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Philadelphia Eagles: 2018 NFL Draft grades for Day 2 picks

By Jeremy Klump

PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 11: General manager Howie Roseman and head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles look on prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on September 11, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
PHILADELPHIA, PA - SEPTEMBER 11: General manager Howie Roseman and head coach Doug Pederson of the Philadelphia Eagles look on prior to the game against the Cleveland Browns at Lincoln Financial Field on September 11, 2016 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /
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The Philadelphia Eagles only made one pick on Day 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft, but it was a good one that will make an impact on the franchise.

The Philadelphia Eagles entered the 2018 NFL Draft as the defending Super Bowl champions. It was the first time in their team’s history they have done this, so it was going to be interesting to see how they handled the situation. Luckily, Howie Roseman and company have played their cards right, so far.

And Day 1, round 1, of the NFL Draft, Roseman, and the Eagles had the 32nd overall pick. They decided to trade back with the Baltimore Ravens, from No. 32 to No. 52, and in the deal, they picked up a 2019 second-round pick from the Ravens.

This pick could end up being a valuable one as the Ravens are not expected to be one of the better teams in the NFL. It was a great deal for the Eagles because they added an early pick for the 2019 NFL Draft and they did not take a running back at No. 32, which would have been a mistake.

Some fans were not happy that the Eagles were going to sit at No. 52 and wait to make their first selection of the draft, and it seemed Roseman felt the same. Philadelphia decided to trade back up during the second round from 52 to 49. The Eagles gave up their fifth-round pick (pick 159) to make this move, but it was worth it for two reasons.

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  1. The Eagles traded ahead of the Dallas Cowboys (who held pick 50). Dallas found out earlier in the day that future Hall of Fame tight end Jason Witten was retiring. That left a huge hole at tight end on their roster, and it was clear they needed to add one in the second round. And that is what makes the second reason that much better.
  2. Philly gets in front of the Cowboys, and then takes the best tight end available, who is named Dallas! Dallas Goedert is his full name, and the former South Dakota State tight end is a mismatch nightmare.

Adding Goedert to the Eagles offense seems like a move you would make in Madden, but head coach Doug Pederson has a plan that should scare opposing defensive coordinators. That means the Eagles now have Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, Nelson Agholor, Mike Wallace, and Goedert as their main passing targets.

Imagine this formation: Goedert and Ertz both split out wide to opposite sides, Jeffery in the slot, Agholor at H-Back, and then quarterback Carson Wentz and running back Jay Ajayi in the backfield. Ideas like this are exactly why the Eagles added Goedert. The possibilities are endless, and the mismatches are too.

Here is what NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein had this to say about Goedert,

"“Goedert is a very talented pass catching tight end with the ability to work all three levels of the field. His ball focus and ability to make the spectacular catch will make him the darling of fans and media throughout the draft process, but, he still has work to do. Goedert dominated a lower level of competition and will have to prove he can uncover and block against bigger, more explosive athletes as a pro. The size, speed and talent is there for him to succeed as a very good combo tight end if he works and plays with a little more urgency.”"

When you are the defending Super Bowl champions, you need to make sure you do not stay complacent in the offseason. And this is the perfect move to make sure you get better. The rich got richer on Day 2 of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Grade: A+

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