This is one draft Birds have to get right

The only real question is whether the Eagles trust themselves to draft a true playmaker.

If you’ve been critical of what the Eagles did in the last draft, you’re probably not going to like how they handle this one.

Instead of taking the highestrated player on their board, they reached for speed with their first-round selection of Jalen Reagor, whose numbers are well below the top receivers in the 2020 draft.

In the second round the Eagles got quarterback Jalen Hurts, their most productive rookie this season, although he’s flamed out slightly after winning his starting debut in place of Carson Wentz.

If the Eagles lose to Washington Sunday night, they can choose as high as third providing Atlanta beats Tampa Bay, Cincinnati defeats Baltimore and Houston upsets Tennessee. Otherwise, the Eagles could draft anywhere from fourth, with a little luck, to no later than 10th. Several probability models peg the Eagles for the sixth pick.

Anybody who watched Alabama torch Notre Dame in one of the college football semifinals Friday had to be impressed with receiver DeVonta Smith, who caught three touchdown passes without breaking a sweat. He could be available in the top seven choices.

The only real question is whether the Eagles trust them

selves to draft the playmaker after selecting Reagor last spring and JJ Arcega-Whiteside in the previous draft. JJAW has done very little to justify his status as a secondround pick.

Cornerback Patrick Surtain also had a solid game and could be the first defensive back to come off the board.

Now, the production did come against Notre Dame, not Ohio State or Clemson. Speaking of the Buckeyes and the Tigers, they’re so loaded with talent that it would be tough to go wrong taking the best player available from either squad.

But back to the Eagles and their status. There is a ton of interest in quarterbacks Trevor Lawrence (Clemson), Zach Wilson (BYU) and Justin Fields (Ohio State). Does anybody else have doubts about Lawrence being the best of that group, looking at his last two national playoff games?

Fields threw six TD passes to defeat Lawrence and Clemson, including some textbook deep balls that woke up his critics. That he did it with the imprint of a facemask on his swollen ribcage courtesy of a chilling hit made it more remarkable.

If the Eagles are in the top four or five picks of the draft, they’re going to have to take a hard look at those quarterbacks. That could make Wentz or Hurtz expendable, Hurts obviously being the easier quarterback to trade.

If the Eagles are confident they have their quarterback they could entertain offers for the pick. It’s unlikely any of the top quarterbacks will be around past six, although there’s also a chance the New York Jets could trade back.

The bottom line is the Eagles need players. They literally could put the names of their top 20 prospects in a hat, draw one and it would address a critical need.

Right now, the Eagles have seven draft picks (1st round, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 5th (from the Cowboys), 6th, 7th) this spring. Obviously with the salary cap hell they’re in it would be prudent to replenish the roster with young, inexpensive talent. That also would facilitate moving on from high-priced veterans like Zach Ertz, DeSean Jackson, Alshon Jeffery and possibly maybe even Fletcher Cox.

At any rate, should the

Eagles hang in and use their top 10 pick there are plenty of playmakers to choose from, particularly on the defensive side of the ball.

The cornerback has been mentioned.

Here’s some can’t miss group of prospects:

PATRICK SURTAIN II (6-1, 203), CB, ALABAMA » PSII is long, fluid and has great ball skills. His press coverage is NFL-ready. He has an eye for the ball, a knack for stripping opponents a la Malon Humphrey of Baltimore and is an outstanding tackler for a corner. ANALYSIS » Surtain is the elite corner the Eagles never seem to get. They blew it when they didn’t move up for Marshon Lattimore in 2017, settling for defensive end Derek Barnett. Surtain would be the Eagles’ best corner the first time he steps on the practice field. If he’s there at five or six, get him on the phone. MICAH PARSONS (6-2, 245),

MLB-OLB, PENN STATE » Parsons opted out of football this season, so he didn’t make any progress. One look at his highlights, though, and you may not care. Terrific downhill player with a nose for the ball and an explosive getoff. Parson could walk into the NovaCare Complex today and be the Eagles’ surest tackler. Incredibly disruptive and it rubs off on teammates. If he was taller and stronger, he’d draw comparisons to Lawrence Taylor. (Hopefully he’s not LaVar Arrington.)

ANALYSIS » Dif ferencemaker. A steal at six, probably won’t be there at 10. A guy who makes the players around him better.

CALEB FARLEY (6-2, 197), CB, VIRGINIA TECH » Instinctive, fluid, amazing athleticism, ball skills and fundamentals. He would be the best pure cover corner on the field at his first practice with the Eagles. Technically outstanding. Never out of position. Almost too good to be true.

ANALYSIS» Tremendous upside. Won’t make it to 10.

KWITY PAYE (6-4, 277), DL, MICHIGAN » A relentless, hand-in-the-dirt guy who sets the edge and finishes. Big-time bull rush. At times he’s unblockable. Think Brandon Graham, only bigger. Functional strength. Collapses pockets. Looks like he can add another 15 pounds.

ANALYSIS» If the others are gone, Paye would be an outstanding selection.