Who will the Birds take?
The 2019 NFL Draft will be here before you know it. Mock draft season is in gear and there’s no shortage of opinion as to whom the Philadelphia Eagles might select with the No. 25 overall pick. Let’s take a look at which players the experts have the Eagles taking this week.
The Draft Network (Custom) - Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
Malcolm Jenkins turns 32 this year while Rodney McLeod and Andrew Sendejo will be free agents after the 2019 season. It’s time for the Eagles to start thinking about the future of the safety position. In an ideal world, a rookie Adderley would beat out Sendejo for the No. 3 safety job before taking over as a full-time starter in 2020.
Bleeding Green Nation (Ben Natan) - Jaylon Ferguson, DE, Louisiana Tech
Despite bringing Malik Jackson on board to pair with Fletcher Cox and signing Brandon Graham to keep him in place, the Eagles should still consider deepening the defensive line. Jaylon Ferguson is one of the most productive college football defenders ever and is slowly getting put in the first rounds of mock drafts. The Eagles would get some security at defensive end as Derek Barnett returns from a shoulder injury.
Bleeding Green Nation (Benjamin Solak) - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida
I opened up with what remains the most dire need on Philadelphia’s roster: a young safety. Both McLeod and Sendejo are on one-year deals and Malcolm Jenkins is on the wrong side of 30. In a league in which you want to have 3+ safeties who can play, the Eagles are locked for 2019 — everything beyond that is very up in the air. Chauncey Gardner-Johnson is the best safety in this class, with true combo ability and a feisty demeanor.
SB Nation (Dan Kadar) - Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
Little has as much pure talent as any offensive tackle in the draft, but the technical aspects of his game need work. Going to Philadelphia, where he can sit a year behind the great Jason Peters, would be the ideal scenario. Few blockers set their base as well as Peters, and that’s exactly where Little needs to improve.
The Draft Network (Benjamin Solak) - Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
We have to begin by acknowledging that Oliver is going to fall. I’d be shocked if he goes Top-10. There’s too much smoke from plugged-in media members for there not to be fire. So where does he go? To the short list of teams who are willing to take big gambles in the Draft; who color outside of the lines and chase competitive advantages. Oliver will be an outlier if he’s successful, and many NFL teams are willing to miss on outliers and adhere exclusively to the orthodox. C’est la vie. It sounds like something Philadelphia would do, even with the addition of Malik Jackson: Oliver’s penetration quickness and flexibility won’t be valued anywhere more than they will be with the Eagles, and Fletcher Cox’s gravity will free Oliver up. That’ll be a new luxury for him.
Rotoworld (Josh Norris) - Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
The Eagles had to cycle through corners last season, week after week. Many of them now have starting experience, but is there one you can point to and call a long-term answer at the position. Murphy is that.
Rotoworld (Mark Lindquist) - Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, S, Florida
No explanation but a complete 7-round mock. Other picks:
53. Philadelphia Eagles -- Stanford WR J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
57. Philadelphia Eagles -- Michigan State CB Justin Layne
127. Philadelphia Eagles -- Stanford RB Bryce Love
138. Philadelphia Eagles -- South Carolina T Dennis Daley
163. Philadelphia Eagles -- NC State LB Germaine Pratt
197. Philadelphia Eagles -- North Carolina EDGE Malik Carney
Rotoworld (Evan Silva) - Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
(No explanation)
NFL.com (Lance Zierlein) - Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
The Eagles have been taking a piecemeal approach at the running back position for a few years now, but Jacobs would give them a three-down back with limited tread off the tires and a legitimate talent as a pass-catcher.
NFL.com (Bucky Brooks) - Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama
The Eagles need a dynamic RB1 in the backfield to create more explosive plays. Jacobs can grind out the tough yards between the tackles or deliver some sizzle plays on perimeter runs and swing passes out of the backfield.
CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso) - Christian Wilkins, DL, Clemson
With Haloti Ngata and Michael Bennett gone, the Eagles add to their defensive line with Wilkins, a workmanlike prospect who can carry out multiple duties.
CBS Sports (R.J. White) - Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware:
Adderley is a converted cornerback who can cover in the slot or play centerfield. His athleticism makes him a great fit in Philly’s defense.
CBS Sports (Will Brinson) - Andre Dillard, OL, Washington State
Jason Peters can’t play forever (right?) and the Eagles need to prepare for the future. Getting Dillard in now would give them time to work on his run blocking reps (Mike Leach didn’t do much of that) and get him prepped to take over for Peters.
Sports Illustrated (Conor Orr) - Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
I really liked a few of the drafts I saw where the Eagles took a Jason Peters heir apparent. But in this made-up world I’ve created, where all the general managers do exactly what I want, the world has led us here. Murphy played a heavy dose of zone in college and has a reputation for sticking his nose in on the run game.
NJ.com (Zack Rosenblatt) - Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
If Ferrell falls all the way to No. 25, the Eagles should pounce. Ferrell was one of the most productive pass rushers in college football — 27 sacks and 50.5 tackles for loss the last three years — and would be able to step into the Eagles’ defensive end rotation right away. Whether Chris Long returns this season or not, the Eagles need to develop a young edge rusher, especially if Brandon Graham starts to show any signs of decline as he passes 30 years old. Christian Wilkins would be another logical pick here. If both were gone, perhaps the Eagles would consider Nasir Adderley, though a running back like Josh Jacobs would still be surprising.
Eagles Addict (Dave Stoessel) - Ed Oliver, DT, Houston
The trade: Pick #25 plus one of their second rounders to Miami for pick #13. This could very, very easily be for a DE instead if their coveted player is there. Given the current state of the DL, there isn’t much behind the top 2 starters at DE and DT. Adding Oliver to form an interior trio rotation of he, Cox and Jackson would be formidable. Pressure from the middle is devastating for opposing offenses. Some believe that Oliver’s draft stock is “falling” due to his size but I’m not buying it. He has the potential to be a stud in the NFL. Check out this scouting report, it’s a great breakdown on Oliver and should leave you ready to sell out to get him on draft day.
Bleacher Report (Kristopher Knox) - Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
The Philadelphia Eagles managed to re-sign cornerback Ronald Darby and add strong safety Andrew Sendejo in free agency. They can continue strengthening their secondary by scooping up Washington cornerback Byron Murphy at pick No. 25. Philadelphia allowed the third-most passing yards in the NFL last year, 269.2 per game, so adding him would be a wise move. Murphy isn’t the fastest straight-line runner in the draft (4.55-second 40), but he possesses elite short-area quickness and change of direction, and he flashed them at the combine. ”He showed in the drills why many people think he’s the top guy in the class,” R.J. White of CBSSports.com wrote. “...As long as you don’t expect him to stay with burners deep, he has everything you want at the position.” In Murphy, the Eagles could have their No. 1 corner for the next six to 10 years.
DraftWire (Luke Easterling) - Dalton Risner, OT, Kansas State
The Eagles need to find a young tackle they can groom to eventually take over for Jason Peters, and a versatile blocker like Risner would be ideal, Given his skill set and experience at other positions, he could make an immediate impact as an interior player before eventually sliding outside.
SUMMARY
RB Josh Jacobs - 3
CB Byron Murphy - 3
DT Ed Oliver - 2
S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson - 2
S Nasir Adderley - 2
OT Andre Dillard - 1
OT Dalton Risner - 1
OT Greg Little - 1
DE Jaylon Ferguson - 1
DE Clelin Ferrell - 1
DT Christian Wilkins - 1
S - 4
RB - 3
OT - 3
DT - 3
CB - 3
DE - 2
Offense - 6
Defense - 12
THOUGHTS
- Josh Jacobs is going to remain a popular pick until the Eagles either sign and/or trade for a running back. Jacobs to Philly is gaining some stream: “Don’t be shocked if the Eagles take a running back in the first round. They really like Josh Jacobs.”
- Somehow, people are still mocking corners to the Eagles. Ronald Darby, Jalen Mills, Avonte Maddox, Rasul Douglas, Sidney Jones, and Cre’Von LeBlanc are all likely going to be on the roster in 2019. Where does that first-round rookie fit in?
- Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Nasir Adderely seem like the most realistic picks in terms of the player being available and the Eagles having interest.
- Ed Oliver and Christian Wilkins are ideal picks that seem unlikely to happen ... unless the Eagles get lucky.
- The Eagles don’t need to force a pick at offensive tackle but Andre Dillard being there could tempt them.
- I don’t see the Eagles drafting an edge rusher at No. 25 unless they’re absolutely over the moon about him.
- Who do you want the Eagles to take at No. 25? Or do you think they should trade up? Or trade down?
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