The Philadelphia Eagles enter this week’s NFL Draft with more selections than any other club. And there could be more to come.
Entering this past season, the Philadelphia Eagles were one of only four teams in the league to reach the playoffs at least three consecutive years. Doug Pederson’s club won Super Bowl LII in 2017, earned a wild card berth the following year and captured the NFC East with a 9-7 mark in 2019.
Of course, it all came apart this past year as the Birds stumbled out of the gate, went through two starting quarterbacks and finished with a 4-11-1 mark. The team originally owned the sixth overall pick in this week’s draft, but after some wheeling and dealing by general manager Howie Roseman, the team moved down six spots and also snagged the Miami Dolphins’ first-round selection in 2022. At the moment, the Eagles (who traded Carson Wentz to the Colts) own 11 picks in 2021 – more than any other team in the league.
Sunday on SportsCenter, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler revealed some possible goings with the team from the City of Brotherly Love and its prolific tight end (courtesy of Bleacher Report):
“I’m told that [Zach Ertz]’s been waiting, bracing for a change, a trade, a release, for the better part of the last two months. It has not happened yet, but Philly sits at 12 overall. It’s not an overly deep tight end class after Kyle Pitts. So if they move back, or down, or wherever they want to move in the three days of the draft, perhaps Zach Ertz could be a part of that deal. And Howie Roseman has been making a lot of calls. The GM of the Eagles has been active. A source told me that ‘Philly’s up to something with that 12 pick.’ Maybe Ertz will be involved in that.”
The Eagles could be making moves at the draft
Perhaps this is a reach but last week, new head coach Nick Sirianni refused to name a starting quarterback for his club (via Kevin Patra of NFL.com). And was stated, that went for every position on the team. The Eagles have only two quarterbacks (Jalen Hurts and veteran Joe Flacco) on their roster (courtesy of Ourlads).
Is there any possibility that Roseman plans on moving up to grab a new prospect behind center? Could Ertz be on the move and Pitts the heir apparent? Intriguing indeed for a team that not too long ago was hoisting a Lombardi Trophy.