Somewhere a scout is still blinking. The Eagles spent the Round 5 slot on Ainias Smith, a name the board had a full 42 spots lower.
The Eagles indulged a want in Eichenberg while a need in interior defensive lineman and running back stayed open. That interior defensive lineman hole did not close this weekend, and it was the biggest one on the wall.
Getting Wilson where they did is the sort of value that quietly makes a class. Cornerback is handled and the depth chart looks a good deal healthier for it.
Nothing here to lose sleep over, and plenty to feel decent about.
Pick-by-Pick
R1.26
· Pick 26
· Dallas Turner
· LB-EDGE
· rank 23
In the 26th overall pick they get a double-digit-sack hope. The biggest hole, addressed.
R2.20
· Pick 52
· Tyler Guyton
· OT
· rank 48
A reasonable price with a little left over, Tyler Guyton in the Round 2 slot. A need, and now a little less of one.
R2.31
· Pick 63
· Kingsley Suamataia
· OT
· rank 63
No edge and no loss on Kingsley Suamataia in slot 63; it is a wash and a sensible one. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
R3.34
· Pick 97
· Payton Wilson
· LB
· rank 87
Nice patience on Payton Wilson, who had no business lasting to pick No. 97. A minor need, but a need all the same.
R3.35
· Pick 98
· Tommy Eichenberg
· LB
· rank 120
They bypassed pressing needs at interior defensive lineman and running back to take Tommy Eichenberg, a linebacker that was not the priority.
R4.20
· Pick 120
· James Williams
· S
· rank 139
James Williams in No. 120 is a bet on their own eyes over everyone else's grade. Another box on the needs board, quietly ticked.
R5.1
· Pick 137
· Ainias Smith
· WR
· rank 179
A wild overpay on Ainias Smith in the 137th pick, the sort that defines a class for the wrong reasons. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
R5.21
· Pick 157
· Jaylin Simpson
· CB
· rank 158
Jaylin Simpson in pick 157 is fair value, right on his grade. They walked in needing this and walked out with it.
R5.36
· Pick 172
· Malachi Moore
· S
· rank 169
Malachi Moore in No. 172 lands just on the right side of the ledger. It patches a soft spot without any drama.
R6.3
· Pick 178
· Joe Milton III
· QB
· rank 171
Good price on Joe Milton III in the Round 6 slot, a hair ahead of his grade with no real quibbles. One more legitimate question on the roster, answered.
R7.27
· Pick 247
· Bryson Nesbit
· TE
· rank 247
By-the-book stuff, Bryson Nesbit at pick No. 247 squarely in line with his ranking. A sensible fit that makes the depth chart a little sturdier.