Philadelphia Eagles: 2021 NFL Draft grades for top 3 picks
By Drew DeLuca
Philadelphia Eagles select DL Milton Williams at Round 3, Pick 73
Grade: B
Once again, we like the player, but question the team’s decision to fortify a comparative team strength (defensive line) at the expense of more glaring weaknesses.
We were hoping that UCF cornerback Aaron Robinson would’ve lasted two more spots, and Divine Deablo would’ve been a great fit in new defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon’s defensive scheme as a safety/linebacker hybrid.
We don’t know exactly what the team has in mind for Williams, who lacks ideal size to be either an interior defensive lineman or defensive end/edge rusher. He’s best suited for a base 4-3 system, which Gannon ran under Mike Zimmer with the Minnesota Vikings, but not so much under Frank Reich in Indianapolis, in which defensive line configurations and coverage schemes varied, depending on personnel.
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Williams is exceptionally strong and quick and uses his hands well, but he can improve his gap discipline; we suspect that playing alongside Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox will help him come up to speed quickly in this area. We look forward to seeing the Eagles address their remaining holes at defensive back and linebacker in Day 3.