Philadelphia Eagles draft buzz: Sitting with Grant Hermanns

Here’s a hugely-underrated prospect that could help the Philadelphia Eagles.

The 2021 NFL Draft is quickly approaching, and perhaps no team is in need of its arrival more than the Philadelphia Eagles. The unfortunate news is the 2020 season has been all kinds of bad. The good news is the draft can help fill a few obvious holes that have limited the Eagles as of late. It’s almost as if they’re cursed.

Among the biggest issues on their offseason checklist are the questions that surround the offensive line. While the Birds have the talent in some areas, they need to find and develop better depth players so that they might become eventual starters.

You could say that Brandon Brooks and Lane Johnson coming back next year will be a big boost to the team, but the injuries that have plagued the two along with Jason Kelce‘s age (and the way he flirts with retirement every year) are all causes for concern. We won’t even bring up the up-and-down play of the rest of the offensive line.

Saying the Philadelphia Eagles need to find help is an understatement, so with that being said, enter Purdue Boilermakers tackle, Grant Hermanns. A mountain of a man at six-foot-seven, the New Mexico native has the tools and skillset to be an upgrade for any NFL team. ITI had the opportunity to sit down with the rising star to ask him about his style of play, what’s it is like playing in a Power 5 Conference like the BIG Ten, and what he feels are his biggest strengths.

Here’s some of what he had to say.

"Playing in the Big Ten is always a fight to me. I mean, week to week, every single game you are in a dog fight. You face some really talented guys on the edge. The defenses in the Big Ten are stacked with guys who are going to play at the next level, so obviously, you need to be focused on your game. You need to keep your mind on your craft and constantly try to get better. You don’t have time to play around and not do your job or you will be replaced by the next man up. As far as my playing style, I think I am a nice guy off the field but very violent on the field. I play smart football, never going out of my way to do too much. I just do my job. I would say I am looking to dominate the man in front of me and make them feel me all game. I want to set the tone from snap one and keep that intensity all game."

Philadelphia Eagles fans will definitely want to hear these next two statements.

Before sitting down with the Purdue prospect, I reached out to a scouting source to get his take. He asked not to be mentioned by name but did have this to say:

"When you watch his film, you see what he capable of, or the potential basically. He is a big man with great athletic ability and a mean streak to him. I refer to him as a ‘violent teddy bear’ respectfully. The guy is a big teddy bear off (of) the field, but he’s a maniac on the field. He sets the tone and can dominate at times. I want to see him develop. but you see the size, skill set, and tools you want in a guy up front. He has all of it."

When watching the tape on Hermanns it is easy to fall for his potential. He has a strong lower half that helps him drive in the run game, a violent punch at first contact, as well as the athletic ability you rarely see in a six-foot-seven athlete. Moving forward, Hermanns spoke about his playing style and what he feels is his biggest strength.

"(It’s) my football IQ first and foremost. I take pride in the mental part of the game. I am a guy that is coachable, I never feel like I just know it all and won’t listen to coaching. I have some good athletic ability as well as the right mindset to be successful. My father taught me to always look for more, you know the more you can do, the better. I take that to heart. I will take this mindset to the next team I play for. I will always be a guy my team can lean on."

The holes that derailed the Philadelphia Eagles this season need to be addressed sooner rather than later. While the free agency period can help, the rule of thumb should always be to build through the draft.

Adding a player of Grant Hermanns’ skill set can only help this team moving forward. With the tools he brings to the football field and the mindset he carries into the locker room, Grant looks to be a true success story no matter where he ends up. Might that be Philly? Only time will tell.