Ranking Every Eagles Draft Pick Since 2020: The 2021 Class

If the 2020 draft was defined by the Reagor-Jefferson catastrophe, the 2021 class is defined by something completely different: a masterclass in roster construction. Howie Roseman came into this draft with the sixth overall pick and a franchise quarterback entering Year 2. He left with two cornerstones on both sides of the ball, a future $100 million defender, and a reliable running back — all without a first-round price tag for most of them. This is the draft that built the foundation for a Super Bowl.

This is Part 2 of our five-part series ranking every Eagles draft pick since 2020. If Part 1 was about pain and redemption, Part 2 is about the draft that changed everything.

Round 1, Pick 10: DeVonta Smith, WR, Alabama — Grade: A

The Eagles originally held the sixth overall pick but executed a savvy trade-down with Miami, collecting an extra first-rounder in 2022 and a fourth-round pick, then flipped back up from 12 to 10 with Dallas. The target was always DeVonta Smith — the reigning Heisman Trophy winner out of Alabama who fell because NFL teams couldn't see past 170 pounds on a scale.

Philadelphia's scouts saw what mattered: elite route-running, contested-catch ability, and a football IQ that translated immediately. Smith set the Eagles rookie receiving record with 916 yards in 2021, breaking DeSean Jackson's mark from 2008. Through five NFL seasons, he's piled up 385 receptions for 5,019 yards and 31 touchdowns across 80 games. He's a legitimate WR1 who reunited with his Alabama quarterback Jalen Hurts to form one of the NFL's most lethal connections.

The only thing keeping this from an A+ is the occasional disappearing act in the biggest moments, but Smith is a top-tier receiver on a team that needed exactly that. The trade maneuvering to acquire him while stockpiling future capital? Chef's kiss from Roseman.

Round 2, Pick 37: Landon Dickerson, G, Alabama — Grade: A+

This is the pick that should be studied in every NFL front office. Landon Dickerson fell to the second round because of injury history at Alabama — multiple torn ACLs had teams scared. The Eagles didn't blink. They saw a 6-foot-6, 332-pound mauler with first-round talent at a second-round price, and they pulled the trigger.

Dickerson has been a Pro Bowl selection every year since 2022. He helped anchor the offensive line that carried the Eagles to Super Bowl LVII, then came back and did it again for Super Bowl LIX — this time winning the whole thing. In 2024, he was part of the unit that blocked for Saquon Barkley's historic 2,005-yard regular season rushing campaign, making Barkley just the ninth player in NFL history to crack 2,000. The Eagles set the record for most combined rushing yards in a single season at 3,866.

At pick 37, getting one of the five best guards in football who's been to the Pro Bowl three straight years and has a Super Bowl ring? That's an A+ and it's not close. Dickerson is the steal of this entire five-year draft window.

Round 3, Pick 73: Milton Williams, DT, Louisiana Tech — Grade: A

Milton Williams might be the most underrated pick of the Roseman era. A third-round defensive tackle out of Louisiana Tech doesn't exactly light up the back pages, but Williams developed into an elite interior pass rusher who played himself into generational money.

With Fletcher Cox's retirement, Williams stepped into a larger role and dominated. In Super Bowl LIX, he recorded two sacks and forced and recovered a fumble in the 40-22 demolition of the Chiefs. That performance was the exclamation point on a career arc that saw him go from developmental mid-round pick to one of the most disruptive interior defenders in football.

Williams signed a four-year, $104 million contract with the New England Patriots in March 2025. The Eagles couldn't keep him — and that's actually the highest compliment you can pay a third-round pick. You drafted a player at 73 who commanded $26 million per year on the open market. That's an A all day.

Round 4, Pick 123: Zech McPhearson, CB, Texas Tech — Grade: D

The Eagles desperately needed cornerback help in 2021, and McPhearson was the answer in the fourth round. Unfortunately, the answer was wrong. McPhearson, a Texas Tech product who transferred from Penn State, never carved out a meaningful role in the secondary. Injuries limited his development, and when healthy, he couldn't beat out the competition. He was out of Philadelphia within two seasons and never made a lasting NFL impact. A swing and a miss at a position of need.

Round 5, Pick 150: Kenneth Gainwell, RB, Memphis — Grade: B+

Kenneth Gainwell was exactly what you want from a fifth-round running back: a reliable, versatile contributor who helped you win a Super Bowl. He spent four seasons in Philadelphia, catching passes out of the backfield, spelling the lead back, and doing the dirty work. In Super Bowl LIX against the Chiefs, Gainwell contributed six carries in the blowout victory.

After leaving Philadelphia, Gainwell signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers for the 2025 season and earned Team MVP honors — voted on by his teammates. He then landed a two-year, $14 million deal with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. A fifth-round pick who won a Super Bowl, earned MVP recognition on another team, and is still getting paid in Year 5? That's excellent value.

The Late Rounds: Tuipulotu, Jackson, Stevens — Grade: D+

The Eagles used three sixth-round picks on Marlon Tuipulotu (DT, USC), Tarron Jackson (DE, Coastal Carolina), and JaCoby Stevens (S/LB, LSU). None of them became meaningful contributors. Tuipulotu flashed in camp but never translated it to game day. Jackson and Stevens were developmental projects that didn't develop. That's the nature of the sixth round — you're swinging for upside and most swings miss. No harm done when your first three picks are all All-Pro caliber talents.

Overall Class Grade: A

The 2021 class is the backbone of everything the Eagles built over the next four years. DeVonta Smith gave Jalen Hurts a true number-one weapon. Landon Dickerson transformed the offensive line into the best unit in football. Milton Williams became a $100 million player. Kenneth Gainwell was a quality contributor who won a ring and went on to thrive elsewhere. The late-round misses are irrelevant when your top four picks all hit.

The 2021 draft also showcased Roseman's best skill: manipulating draft capital. Trading down from 6 to 12 with Miami netted a future first-rounder that became part of the A.J. Brown trade package. Trading back up from 12 to 10 for Smith cost minimal capital. Every move had a purpose, and every purpose paid off. This is the draft class that proved Howie Roseman learned from 2020's mistakes — and built a champion in the process.

Next up in Part 3: The 2022 class — where Roseman went all-in on defense and reshaped the Eagles' identity overnight.