The NFL is saturated with talent at wide receiver, and that isn’t going to change anytime soon. The 2021 NFL Draft has just as much depth as the renowned 2020 class. In fact, some might say it has even more. Countless high-upside NFL Draft prospects contribute to that depth, and one of those prospects is Texas wide receiver Brennan Eagles. What makes Eagles an investment worth making in the later rounds of the NFL Draft?
Brennan Eagles NFL Draft Profile
- Position: Wide Receiver
- School: Texas
- Current Year: Junior
- Height: 6’3 5/8″
- Weight: 225 pounds
Tony Pauline’s Brennan Eagles Scouting Report
Positives: Nice-sized receiver who was a terrific red zone threat at Texas the past two years. Stout, plays like a big-bodied receiver, and uses his frame to shield away defenders. Comes over the middle of the field, competes to make the reception, and takes a big hit yet holds onto the throw.
Comes back to the ball after making himself an available target and displays solid quickness for a big-bodied receiver, as well as eye/hand coordination. Displays soft hands pulling the ball from the air.
Negatives: Plays to one speed and isn’t a vertical threat. Shows stiffness in his game. Must improve his route running.
Analysis: Eagles possesses the size and pass-catching skill to be a possession receiver at the next level, though he must expand and improve his route running.
Brennan Eagles Player Profile
Eagles’ football career, to this point, is a story of low production and high potential. Eagles has always been viewed as a high-upside receiver, even in high school. Attending Alief Taylor High School in Houston, Texas, Eagles never caught more than 18 catches in a season.
The 6-foot-4, 214-pound receiver flashed his immense potential in his junior season, hauling in 18 catches for 480 yards and 6 touchdowns. However, in his senior campaign, he missed all but four games with an injury and only managed to put up 230 yards and 4 touchdowns on 15 receptions.
Nevertheless, teams had seen enough from Eagles to submit claims for his talents. Eagles bolstered his résumé with solid testing, registering a 4.51 40-yard dash and a 37-inch vertical jump early on. In all, Eagles received a four-star rating in the 2018 recruiting class and ranked as the 128th overall player.
Eagles received interest from schools like Ohio State, LSU, Georgia, and Auburn. At last, an offer from Tom Herman’s Texas Longhorns brought him to Austin.
Brennan Eagles’ career as a Texas wide receiver
Contributing early in the Big 12 can be a daunting task, but Eagles was able to do so with the Longhorns. In his true freshman season, he played in 11 games and started one at receiver. In spite of his start, Eagles only logged 1 catch for 35 yards on the year. His primary role rested on special teams, where his size and athleticism proved to be valuable.
In 2019, Eagles returned to the fold as a true sophomore. He progressed over the course of the offseason and saw his role expand dramatically on the offensive side of the ball. Even as he competed for targets with Devin Duvernay and Collin Johnson, Eagles found a way to produce, catching 32 passes for 522 yards and 6 scores.
In 2020, Duvernay and Johnson left for the NFL Draft, and all eyes were on Eagles. While he was one of Texas’ top receivers, no one on the Longhorns’ roster registered more than 500 yards. Eagles was the second-leading receiver behind Joshua Moore, with 28 catches for 469 yards and 5 scores in nine games.
Despite never emerging as a bonafide No. 1 receiver, Eagles declared for the 2021 NFL Draft after his junior season, officially closing the curtains on his college career.
Brennan Eagles’ best fits in the 2021 NFL Draft
Eagles’ collegiate production matches up with his NFL Draft profile, more or less. He’s a talented receiver and a big-play threat who averaged over 16 yards per catch over the course of his career. However, for all of Eagles’ talent, he hasn’t been able to improve consistently. He’s still a fairly raw prospect, and he’ll need to keep refining his game in the NFL.
At any rate, the Texas wide receiver has quantifiable athleticism on his side. Eagles performed very well at Texas’ Pro Day, earning a Relative Athletic Score of 8.97. Among other numbers, Eagles recorded a 4.55 40-yard dash, a 36.5-inch vertical, a 125-inch broad jump, and a 6.93 three-cone at almost 6-foot-4, 225 pounds. Many of the necessary raw traits are there, and in the right situation, Eagles could become a steady big-play threat and red zone weapon.
Which teams present the best matches for Eagles?
In the Pro Football Network’s 2021 NFL Draft guide, PFN’s Chief Draft Analyst and NFL Insider Tony Pauline listed the Chicago Bears, San Francisco 49ers, and Houston Texans as good fits for Eagles.
The Bears need depth at receiver, and Eagles has the big-bodied frame to fit the bill. In San Francisco, Eagles’ combination of explosiveness and density may yield underrated run-after-catch potential. Finally, in Houston, Eagles would be a hometown kid, benefitting from familiarity early in his career.
Of course, as is often the case with late-round receivers, the fits don’t end there. Ironically, the Philadelphia Eagles would benefit from adding the Texas wideout. Teams such as the Washington Football Team, Detroit Lions, and Cleveland Browns would also benefit from his services.
For front offices seeking out depth and long-term upside, the Texas wide receiver provides tremendous appeal. In Rounds 5 through 7, the former Longhorn offers a valuable physical skill set, and his special-teams experience enables him to have an impact before his development takes shape.
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