Grading the Day 3 picks: Eagles close out draft with a run on speedy receivers

The Eagles said they wanted volume in this draft, and they ended up selecting 10 players — six on offense, four on defense — over the three days.

We’ve covered the Jalen Reagor pick and the Day 2 selections (Jalen Hurts and Davion Taylor). Below are thoughts on the seven players the Eagles selected Saturday, along with their trade for 49ers wide receiver Marquise Goodwin. Scouting reports are courtesy of “The Beast,” Dane Brugler’s essential draft guide.

Round 4, No. 127 — K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson (5-11, 206)

Sheil Kapadia: This pick makes complete sense for the Eagles. They’ve emphasized “positionless” players in the secondary this offseason. Wallace fits that description. He played corner, nickel and safety at Clemson, appearing in 59 games and starting 36.

Wallace ran a 4.53-second 40-yard dash but tested in the 96.8 percentile athletically. He can come in and compete for a starting safety spot. Wallace could also carve out a role in sub-packages and become a player who helps the Eagles beyond 2020.

Versatile, athletic defensive back who was durable and productive at a big-time college program? That’s a win in the fourth round.

Grade: B+

Bo Wulf: Boring competence at last. I was hoping here for UCF wide receiver Gabriel Davis, who went one pick later, but there’s certainly more depth in the wide receiver class than at safety and Wallace fits what the Eagles want to do. This is an entirely reasonable selection.

The Eagles have taken a patchwork approach at the safety position by re-signing Rodney McLeod, preparing for a Jalen Mills position switch (after signing him to a one-year deal) and signing Will Parks to a one-year deal. So there are no long-term answers, and Wallace fits the skill set sought by the Eagles. If he’s good enough early, maybe he can contribute in three-safety looks and afford Mills flexibility to move back to cornerback.

Grade: B- (A small ding because the selection is big points for Sheil in the Owl You Know draft.)

K’Von Wallace returns an interception for a TD against Charlotte. (Richard Shiro / Associated Press)

Zach Berman: There’s a lot to like about the Wallace pick. The Eagles needed to invest in the position after neglecting to add a safety through the draft since 2016, and Wallace is the team’s highest-picked safety since 2011. He offers the versatility the Eagles want. He played cornerback and safety at Clemson. He can cover the slot. He can play in the box. “You get multiple positions out of me,” Wallace said on a video conference. Clemson coach Dabo Swinney shared a similar sentiment in a statement, saying Wallace is “kind of a Swiss Army Knife.”

Wallace tested well athletically, with a 4.53-second 40-yard dash, a 133-inch broad jump (96th percentile for his position) and a 6.76-second three-cone drill (85th percentile). Add in that he started 36 games for Clemson, served as a captain at one of the best programs in the country and showed his durability by playing a school-record 59 games. There was a track record for the Eagles to examine.

At the minimum, he would have value as a special teams player and rotational safety. The ceiling might just be as a solid starter, although that’s better than what the Eagles have had at the position in a while from a rookie. He doesn’t have to be a top-end safety, which would matter if he’d been taken in the second round instead of the fourth round. There were other safeties I liked, including some still on the board at the time of the pick, so perhaps the Eagles could have looked at a different position, but I won’t object to adding Wallace. Getting his profile and track record in the fourth round at a position the Eagles needed to target makes sense.

Grade: B+

Brugler says: “A three-year starter at Clemson, Wallace lined up at strong safety in defensive coordinator Brent Venables’ 4-3 hybrid scheme. He played in the deep middle and near the line of scrimmage, mixing in some nickel responsibilities in his role. Although he is built more like a cornerback, Wallace runs and plays like a safety, patrolling the field with eagerness to run the alley or jump the route. While his overaggressive mentality leads to wild pursuit or false steps, his ability to sense play design helps give him a head start on plays. Overall, Wallace doesn’t have ideal size/speed for what the NFL covets at the position, but he checks boxes for his awareness, toughness and competitive drive, projecting as a cover safety who has a chance to be a low-end starter.”

Round 4, No. 145 — Jack Driscoll, OL, Auburn (6-5, 306)

Kapadia: For those keeping track at home (I’m looking at you Bo), this is the third hit from my Eagles-only seven-round mock.

That’s three hits from the mock, @Bo_Wulf. Let’s make it a two- or three-hour BwF tonight. I can spend the first few segments just taking a whiff. @ZBerm pic.twitter.com/PSjvPTOOkg

— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) April 25, 2020

Driscoll began his career at UMass before transferring to Auburn, where he played the past two seasons. He started 25 games at right tackle but has previous experience at guard. Driscoll tested in the 64.7 percentile athletically. The Eagles likely hope that he can earn a roster spot as a versatile backup during his rookie season, and maybe has upside to eventually become a starter.

Howie Roseman has a good track record with offensive linemen on Day 3 of the draft, and Driscoll offers versatility and athleticism. Plus, he was a good player at a big-time program the past two seasons. This is another pick that made sense.

Grade: B

Wulf: Driscoll might project to guard at the next level, and there are two reasonable paths for him to hit his upside with the Eagles. The first is as the Halapoulivaati Vaitai replacement as a swing tackle who can maybe fill in at guard as well. That’s an important role, and Jordan Mailata is obviously no sure thing there. It’s also possible Driscoll eventually fits in as the left guard of the future while Isaac Seumalo eventually replaces Jason Kelce. That’s why I thought the push for a center-first prospect as a Kelce replacement was always misguided.

I’m not naive enough to think I can identify offensive line prospects better than Roseman and Jeff Stoutland, but, for the record, Kansas’ Hakeem Adeniji would have been the pick for me at this profile — though he hadn’t been selected as I wrote this in the fifth round so the market has probably spoken there. This Driscoll pick is a good use of resources that figures to help in both the short term and long term.

Grade: A-

Jack Driscoll runs the 40-yard dash at the combine. (Brian Spurlock / USA Today)

Berman: Driscoll was a right tackle at Auburn, but the Eagles might be viewing him as a player who can play the interior. In fact, Driscoll said he’s been working on center throughout the pre-draft process, and he has an intriguing profile if they choose to use him in that role.

Driscoll is lauded for his intelligence — he earned an undergraduate degree from UMass and an MBA from Auburn, had a 3.8 GPA and was a finalist for the William V. Campbell Trophy — and his athletic testing at the combine was impressive. Aptitude and quickness are good places to start, and he understood in college that his NFL future could be on the interior. (Football intelligence can be different than classroom intelligence, but Driscoll explained how study habits and academic success have helped him play offensive line.) That makes me like the pick more. As a right tackle, Driscoll’s lack of size and length would be viewed as a hindrance. But as an interior player and a potential center, he’s an intriguing pick.

Grade: B

Brugler says: “A two-year starter at Auburn, Driscoll lined up at right tackle in head coach Gus Malzahn’s spread option offense. He made the jump from UMass to Auburn prior to the 2018 season and started 25 games at right tackle the last two seasons in the SEC. Driscoll earned two degrees at the college level and was a standout in the classroom, which also translated to the field, working hard to stay between ball and defender. However, he struggles to sustain blocks in pass pro or create push as a drive blocker in the run game. Overall, Driscoll is a hyper-aware, well-prepared blocker who plays with quickness, but his movement pattern flaws and the lack of ideal length/strength will be tough to mask against NFL competition, projecting as a utility lineman.

Eagles acquire WR Marquise Goodwin in trade with 49ers

* The teams swapped sixth-round picks as part of the deal, with San Francisco receiving No. 190 and the Eagles getting No. 210.

Kapadia: The Eagles moved back 20 spots in the sixth round to acquire Goodwin from the 49ers. The speedy 29-year-old wide receiver was a non-factor last season, appearing in nine games and catching just 12 balls for 186 yards. The best-case scenario for the Eagles would be that Goodwin reverts to his 2017 form (56 catches for 962 yards, 17.2 yards per reception). But that’s unlikely. Goodwin has battled injuries throughout his career and has produced fewer than 450 yards in six of seven seasons.

This is a low-risk move, given the cost. But the truth is he’ll be competing for a roster spot. If it’s close between Goodwin and someone such as Hightower, the Eagles will go with Hightower. Why? Goodwin is scheduled to make $3.95 million this season. But if DeSean Jackson suffers an injury or if Hightower doesn’t play well, the Eagles have another speed option.

A perfectly reasonable move to make, but one that should be viewed with tame expectations.

Grade (on a scale of phone apps*): BestParking app. In theory, it should be useful. But more often than not, I find a street spot and don’t need it. That’s OK though, since it was free and I can delete it any time.

* Goodwin is a veteran, hence the separate grading scale. If you have questions about this, take it up with Bo.  

Wulf: I was getting prepared to yell about giving up any semblance of a resource for Goodwin, who turns 30 in November and has been injured and generally ineffective each of the past two seasons. But a swap of sixth-round picks is entirely reasonable. I’m glad the Eagles got the message about the need for speed. Goodwin’s odds of making the roster are probably below 50 percent, but it’s a free roll.

Grade: The Compass app. I’ll probably never use it, but it comes pre-installed for free and maybe I’ll need it one day.

Marquise Goodwin after a play in October. (Kyle Terada / USA Today)

Berman: The Eagles want speed, and Goodwin has world-class speed (literally — he competed in the 2012 Olympics). So it’s understandable why they had interest. And the cost was minimal; they moved down only 20 spots in the sixth round. The trade makes sense and it’s worth seeing what he has, but this doesn’t mean you should go buy a Goodwin jersey. He’s played only 20 games the past two seasons, and totaled 35 catches in that span. Goodwin was productive in 2017, although that’s his only season with more than 500 yards. He’s 29 and injury-prone. Expectations must be kept in perspective.

The Eagles might determine that, with three speedy rookies, they don’t need to carry Goodwin’s $6.45 million salary this season. Or they might not feel comfortable having so many inexperienced wide receivers and want Goodwin for his field-stretching ability. That answer will come this summer (assuming there’s training camp/preseason).

Grade: HQ (trivia app). I had it a few years ago and it was fun to play at a time to beat the clock with answers. But I stopped using it at some point, haven’t opened it since and now I’m looking at it and wondering if I need it on my phone anymore.

Round 5, No. 168 — John Hightower, WR, Boise State (6-1 1/2, 189)

Kapadia: After a season in which they looked like one of the slowest offenses in the NFL, the Eagles have added much-needed speed in a 72-hour span. They drafted Jalen Reagor in the first round and added Hightower in the fifth.

Hightower will be a 24-year-old rookie. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash and averaged 18.5 yards per reception last season (51 catches for 943 yards). I didn’t see a special route runner or a true burner on film, and he had issues with drops. (He dropped 11.3 percent of his catchable targets, per Sports Info Solution.) But Hightower has tools and was productive in college.

I believe in gambling on athleticism on Day 3. The Eagles can see if they can carve out a Shelton Gibson-like role for Hightower, and maybe he has some more upside.

Grade: B-

Wulf: We can now officially say the Eagles’ decision-makers were as tired of watching a slow offense as everyone else was. Hightower brings speed to the table and not much else, but that’s a fine bet to take in the fifth round. He was one of my favorite players at the Shrine Bowl — I thought he was the only wide receiver with any juice whatsoever — and he can compete for a role on special teams and eventually project as a No. 4 wide receiver/speed threat.

What I don’t like about Hightower is that he’s old — he turns 24 in May — and has some drops in him. If the Eagles were committed to drafting a player with speed, which I’m on board with, I think Quez Watkins of Southern Miss would have been a better pick. (Update: Later in the day, the Eagles drafted Watkins in the sixth round at No. 200.) He’s younger, was more productive in his junior season compared to Hightower’s senior year (1,178 yards to 984 yards) and ran faster (4.35-second 40-yard dash to 4.43). Maybe there’s a medical or off-field issue I’m unaware of.

Grade: B

John Hightower runs for a touchdown against Air Force in 2018. (Isaiah J. Downing / USA Today)

Berman: By this point, noting that the Eagles are emphasizing speed is redundant. Hightower is a deep threat. When we profiled the non-top 10 wide receivers last week, I pegged Hightower as a speed option on Day 3. I liked him in that role and figured he would be a good complement to Justin Jefferson in Round 1. By adding Hightower after drafting Reagor and trading for Goodwin, the Eagles are stocking up on players who can threaten defenses downfield. (And DeSean Jackson is already on the roster.)

Hightower turns 24 next month and isn’t a volume receiver, so you’re buying a specific trait on an older prospect. He ran a 4.43-second 40-yard dash. When you watch him play, the downfield speed and ball tracking are real. He can also stretch the field horizontally on gadget plays. He was a track star in junior college and averaged 17.6 yards per catch in two seasons at Boise State. That doesn’t always translate to the NFL, though, as the Eagles saw in 2017 with Gibson. They could have selected a high-volume slot receiver at some point in this draft to pair with Reagor, knowing they’d need more than just speed at the position. But the Eagles were clearly tired of seeing an offense that lacked downfield juice. Hightower is another attempt at rectifying the problem.

Grade: B-

Brugler says: “A two-year starter at Boise State, Hightower was the ‘X’ receiver in head coach Bryan Harsin’s offense. He finished his short stint in Boise with 2,606 all-purpose yards (317 rushing, 1,447 receiving, 840 kick return and 2 punt return) as the coaches looked for different ways to get him the football, giving him wildcat snaps and running option plays. With his long strides, Hightower immediately accelerates to his top speed, stacking cornerbacks and stretching the defense. While he is a reliable downfield threat, his routes and hands in the short-to-intermediate game aren’t as mature, thinking about the noise around him. Overall, Hightower is a one-trick pony with inconsistent finishing skills and discipline, but his vertical speed and tracking skills are reminiscent of an undeveloped version of Will Fuller, making him worth the gamble in the middle rounds.”

Round 6, No. 196 — Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple

Kapadia: Fight, fight, fight for the cherry and the white! Sorry, I’m delirious.

Bradley was a durable, productive three-year starter for the Owls, finishing with 256 career tackles (22 for loss).

“He is a really good athlete,” one scout told The Athletic’s Bob McGinn. “Instinctive, plays hard. Just that modern-day space linebacker. He can cover a lot of ground. Liked him a lot.”

Another scout was not as complimentary.

“I did not see a 4.5 guy on tape,” he said. “At all. Ever. I thought he played real lackadaisical for a guy that had a single digit (jersey No. 5) at Temple. Those guys are supposed to be bad asses. I didn’t see a guy that deserved to have a single digit.”

Bradley ran 4.51-second 40-yard dash and tested well (64.2 percentile) athletically. He’s a fine player to take a flier on in the sixth round.

Grade: B-

Wulf: Bradley is sort of a poor man’s Davion Taylor in that his primary selling point is speed, but he has much less upside as a contributor to the defense. He looks like a potential core special teams player, and the Eagles were badly in need of linebacker depth, so the pick makes plenty of sense.

Grade: B+

Shaun Bradley flexes after a defensive stop against Maryland. (Bill Streicher / USA Today)

Berman: I’m going to run out of ways to say the Eagles want to get faster. A defensive back in high school, Bradley fits what the Eagles want at linebacker now — smaller and faster. He’s 6-feet and weighs 235 pounds, and ran a 4.51 40. That was the fifth-fastest time among linebackers at the combine. He was honored with a single-digit jersey at Temple, which goes to its toughest players. Bradley might never become a defensive starter for the Eagles, but if he can help on special teams and serve as a speedy reserve, it’s a good result. Plus, it’s always a good story when the Eagles add local talent.

Perhaps the team could have drafted a cornerback with this pick, though, after going with Taylor in the third round. Then again, the linebacker depth chart is bare.

Grade: B

Brugler says: “A three-year starter at Temple, Bradley was the Mike linebacker in defensive coordinator Jeff Knowles’ scheme, playing primarily to the field side. He moved from defensive back to linebacker when he joined the Owls and was awarded a single-digit jersey for his final two seasons. Bradley transfers his weight smoothly to run in pursuit, which shows with his aggressive angles and movements in coverage. However, his diagnose skills are stuck in the development phase and there is little shock in his hands, meaning climbing blockers are dead ends for him. Overall, Bradley is the type of competitor who won’t cut himself in camp and has the chance to make the back end of a roster due to his special teams contributions, but his struggles to anticipate and get off blocks make it an uphill battle.”

Round 6, No. 200 — Quez Watkins, WR, Southern Miss. (6-0, 185)

Kapadia: The Athletic’s Dane Brugler had one of my favorite writeups of Watkins, saying he “can be knocked off balance by a cool breeze” and “needs more glass in his diet.” Watkins is another burner. He ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash at the combine and averaged 18.4 yards per reception last season.

On film, Watkins showed the ability to leave defenders in the dust and could track the ball downfield. The coaches gave him a lot of contested-catch opportunities. You don’t want him doing anything in the middle of the field, but Watkins can make plays on the outside. A good outcome would be some version of Gibson.

Grade: B

Wulf: Watkins is the guy I thought was worth the pick the Eagles used on Hightower. He was one of my favorites among the group of Day 3 wide receivers. He was productive in college, entered the draft as an underclassman, and he’s really fast. I think the 4.35-second 40-yard dash speed plays on the field. He has juice. The depth of the wide receiver class probably pushed him further down the board than he would have gone in a typical year, but this is also a slight, raw player so let’s manage expectations. But between Watkins, Hightower and Goodwin, the Eagles should be able to make sure there’s always someone who can clear out a little space in the middle of the field for Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert.

Grade: A (Not only does he make sense for the Eagles from a value and fit perspective, but he’s also responsible for me making a late Owl You Know rally.)

Quez Watkins scores a touchdown against Tulane. (Tim Heitman / USA Today)

Berman: Spending a sixth-round pick on a wide receiver who ran a 4.35-second 40-yard dash is hard to criticize. Watkins is a developmental player, which is why he was available at this point in the draft, but he has speed and production (64 catches, 1,178 yards, six touchdowns). He’s the fourth wide receiver the Eagles added this weekend, and all profile as speed threats.

They could have better diversified the types of receivers they added, though. It’s the No. 200 pick and they added one of the fastest players in the draft, but here’s my quibble with the pick: After drafting Hightower and trading for Goodwin, they could have gone with a different position here. Then again, there’s risk with all three, so if it’s a position they need to address, they might as well get more lottery tickets.

Grade: B

Brugler says: “A two-year starter at Southern Miss, Watkins was the ‘Z’ receiver in former offensive coordinator Buster Faulkner’s scheme, lining up inside and outside on the right side of the formation. He found himself suspended from the team following the 2018 season, but to his credit, he boosted his grades and did everything that was asked of him to return to the program (one of only six FBS receivers to average at least 107.0 receiving yards per game in 2019). Watkins has special speed to stress a defense vertically and after the catch, expanding his catch radius with his long arms. However, he doesn’t set up receivers in his patterns and needs to be more mentally and physically focused to translate his gifts into functional football athleticism. Overall, Watkins’ lack of play strength and sophisticated route running are two issues that could keep him from seeing immediate NFL reps, but his explosive speed and length are two outstanding foundation traits to build upon, projecting as a Day 3 developmental prospect.”

Round 6, No. 210 — Prince Tega Wanogho, T, Auburn (6-5, 308)

Kapadia: As mentioned earlier, Roseman has drafted well with offensive linemen on Day 3. Wanogho started 32 games at left tackle for Auburn and was a second-team All-SEC selection last year as a senior.

He grew up in Nigeria before moving to America in 2014. Wanogho excelled as a defensive end in high school but moved to the offensive side of the ball in 2016.

There are medical concerns with Wanogho — he’s been rehabbing from a meniscus injury — but he offers some upside. I have no issue with using a sixth-round pick on him in hopes that he can develop into a useful player.

Grade: B

Wulf: When you amass late-round volume, you can afford to take high-upside swings on players with red flags, which is what the Eagles have done here for a player who almost certainly fell lower than the third or fourth round because of a lingering knee issue. Think of Tega Wanogho as you thought of Jordan Mailata as a seventh-round pick. The market thinks it’s unlikely he can become a starter, in this case because of the knee, but the 90th-percentile outcome is a starting left tackle. Odds are he spends his rookie season on injured reserve.

Grade: A- (This is the time to make a luxury pick, not in the second round.)

Prince Tega Wanogho signs an autograph during a Senior Bowl event. (Vasha Hunt / USA Today)

Berman: At this point in the draft, take a swing for the fences. Maybe it’s gambling on a trait, maybe it’s a player with a red flag. I’d use the undrafted market to try to unearth a base hit; late in the draft, I’d want to find someone who can outperform the draft slot.

And that’s Tega Wanogho, who apparently fell to the sixth round because of injury concerns. But Brugler had him ranked as the No. 86 overall player in the draft and the Eagles took him at No. 210. He has the athletic qualities to play left tackle in the NFL after starting 32 games at the position at Auburn. So he’s a good value pick with a chance to be better than a sixth-rounder. And if the injuries limit him or he doesn’t develop, it was a small price to pay.

Grade: B+

Brugler says: “A three-year starter at Auburn, Wanogho lined up at left tackle in head coach Gus Malzahn’s spread-option offense, showing steady development each season. The Nigeria native has been playing the sport since only 2014 and moved to the offensive line in 2016 so the instinctive issues are understandable, but his intelligence and ‘want-to’ are there. Wanogho is a gifted athlete with bounce in his feet that allows for quick advantages, helping him protect the corner vs. edge speed or redirect vs. inside counters. He creates too many self-inflicted mistakes due to timing and finesse issues with his punch and needs to load more ammo into his hands. Overall, Wanogho doesn’t currently play with consistent timing or cohesion (and his knee issue is a question mark), but he is a toolsy prospect with NFL starting potential due to his light-footed athleticism and reliable football character.”

Round 7, No. 233 — Casey Toohill, DE, Stanford (6-4, 250)

Kapadia: Based on testing numbers, Toohill was the most athletic edge defender (94.3 percentile) in this draft. He turns 24 in August and was just a one-year starter, so expectations should be tempered. But Toohill had eight sacks and 11.5 tackles for loss last season.

He’s battled injuries — Toohill appeared in just seven games in 2018 because of an arm injury — but has an intriguing profile. This is another pick that makes sense for a Day 3 flier. Toohill has athletic traits, and maybe he can develop into a sub-package pass-rusher.

Grade: B

Wulf: Toohilll’s a semi-surprising pick because he profiled more as a 3-4 outside linebacker, but the Eagles are announcing him as a defensive end. Once again, the Eagles seem to be leaning into athletic testing, as Toohill stood out at the combine. If he turns into a capable special-teamer and Joe Ostman replacement, that’s a fine outcome. We’ll see what happens in undrafted free agency, but I (probably) would have liked to see this pick used on a running back or tight end.

Grade: B

The Eagles closed out this draft by selecting Casey Toohill at 233. (Darren Yamashita / USA Today)

Berman: A 3-4 linebacker at Stanford who played as a stand-up linebacker and with his hand in the ground, Toohill tested well at the combine (74th percentile in the 40-yard dash, 91st percentile in vertical jump, 92nd percentile in broad jump) and had eight sacks last season. There are tools to develop, but my reservation with the pick is more that the Eagles waited too long to address edge rusher. This was not a great class at the position, although there were spots earlier to find a player who projects as a starter. The Eagles have a glut of rotational defensive ends as it is. Will Toohill be better than that?

Grade: B-

Brugler says: “A one-year starter at Stanford, Toohill lined up as an outside linebacker in defensive coordinator Lance Anderson’s 3-4 scheme. He battled injuries as an underclassman and struggled to find his role, but started to ‘cut it loose’ as a senior, according to head coach David Shaw, which resulted in him leading the team in backfield production. Whether he put his hand on the ground or stood up, Toohill was at his best rushing the quarterback on film due to his quickness, length and motor. He didn’t give up many chunk plays in space, but choppy breakdown skills put a sizable dent in his tackling batting average. Overall, Toohill is a projection because he is a better upfield player right now, but he should improve his hand work and functional strength to become more well-rounded, projecting as a late-round developmental prospect.”

More coverage: Eagles draft

(Top photo of John Hightower: Steve Conner / Associated Press)