Philadelphia Eagles decision to trade up for DeVonta Smith is puzzling

Ladies and gentlemen, if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles, you can go to bed smiling after the first night of the 2021 NFL Draft. The guy many of you wanted, DeVonta Smith, is a Bird now. There isn’t a member of the Inside The Iggles staff that doesn’t love the pick, especially after seeing who was already taken and who’s available.

The question is, however, was it necessary to trade up to land him? Philly swapped first-round picks with the rival Dallas Cowboys. They also gave Dallas one of their two third-round draft choices. If you’re scratching your head, you’re not alone.

Let’s just toss around a few ideas if you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan.

The Birds probably had no way of knowing that the New York Giants would trade the 11th selection to the Chicago Bears, but the Cowboys have CeeDee Lamb, Amari Cooper, and Michael Gallup. They definitely weren’t taking a receiver. Then again, the Gants may have snuck in and swooped him. Then, Philly would have to worry about trying to stop the guy two times per year.

If you’re a Philadelphia Eagles fan, again, you love the pick. The question is whether or not it was necessary to part with valuable draft capital (and give it to a rival). Maybe they heard a rumor that the Cowboys were thinking of taking the Heisman Trophy winner to keep him away from the guys in midnight green? You never know.

Some were fearful that the Birds would reignite the ‘Quarterback Factory’ by taking Justin Fields. Nope! He’s going to Chicago to join the Bears.

The Slim Reaper is an Eagle! Finally, Howie Roseman and Jeffrey Lurie do something right! The former Heisman Trophy winner, a man who earned a Unanimous All-American nod and SEC Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2020 as well as two First-team All-SEC nods in 2019 and 2020, brings his talents to the City of Brotherly Love. He and Jalen Reagor will provide two very nice options for Jalen Hurts.