2021 NFL Draft projections following the 49ers, Dolphins, and Eagles trade

On March 26, Adam Schefter revealed that the Philadelphia Eagles, Miami Dolphins, and San Francisco 49ers were all involved in a first-round trade frenzy. When the smoke cleared across the NFL landscape, San Francisco held the third overall pick, while the Eagles moved down to the 12th overall pick, and the Dolphins settled in at No. 6. In light of Friday’s action, the 2021 NFL Draft projections for all three teams have changed. How are things different now?

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Implications of 49ers, Dolphins, Eagles trade sequence

It wasn’t entirely clear what teams like the 49ers, Dolphins, and Eagles would do at the quarterback position before Friday. There were indications that the Dolphins would stick with Tua Tagovailoa and that the Eagles would give Jalen Hurts a legitimate shot to start. Even the 49ers seemed relatively stagnant with Jimmy Garoppolo as the incumbent.

Nevertheless, there were whispers of movement on all fronts. Miami had been tied to Deshaun Watson at one point before legal issues clouded the quarterback’s outlook. Meanwhile, the possibilities for the 49ers remained numerous. As they sat at No. 12, trades for players like Sam Darnold, Gardner Minshew, and Kirk Cousins seemed more plausible than a rookie addition.

However, after the three-team trade saga on Friday — highlighted by the trade-up to No. 3 overall engineered by 49ers general manager John Lynch — the future is starting to come into focus. Here’s how the trades of March 26 impact the San Francisco 49ers, Miami Dolphins, and Philadelphia Eagles, respectively.

Altered NFL Draft projections after blockbuster trades

San Francisco 49ers’ projection

After trading up to No. 3 overall, the 49ers’ NFL Draft projections are all but certain to include a quarterback in the first round. Rumors and 49ers’ news suggest that some in the organization view Garoppolo as more of a hindrance than a help on offense.

Now, it’s clear that San Francisco is aggressively seeking an upgrade so that they can get back to the Super Bowl. Garoppolo may remain in San Francisco in the short-term, but he’s not their long-term answer.

The first two picks are almost locked in stone. The Jaguars can write Trevor Lawrence in sharpie at this point, and the New York Jets are reportedly zeroing in on BYU quarterback Zach Wilson with the No. 2 overall pick. This progression would leave Justin Fields, Trey Lance, and Mac Jones as the remaining quarterbacks for the 49ers after the blockbuster trade.

Some have said that Mac Jones shouldn’t be ruled out of the 49ers’ NFL draft projections at No. 3 overall, but Lance and Fields seem to be the most qualified candidates for the 49ers. Although most of it is projection, early indications suggest that Lance is the favorite over Fields. Lance isn’t always viewed as being on the same plane as Wilson and Fields. Yet, he is just as physically talented, and he’s an underrated fit for Kyle Shanahan’s offense.

He has some experience with Shanahan-esque verbiage at North Dakota State, and with his mobility and brisk arm talent, he’d project well as a passer on the move.

Nevertheless, Jones’s accuracy and high I.Q. also deserve consideration. During Friday’s episode of Breaking Down the Board, ESPN analyst Chris Doering called Jones a perfect fit for Shanahan’s offense.

Miami Dolphins’ projection

The Miami Dolphins first traded back with the 49ers on Friday, moving back to No. 12 overall. This move gave them a 2021 third-round, 2022 first-round, and 2023 first-round picks. Shortly after, they flipped the 12th pick to the Eagles for the No. 6 overall pick. Thus, the Dolphins experienced a net movement of three picks while solidifying three first-round selections from 2022 to 2023, culminating in five first-round picks over the subsequent three drafts.

Overall, the Dolphins have a healthy stock of future picks, but the current focus remains on what Miami will do with their earliest selection in 2021. Now that the Dolphins have traded out of the top three, quarterback can be safely removed from the equation. Moreover, the debate surrounding players like Penei Sewell, Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, Jaylen Waddle, and DeVonta Smith remains relevant.

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Although they made splash moves, the conversation doesn’t change much surrounding Miami’s NFL Draft projection. At the No. 6 pick, Miami is still in position to take the best offensive player available. One of the Alabama receivers — Waddle or Smith — seems most likely, especially if Cincinnati takes Joe Burrow’s favorite target from LSU, Ja’Marr Chase.

Waddle projects as a better fit for Tua and the Dolphins’ offense, but Smith would also provide a needed boost at wide receiver.

In Friday’s episode of PFN’s Breaking Down the Board, PFN Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider Tony Pauline reported that the Dolphins seem to be targeting Smith. However, he’s still trying to gauge their interest regarding Waddle and Pitts.

Philadelphia Eagles’ projection

The Eagles’ trade down to No. 12 overall causes a QB to absent from their NFL Draft projections. Consequently, Jalen Hurts’ status as a starter, while still precarious, became much stronger. Ian Rapoport reported that Philadelphia wanted to trade up to No. 3, but only if they could get Zach Wilson. As Wilson seems like a near-lock to be the Jets’ pick, that wasn’t a possibility.

While quarterback remains an area of uncertainty for the Eagles, they added substantial draft capital in this trade. They managed to swap the No. 156 and No. 123 picks in the 2021 NFL Draft and added another first-round pick in 2022.

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As a result, the Eagles could wind up with three first-round picks in 2022. It all depends on the conditional first-rounder in their deal with the Colts for Carson Wentz. If Wentz plays 75% of the team’s snaps — or if he plays 70% and leads them to the postseason — the pick included in the Colts-Eagles deal will become a first-rounder.

While Philadelphia has some fog to navigate through, they have the resources to kickstart a reset in the coming years. If Hurts manages to become the unquestioned starter, they have the picks to support him. And if he fails, they have the ammunition to trade up for a QB in 2022. As for 2021, their NFL draft projections include a pass-catching weapon to help bolster the offense.

If one of Waddle, Smith, or Pitts is still available, the choice is simple. Although, a top-tier defender like Jaycee Horn might also be in play.

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