Philadelphia Eagles 2021 seven-round mock draft: Eagles get their guy

The Philadelphia Eagles find Rodney McLeod’s successor.

There is no replacing McLeod but the Eagles need someone behind him. Marcus Epps is not the long term answer as a single-high safety. K’Von Wallace is better as a box safety. No one knows what Grayland Arnold is yet. McLeod will be back from injury at some point next year but it’s his last year on contract.

Richard LeCounte III is off the board in our mock draft but Richie Grant isn’t a bad pick by any means. He gives the Eagles exactly what they need with the ability to play that single high role. in cover 1 and cover 3. He’s not limited to that role and has some versatility but he’s best suited to play deep.

While the Eagles like Marcus Epps in that role, he doesn’t have great closing speed. Grant can get across the field and make plays on the ball as long as he sees everything develop. He’ll have to get a little bit better at recognizing route concepts. That’s part of the process though. Safeties can’t be expected to enter the league and know every team’s route concepts. Grant is going to get baited at times early in his career but he’ll develop eye discipline as he gets more experience. The other flaws he’ll have to fix are getting off of blocks and wrapping up ball carriers in the open field.