Philadelphia Eagles: Early look at 2021 NFL Draft position needs
By David Glancy
Philadelphia Eagles top 2021 NFL Draft needs: Linebacker
The Philadelphia Eagles could address a long-term need by selecting a game-changing linebacker with the sixth overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. At six, the Eagles would likely have their pick of linebackers and could select local star Micah Parsons, the Penn State do it all linebacker that sat out his junior season due to COVID concerns.
Philadelphia has not selected a linebacker in the first round of the draft since drafting UCLA linebacker Jerry Robinson 21st overall in 1979.
While Philadelphia doesn’t have the worst linebacking unit in the NFL, their failure to address the position in free agency or the draft has led to the continued downward trajectory since their 2018 Super Bowl win. Given the limited options in free agency due to cap constraints, if the Eagles are to address the linebacking position, it should be with a day one or two pick in the 2021 NFL Draft.
Defensive Back
If Roseman continues the trend of avoiding linebackers in the first round of the draft, the second most likely defensive position the Eagles could target in the 2021 NFL Draft would be the cornerback position.
The Eagles did trade for star corner Darius Slay last offseason and while he has improved the position, the Eagles should still look to draft a long-term counterpart. Slay is locked into an additional three years in Philadelphia and carries a $21.75 million cap hit next season.
Slay’s cap hit drastically drops to $6.5 million and $3.25 million in his final two years of the deal, indicating a team struggling to find cap, could move on from Slay after the 2021 season.
Ranking near the middle of the league in both passing defense and takeaways, a shutdown corner may not necessarily be the most prominent need entering the draft, however, the Eagles could be in a position to draft the first corner in the 2021 NFL Draft or one of the top prospects in the second round.