stanford
A trend in this draft class, Toohill is an athletic developmental player. At 6-4, 250, he’s not the biggest guy but he has pass rush upside. He’s certainly not a roster lock, though. Unless the Eagles really sour on Shareef Miller, Toohill faces an uphill battle just to make the team. But if the Eagles can get him to the practice squad without losing him, he’s worth keeping around to develop.
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