The first wave of free agency is officially in the book, which means the NFL Draft is the next big event on the offseason calendar. In just over one month, the Cincinnati Bengals will officially be on the clock, and the dreams of 100’s of collegiate athletes will finally come true. Trying to predict what will happen during the draft requires a lot of luck, as there are so many variables to account for. However, this Philadelphia Eagles mock draft takes a look at the players the Eagles could go after when April rolls around.
Note that this Eagles mock draft does not include any trades due to the obvious issues with trying to simultaneously make decisions for two separate teams. Also note that this exercise was performed using the Draft Network’s Mock Draft Simulator, so all of these players have a decent chance of being on the board when Philadelphia is on the clock.
Philadelphia Eagles Seven-Round Mock Draft
First Round (23rd Overall) – Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
The Philadelphia Eagles need to do better for Carson Wentz. The former second-overall pick managed to singlehandedly carry the offense despite a lack of talent at receiver, and Philadelphia cannot let that happen again. Justin Jefferson is capable of dominating from the slot as an above-average route runner and has the catch radius and ball skills to bring in anything thrown in his general direction.
Justin Jefferson NFL Draft Profile
Second Round (53rd Overall) – A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson
Darius Slay will help Philadelphia’s secondary, but the longtime Detroit Lion is not a long-term fix at the position. The Eagles could stand to add some youth to the cornerback room, and they take the best one left on the board. A.J. Terrell is a strong press coverage type of cornerback that should compete to start opposite Slay in Week 1. Even if he’s not starting to open the season, it won’t be long before he’s a regular in the secondary.
A.J. Terrell NFL Draft Profile
Third Round (103rd Overall) – Troy Dye, LB, Oregon
Philadelphia addressed their secondary with the selection of Terrell, now it’s time for them to address the linebacker position. Troy Dye is a solid tackler with above-average coverage skills and the speed to go sideline-to-sideline. He reportedly has a strong football IQ and would be a first- or second-round pick if it weren’t for his undersized frame. He might struggle against the run, but his athleticism and coverage skills make him an easy selection with the 103rd pick.
Fourth Round (127th Overall) – Alton Robinson, EDGE, Syracuse
It’s hard to find a player with as much upside as Alton Robinson in the fourth round. The edge defender has all the athleticism you’d ever need for the NFL combined with a strong first step and a high-powered motor. While he’s too raw to be a three-down player right out of the gate, he’d make a lot of sense as a situational pass-rusher in the short-term. If he adds another move or two to his pass-rushing repertoire and cleans up his technique, this pick could be an absolute steal.
Fourth Round (145th Overall) – Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas
Carson Wentz throws one of the prettiest deep balls in football, so you might as well pair him with one of the fastest players in the draft. Devin Duvernay ran a 4.39 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, but the film suggests he’s capable of even more. While he’s anything but polished at this point in his career, his speed is legitimately dangerous and he hardly drops anything. You could do a lot worse in the fourth round.
Fourth Round (146th Overall) – Anthony Gordon, QB, Washington State
If any franchise knows the importance of the backup quarterback, it’s the Philadelphia Eagles. Nick Foles is out of town, and Josh McCown probably won’t be back in 2020. This leaves Nate Sudfeld as the primary backup, and that is not a good thing. Anthony Gordon is an aggressive downfield passer with solid touch and impressive pocket presence. While his arm strength and decision making leave something to be desired, he could probably keep the team afloat if Wentz misses a short amount of time with an injury.
Fifth Round (168th Overall) – J.R. Reed, S, Georgia
J.R. Reed won’t impress you with his athletic ability, but reports say that his football IQ is off the charts, and that shows up on the tape. The Georgia product excels at diagnosing where the ball is going to go and breaking down route combinations. He can be a solid backup, but his underwhelming athletic profile ensures that he’ll never be a true starter.
Sixth Round (190th Overall) – Lamar Jackson, CB, Nebraska
At this point in the NFL Draft, you should just keep throwing darts at important positions and see what sticks. Lamar Jackson has ideal size and length, but needs to dramatically refine his technique before he’s ready to become an NFL contributor. The Eagles need all the help they can get in the secondary and Jackson could be a nice multi-year development project for the coaching staff.
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