Following Malik Jackson’s release and the position change of Genard Avery this offseason, the Eagles could likely target the defensive line in this year’s draft. Like the offensive line, it can never hurt to have enough depth at the position, and there is some real talent in the 2021 NFL Draft.

While I wouldn’t expect this need to be addressed on the first two days of the draft, there is a very intriguing option available on day three. Former Temple Owl turned Miami Hurricane Quincy Roche could be a name to watch for the Eagles.

Roche just finished his senior season with the U, but before Miami, he started for the Owls for three seasons, eventually following Temple assistant David Feeley down south. There are many interesting points about Roche’s game, one of which is his ability to be an almost swiss army knife in the front seven.

It is unknown what defensive scheme new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon will use, but it will likely be a 4-3 with how dominant the d-line has been for so long. Depending on how the linebacker situation is addressed, Roche could be an option to be a Sam or Will OLB for the Eagles in a rotation situation. 

Quincy’s athleticism is one of the major draws to his game. His incredible speed allowed him to get upfield quickly and make huge plays. Despite being six foot four, Roche relied more on finesse pass rush skills to attack the QB, and for the most part, it worked quite well. 

Over his four years at Temple and Miami, Roche put up:

• 182 tackles
• 30.5 sacks
• 54 tackles for loss
• Eight forced fumbles

On rushes, Quincy was alright at holding his outside contain and keeping plays in between the tackles. Sometimes he would abandon his outside contain responsibility, which is concerning, but his speed allowed him to make the plays. 

The most concerning part of Roche’s play is his strength. Roche has never been one to rely on his muscle in pass-rushes, but he will need to develop those skills to transition nicely to the next level. The good news is this isn’t that much of a long-term concern. Roche has the build to be a well-rounded edge rusher but needs to add muscle or play more aggressive physically. His speed and athleticism could pose nicely for a hybrid OLB-DE player, but that remains in the air until it can be seen on the field.

History has proven to be kind to Eagles defensive end projects in recent memory. Josh Sweat is a fantastic example of taking a risk on someone in the middle rounds and developing them into a tremendous player. Under the right coaching and environment, Quincy Roche can thrive as a defensive end and expand his game to be a reliable option on the outside. If he is there at 123 or 150, I would seriously consider pulling the trigger and grabbing some more help up front.

Mandatory Credit: Miami Athletics