Extra Points: Eagles Making Another Draft Gamble

The Eagles apparently are already looking ahead to the 2022 season.

Rather than add a potentially dynamic playmaker to help quarterback Jalen Hurts this year, general manager Howie Roseman opted to trade the No. 6 overall pick in the upcoming draft to Miami in exchange for the No. 12 pick this year and the Dolphins' first-round pick next year.

As a result, the Eagles put themselves in position to possibly have three first-round picks in the 2022 draft. If Carson Wentz plays 75 percent of the plays for the Colts (or 70 percent with a playoff berth), the conditional second-round choice the Eagles received as part of that trade becomes a first-rounder.

That could set the Eagles up for a bright future, but also makes for a cloudy present.
Despite their rumored interest in BYU quarterback Zach Wilson, the Eagles were more likely to use that No. 6 pick to boost their offensive firepower in support of Hurts. One of the top-rated wide receivers (LSU's Ja'Marr Chase, Heisman Trophy winner Devonta Smith, Alabama teammates Jayle Waddle) figured to be there. Florida tight end Kyle Pitts - a Philadelphia native, by the way - would also have been a great addition.

There's a chance that one of them could drop to 12th, but I've got a better shot at breaking 70 at Cape May National Saturday.

FYI, my best score is 76. And that was five years ago.

Barring an unlikely signing in free agency, Hurts is left to throw to tight end Dallas Goedert and an unproven corps of wide receivers that includes Jalen Reagor, Travis Fulgham, John Hightower, Quez Watkins and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.

Maybe Zach Ertz will stay in Philly and recapture his Pro Bowl form.

Yeah, and maybe I'll win the Escape the Cape Triathlon on Aug. 29.

The only way the Eagles can save face is if one of the top three cornerbacks - Alabama's Patrick Surtain, South Carolina's Jaycee Horn, Virginia Tech's Caleb Farley - is still on the board at No. 12. Getting a shutdown corner to pair with Darius Slay would be a major upgrade in the secondary.

But they could have filled that void in the second round with a talented prospect such as Georgia's Tyson Campbell, UCF's Aaron Robinson or maybe even Florida State's Asante Samuel, Jr., son of the former Eagles standout.

This was the Eagles' opportunity to get a stud and give the fan base something to get excited about after a disastrous 2020 season and a series of blunders and missteps by Roseman and owner Jeffrey Lurie in recent weeks. They made huge mistakes by firing coach Doug Pederson, bypassing Duce Staley in favor of Nick Sirianni, and allowing Carson Wentz to force his way out of town. But had a chance to make up for it.

Roseman and company have not made very smart draft decisions in recent years - Wentz was the only player selected after 2013 to make a Pro Bowl - but would have had a hard time blowing the No. 6 pick. Picking at 12 is more of a crapshoot.

That's not to say they won't get a good player there - defensive tackle Fletcher Cox was the 12th overall selection in 2012 - but it's not a given.

I have a better chance of growing a ponytail. Which would be tough, considering I have more hair on my chest than my scalp.