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The Philadelphia Eagles made some interesting picks on Day 2 of the 2020 NFL Draft. Let’s take a look at some rapid reactions to them.
JALEN HURTS
In an ABSOLUTE STUNNER, the Eagles select quarterback Jalen Hurts with the No. 53 pick on Friday night. A QUARTERBACK.
Next stop for @JalenHurts: Philly
— NFL (@NFL) April 25, 2020
The @OU_Football QB is headed to the @Eagles!
: 2020 #NFLDraft on NFLN/ESPN/ABC
: https://t.co/G7fI4KRbG7 pic.twitter.com/NZXxGZ5wKT
Needless to say, there were a wide range of reactions, including a welcome by his new teammates, a whole lot of confusion, and some optimism.
Welcome to the best football city in America brotha! https://t.co/CKAMNLO7mb
— Carson Wentz (@cj_wentz) April 25, 2020
Norman to Philly! Let's run it back @JalenHurts #boomer #flyeaglesfly
— Lane Johnson (@LaneJohnson65) April 25, 2020
J Hurtssssssssss
— Genard Avery (@AveryGenard) April 25, 2020
Jalen & Jalen! Let’s go bro! @JalenHurts
— Reag (@jalenreagor) April 25, 2020
Congrats brudda @JalenHurts welcome home
— Cre'Von LeBlanc (@Strap_Ent) April 25, 2020
the eagles pick makes no sense and i'm dying inside
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 25, 2020
The #Eagles drafted… a… quarterback?
— Zack Rosenblatt (@ZackBlatt) April 25, 2020
The #Eagles take… a quarterback? #Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts is Philly’s pick at No. 53. Did not see that coming. But Carson Wentz may have a new backup… and it’s a QB business.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2020
???
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) April 25, 2020
The Eagles make a shocker of a pick by selecting Oklahoma QB Jalen Hurts with the No. 53 pick. The Eagles value second QBs as much as anyone — a philosophy validated in 2017 when Nick Foles helped them to the Super Bowl — but it will stir a lot of conversation in Philly.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) April 25, 2020
Oooooh. Interesting. https://t.co/1Jr9C6t76U
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2020
What in the ever loving shit is going on here?
— The Philadelphia Sports Table Podcast Show (@PhiladelphiaPST) April 25, 2020
The Jalen Hurts pick may be out of the box - out of this world for some - but this was again a move to add explosiveness, creativity to the #Eagles offense. Plus they have a potential backup QB, trade piece, or someday a starter. Not defending, but explaining their thinking here.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) April 25, 2020
From @NFLTotalAccess Live: The #Eagles invest at the most important position with a pick that'll be as debated as any Philly pick in years -- #OU QB Jalen Hurts. pic.twitter.com/YCv4vNhWxu
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) April 25, 2020
Like, Jalen Hurts can't even be happy about this lol.
— Jimmy Kempski (@JimmyKempski) April 25, 2020
Howie smoking dust
— Tyler R. Tynes (@TylerRickyTynes) April 25, 2020
I love Jalen Hurts! Obviously Carson is the franchise but Jalen is going to be a great player!
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 25, 2020
Eagles didn't want to sacrifice No. 53 pick last night. They hold onto it to take...a QB2.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) April 25, 2020
A lot to like with Hurts' track record at Alabama/Oklahoma. And Eagles value QB develop. But a second-round pick is a valuable resource.
Real mixed feelings on the Eagles drafting Jalen Hurts. I like the player and QB is the most important position in football, but this is an odd move to put it mildly.
— Tommy Lawlor (@lawlornfl) April 25, 2020
Take a flier on a QB on Day 3? Sure. Take one with the 53rd overall pick when you need help at CB, S, LB, WR and OL? Don't get it at all.
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) April 25, 2020
The "gadget" stuff is fine if you are using a late pick. Otherwise, help the $140M QB and commit to building a great passing game.
#Eagles can also decide to use Jalen Hurts as a change-up to Carson Wentz. But they don’t have an obvious backup in Nate Sudfeld. Nonetheless, various ways to question this pick, not only in relation to Wentz, but in terms of value and not trading up in round 1.
— Jeff McLane (@Jeff_McLane) April 25, 2020
Hurts, 21, is 6-1, 222. Ran a 4.59 40. Had 80 passing TDs in four years at Alabama/Oklahoma, 43 rushing TDs.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) April 25, 2020
Wonder what Jim Schwartz and Carson Wentz are thinking right now...
— Geoff Mosher (@GeoffMosherNFL) April 25, 2020
Philly....Why are y’all acting like having a great back up is a bad thing? (Btw I love Nate Sudfield) pic.twitter.com/V14aamWpQq
— Torrey Smith (@TorreySmithWR) April 25, 2020
Look at this way... the #Eagles landed the guy who threw to CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs...
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) April 25, 2020
your franchise QB (paid him a lot of money!) *just* got out from under the shadow of his backup winning a super bowl, and you just drafted one of the most likable and inspiring quarterbacks in college football in the second round
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 25, 2020
Ok. I’ve calmed down. After all, the only thing that needs to happen for this pick to not be a catastrophe is for the #Eagles to literally revolutionize the sport.
— Brent Cohen (@EaglesRewind) April 25, 2020
DAVION TAYLOR
At the tail end of the third round, the Eagles used their No. 103 compensatory pick on linebacker Davion Taylor out of Colorado. Taylor is a fast player who is seen as someone who can be versatile... but, he also doesn’t have the most experience. Which of course, has led to quite a variety of reactions.
The Eagles drafted Davion Taylor at No. 103.
— Brandon Lee Gowton (@BrandonGowton) April 25, 2020
Inexperienced and undersized but very athletic: https://t.co/Kbc5KQsd2t
Taylor, 21, satisfies the Eagles' desire to get faster. Ran a 4.49 40. Can help on special teams and sub packages and potentially develop into more.
— Zach Berman (@ZBerm) April 25, 2020
Highest the Eagles have drafted a LB since Jordan Hicks.
Davion Taylor isn't a linebacker yet or close to it. He's an athlete. They'll have to figure out the rest. https://t.co/dyATTbqRIZ
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) April 25, 2020
My notes on Davion Taylor end with "won't see his best football until at least his second contract with at least his second team". I hate my notes.
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) April 25, 2020
I am not having a good time tonight pic.twitter.com/HT4gmt65vF
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 25, 2020
***In terms of where they align***
— Benjamin Solak (@BenjaminSolak) April 25, 2020
Taylor is going to replace Jenkins/Kamu. He won't be lined up at depth between the tackles. He'll be flexed over slot TEs or rotated onto the line initially.
Have to try to limit his reads by getting him to half a field.
6-foot-1, 228. JuCo transfer. Very good athlete, ran 4.49. Did not play HS football because of religious reasons. Should have high floor as special teamer and upside as a starter. https://t.co/aQPmvI7JVv
— Sheil Kapadia (@SheilKapadia) April 25, 2020
I can live with LB Davion Taylor for sure. Explosive LB who can make plays all over the field.
— Tommy Lawlor (@lawlornfl) April 25, 2020
Taylor will be the WLB in Philly. T.J. Edwards will be in the middle and Nate Gerry at SAM. That's a young, fast set of LBs.
— Tommy Lawlor (@lawlornfl) April 25, 2020
#Eagles take a linebacker! Davion Taylor from Colorado. Ran a 4.49 in the 40.
— Martin Frank (@Mfranknfl) April 25, 2020
It’s like drafting Jordan Mailata except you’re using real picks
— BleedingGreenNation (@BleedingGreen) April 25, 2020
The theme of the Eagles' offseason has been speed, and they added some more by taking Colorado OLB Davion Taylor. He ran a sub 4.5 second 40 at the combine and is a former state champion sprinter. A developing prospect with some intriguing tools.
— Tim McManus (@Tim_McManus) April 25, 2020
For the record, I'm a fan of the Davion Taylor pick all things considered. He fits their mold of linebacker, has ridiculous speed and should be able to play MIKE. #Eagles
— Mike Kaye (@mike_e_kaye) April 25, 2020
Davion Taylor (@DavionTaylot) played 1.5 games of varsity football in HS in Mississippi. In the last four years, he went from being a JUCO walk-on to a starter at CU to now a third-round pick in the NFL. Pretty amazing.
— Nicki Jhabvala (@NickiJhabvala) April 25, 2020
He's also fast as hell. https://t.co/YaPkfFzBRJ
I can’t believe the 3rd round just ended and the most exciting thing the Eagles did was draft a project linebacker
— Jessica Towne (@RunThisTowne13) April 25, 2020
Jalen Reagor
— Michael Kist (@MichaelKistNFL) April 25, 2020
Jalen Hurts
Davion Jalen Taylor
The Jalen Draft.
Philadelphia, meet Davion. Davion, meet Philadelphia.#EaglesDraft | #FlyEaglesFly pic.twitter.com/kWY0gt9LYL
— Philadelphia Eagles (@Eagles) April 25, 2020