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Who will the Birds pick?
The 2020 NFL Draft is merely 68 days away. Let’s pass the time until then by looking at who mock drafts have the Philadelphia Eagles taking with the No. 21 overall pick.
CBS Sports (R.J. White) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Ruggs certainly could go much higher than this, but if he’s available, he’ll bring the dynamic presence the Eagles sorely lacked last year when DeSean Jackson, who is 33, missed most of last season with an injury.
Pro Football Focus (Mike Renner) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Without DeSean Jackson, the Eagles’ receiving corps was probably the slowest in the NFL. Now they add the fastest receiver in the draft. Ruggs averaged a ridiculous 9.0 yards after the catch for his career.
NFL.com (Maurice Jones-Drew) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
After all of the injuries to the Eagles’ receiving corps last season — and all of the dropped passes — Ruggs could come in and be a dominant player for Doug Pederson.
The Draft Network (Trevor Sikkema) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
TDN’s Benjamin Solak hacked the computer for this mock draft, didn’t he? If Ruggs makes it this far, or even in range, he’s as good as a Philadelphia Eagle.
NJ.com (Joe Giglio) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Ruggs III recorded a 4.25 time in the 40-yard dash last spring at Alabama’s Junior pro day. If he comes close to that this year, the answer to all Eagles fans’ prayers will slip to them with the 21st pick. Speed has arrived.
DraftTek (Broz) - Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama
Anyhoo, there are two more guys this year that are media darlings that I’m calling my shot on as busts: WR Todd Pinkston...errr, I mean Tee Higgins, and the real shocker: LB/S Isaiah Simmons. I think I’ll be the one saying “I told you so” in a couple years, but if I’m wrong, I’ll be man enough to stand up and do the right thing (i.e. come back here, delete any record of this prediction, and be all “Whaaaa? I never said that!”). I’d prefer Kinlaw or Chaisson here, but since nobody out there ever talks about the Eagles drafting Henry Ruggs, I figured I’d give it a shot. First, my concerns: Ruggs’ stats his final two years were 46 REC/741 YDS and 40 REC/746 YDS, respectively. DeSean Jackson, his most common comparison, had 59/1060 and 65/762 for his last two college years. DJax was “The Guy” at Cal, Ruggs was, what, #3? That said, stats aside, my biggest predictor for a WR is the “smoothness factor”. You can’t measure it, you just see it, and it usually translates. Ruggs is a smooth blur of a weapon. The Eagles need speed, and Ruggs would be one of the league’s fastest players...a field-stretcher that might make the Eagles’ two-Tight-End offense lethal. LOL @ this!
CBS Sports (Chris Trapasso) - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Higgins is there for Philadelphia. Marvelous situation for Carson Wentz. Higgins has otherworldly ball skills and deceptive long speed.
CBS Sports (Will Brinson) - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
The Eagles ran short on pass catchers last year, so it makes all the sense in the world to mock them taking one in this spot, given how deep the drat is for receivers. Higgins is underrated in my opinion.
CBS Sports (Josh Edwards) - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Higgins is going to be a popular pick for Philadelphia. He is a big weapon more closely related to Alshon Jeffrey in his prime. The Eagles are expected to overhaul the position so Higgins is a need. The concern with him is injuries. He seems to accrue a new ailment every week, which could be a frustration for one of the most snake-bitten teams in the NFL over the past three years.
PennLive (Daniel Gallen) - Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
The Eagles need wide receivers, and they need speed. While Higgins isn’t a traditional burner like Ruggs, the 6-foot-4 target still averaged nearly 20 yards per catch last season. The Eagles need big play ability on the outside.
The Draft Network (Jordan Reid) - Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
It’s pretty fair to assume that this pick will either be a receiver or a cornerback. With a roster that was decimated with injuries last year, the Eagles were forced to trot out Nelson Agholor, Greg Ward Jr., and J.J. Arcegia-Whiteside as their top targets down the backstretch of the season. With the status of Alshon Jeffery in question and DeSean Jackson’s health always a concern, the teams decide to select the explosive option in Jalen Reagor. He is a match made in Heaven for a creative play-caller like Doug Pederson. Reagor can not only be used vertically but also to generate manufactured touches on screens, jet sweeps and other creative ways underneath. He also adds lots of value as a return specialist.
The Draft Network (Joe Marino) - Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
Receiver is a top need here, but not just any wideout will fit the bill. The Philadelphia Eagles need one who excels as a deep threat downfield and can quickly get separation. Alshon Jeffery and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside already fill the more big-body receiver roles. Ruggs is the strongest fit for this role but he is gone. Jalen Reagor is the best remaining receiver on the board who can fill this need and has plenty of exciting traits. An alternative pick here could be Jeff Gladney to fill the other glaring roster need at CB.
SB Nation (Dan Kadar) - Laviska Shenault, WR, Colorado
A run on defenders in front of them could be beneficial for the Eagles. That would allow a wide receiver to slip to them, whether it’s Shenault, Clemson’s Tee Higgins, or Penn State’s K.J. Hamler.
Yahoo! Sports (Eric Edholm) - Brandon Aiyuk, WR, Arizona State
The need for (receiver) speed is real. I thought about a corner here, with the Eagles smelling a possible run at that position. But I believe they could be smitten with the vertical ability of Aiyuk, who also earned the apt nickname of “Ai-YAC.”
CBS Sports (Ryan Wilson) - A.J. Epenesa, EDGE, Iowa
Brandon Graham and Vinny Curry were the Eagles’ two most efficient pass rushers, according to PFF, but Graham is 31 and Curry appears headed for free agency. Epenesa isn’t a quick-twitch pass rusher like, say, Chaisson, but instead wins with power and tenacity. He can play on the edge or kick inside and it’s that mix of versatility and athleticism that could make him attractive to the Eagles.
SUMMARY
WR Henry Ruggs III - 6
WR Tee Higgins - 4
WR Jalen Reagor - 2
WR Laviska Shenault - 1
WR Brandon Aiyuk - 1
DE A.J. Epenesa - 1
WR - 14
DE - 1
Offense - 14
Defense - 1
THOUGHTS
- Just another week where Ruggs is the Eagles’ most popular pick. Who would’ve thought?
- The Denver Broncos at No. 15 is a common landing spot for Ruggs in mocks where he doesn’t fall to the Eagles. Howie Roseman might have to find a way to trade up to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers’ spot at No. 14. But one would think the Bucs are looking to trade up and not down as they potentially draft a quarterback.
- Reagor could be a consolation prize if the Eagles can’t land Ruggs. Scouting report from NFL.com’s Lance Zierlein:
Spotty quarterback play helped cause a production drop, but his focus and competitiveness also seemed spotty at times. Reagor is a smooth athlete with blazing speed who has more playmaking talent than receiver skill and play-callers need to account for that when determining how to utilize him. He’s electric with the ball in his hands so getting it to him quickly rather than asking him to consistently make plays for himself as a ball-winner could be crucial. When 2019 is balanced against his 2018, the grade and projection begin to climb with a versatile receiver who’s able to spice the offensive gumbo.
Fun fact: Jalen is the son of former Eagles defensive lineman Montae Reagor.
- Interesting to see no cornerbacks make this week’s roundup. The Eagles could really look to fill their needs at that spot in free agency. Reports indicate they’re going to be aggressive in the corner market. If they do something like re-sign Jalen Mills and add, say, Byron Jones ... wide receiver will be an even more obvious first round target.
- Who do you want the Eagles to select?
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