Philadelphia Eagles seven-round 2021 NFL mock draft

Round 5

Reminiscent of former Georgia Bulldogs’ linebacker Roquan Smith, Monty Rice is a rangy off-ball linebacker measuring in at a nearly identical 6-foot-1, 236-pounds. Rice has been a reliable cover-man for mismatch running backs and tight ends, showing the lateral mobility to cover ground from hash-to-hash.

Although Rice has shown the ability to shoot running lanes and contribute in run defense, his best role is as a weakside linebacker who can chase down the play from the backside. The 2021 NFL Draft’s linebacking class is full of players who embody the new-age evolution of the position, but few do it better than Rice.

A strong north-south runner, Zamir White had 144 carries through ten games for the Georgia Bulldogs totaling 779 yards and 11 touchdowns. At 216 pounds, White has NFL size and inherent athleticism to compete for snaps at the next level and contribute in a similar fashion to Patriots’ running back Damien Harris.

According to an article by Langston Wertz Jr of the Charlotte Observer from 2017, White ran a 4.4 forty and squatted 500-pounds at 222 pounds in his senior year of high school. Although his physical development may have hit its peak, the perfect match of his running style would make him a perfect power-complement to current lead back Miles Sanders. In a 2021 NFL Draft class filled with pass-catchers, White is a dose of the old-school power game.

Round 6

Losing a healthy portion of their secondary to the free agency market this coming offseason, the Philadelphia Eagles will seek a more fitting pair to Darius Slay. D.J. Daniel has been a boundary man-corner for the Georgia Bulldogs. Daniel posted an impressive display against the Joe Burrow-led LSU Tigers in the 2019 SEC Championship, matching up against 2021 NFL Draft wide receiver prospect Ja’Marr Chase.

Daniel would fit well as a second aggressive corner who can get physical at the line of scrimmage. Some of his technique in press will need to be refined with coaching out his tendency to overdo himself with punches at release, but Daniel has the physical and technical tools to play off-man from day one.

Round 7

At 6-foot-5, 315-pounds, Cory Durden has played three-technique defensive tackle alongside fellow 2021 NFL Draft prospect Marvin Wilson. Durden is a powerful interior presence who uses his wingspan well to get into the chest of the blocker, as well as surprising quickness which got him placed as a 4-3 edge on select snaps at Florida State.

One of the best penetrating run-defenders in the class, Durden not only has the power to bullrush an interior lineman but has the quickness to take advantage of open gaps in a blocking scheme. The Philadelphia Eagles spend much of their roster-capital on developing a deep unit of defensive linemen, and Durden could become a legitimate contributor.