Final Eagles 3-Round 2021 Mock Draft

With the 2021 NFL Draft now just two days away, the Eagles’ plan this year is still uncertain. We’ve gone over several players in past mock drafts, so here is my final projection in totality:

Round 1, Pick #12: Jaycee Horn, CB – South Carolina

It would be incredibly difficult to pass on Jaylen Waddle or DeVonta Smith if either were still available here, but stud corners are harder to find than playmaking receivers. The Eagles desperately need another corner on this roster opposite Darius Slay. Avonte Maddox surrendered a passer rating of 108.3 this season and I doubt the Eagles are interested in playing Craig James or Michael Jacquet extensively.

For much of the scouting process, Patrick Surtain II had been touted as the top CB in this class. Horn is quietly overtaking that spot. Horn is a natural-born football player, following the footsteps of his father who was a 4-time Pro Bowl WR in his own right.

At 6’1″, 205 lbs, Horn possesses remarkable size and athleticism to be able to disrupt receivers at the line of scrimmage and prevent separation. Playing at both nickel and outside corner, his instincts in coverage allow him to follow opposing top receivers regardless of where they line up.

The former Gamecock only allowed a 33% completion percentage and 54.9 passer rating when targeted last season, in addition to running a 4.39 40-time at his Pro Day. Horn’s statistical production may raise some questions, but he is undoubtedly a CB1 at the pro level.

Round 2, Pick #37: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR – LSU

By trading back to #12, the Eagles will miss out on Ja’Marr Chase but they should be in prime position to take another LSU receiver. After another year of offensive struggles, the Eagles will surely look to add a potential playmaker for Jalen Hurts. The star prospect excelled in the seven games he played in before opting out the remainder of the 2020 season:

  • 48 receptions
  • 731 yards
  • 10 TDs
  • 15.2 yards/catch

At 6’3″, 200 pounds, Marshall Jr. has the ideal size teams are looking for in a #1 receiver. He has the necessary strength and football IQ to match up against physical corners and make contested catches. Marshall Jr. locates the ball well and is a tremendous route-runner for a player at his level. The former Tiger could use some work as a run blocker but if JJAW is on the roster next season, the Eagles will have all the blocking they need on offense.

Round 3, Pick #70: Richie Grant, S – UCF

The Eagles added safety Anthony Harris in free agency, but they could still use some young secondary talent in addition to K’Von Wallace. Grant is a ball-hawking safety that is always around the football, putting together an impressive 4-year career with the Knights:

  • 290 tackles
  • 10 INTs
  • 17 passes defended
  • 5 forced fumbles

Grant is incredibly versatile on defense, having played in the box at linebacker, single high, and as outside corner when needed. His closing speed allows him to get his hands on the ball and force pass breakups while baiting opposing QBs. Grant’s ball skills are desperately needed on an Eagles defense that ranked 23rd in takeaways this season.

Round 3, Pick #84 (From Colts): Chazz Surratt, LB – North Carolina

The Eric Wilson signing will help the Eagles over the middle, but they need to invest in the linebacker position at some point. Alex Singleton & TJ Edwards have been exciting to watch, but it’s onerous to view either of them as long-term solutions (holding out hope for Davion Taylor). Surratt came out of high school a three-star recruit as a quarterback and made the transition to linebacker in 2019. He was an immediate impact defensively for UNC.

Surratt recorded 115 tackles (15 for a loss) and 6.5 sacks in his first year at linebacker, finishing as the runner-up for ACC Defensive Player of the Year. The former Tar Heel has the ideal frame and athleticism to be a matchup nightmare for opposing offenses. Surratt evolved into one of the most productive pass-rushers in this draft with 63 QB pressures over the last two seasons, most by a non-defensive lineman. I’m sure the Eagles are still looking to add to their “QB factory” as well, so drafting the former dual-threat QB makes too much sense here.

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Mandatory Credit: John Korduner | Icon Sportswire

Victor Williams is the host/producer of The Philly Pod on iHeartRadio and leads all Eagles coverage as co-founder of The Liberty Line.

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