The Philadelphia Eagles have quite a few needs in the upcoming NFL Draft. The Eagles had a relatively successful season last year, winning the NFC East and earning their third consecutive playoff berth. However, the Eagles still have plenty of room to improve and can cement themselves as legitimate Super Bowl contenders if they solidify the following positions in the NFL Draft.
Top Philadelphia Eagles NFL Draft Needs
1. Wide Receiver
Carson Wentz had absolutely no help from his wide receivers in 2019. DeSean Jackson missed essentially the whole season, Alshon Jeffery and Nelson Agholor took steps back, and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside couldn’t do anything. The tight end duo of Dallas Goedert and Zach Ertz is one of the best in the league, but Wentz will need more help in 2020.
Fortunately, this is one of the deepest wide receiver draft classes in recent memory. The Eagles currently hold the 21st pick in the draft and should have their choice of guys like Justin Jefferson, Laviska Shenault, Denzel Mims, and Jalen Reagor. Alternatively, the Eagles could trade down, acquire more picks, and still get an instant-impact starter like Michael Pittman.
2. Cornerback
Darius Slay helps solidify the secondary, but he’s only one guy and he isn’t a long-term fix for the position. The Eagles need to get younger and find an upgrade from Sidney Jones and Rasul Douglas. Jeffrey Okudah is the consensus CB1 in the class, but there is some debate as to who the second-best cornerback is. The Eagles could pass on the position in the first round and wait to see if a guy like A.J. Terrell or Jaylon Johnson falls late into the second round.
3. Linebacker
Philadelphia’s front seven is solid, but it could use an infusion of youth. Nathan Gerry, Jatavis Brown, and Alex Singleton are all solid but lack the upside of the unknown. It’s hard to justify taking a linebacker early, as the relative talent and need at the position just isn’t there for the Eagles. However, taking someone like Willie Gay late in the second or Logan Wilson in the third would be a great move to provide some depth for the Eagles.
4. Offensive Tackle
The Eagles have a great offensive line with one massive uncertainty at the left tackle position. Jason Peters is still a free agent and almost certainly will not be back in 2020. With the longtime left tackle out the door, this leaves 2019 first-round pick Andre Dillard as the presumed starter. Dillard carries the draft pedigree for success, but the Eagles need a backup plan in case he comes up short. Grabbing someone like UConn’s Matt Peart at the end of the third should provide valuable insurance, both for Dillard and right tackle Lane Johnson.
5. Quarterback
The Philadelphia Eagles understand the value of a backup quarterback more than any other team in the league. Carson Wentz is the unquestioned starter, but the Eagles need somebody better than Nate Sudfeld backing him up. Deserved or not, Wentz has earned an injury-prone reputation after missing parts of the past three seasons to injury. Obviously, you’re not going to take a backup quarterback too early in the draft, but somebody like Anthony Gordon could be an intriguing developmental option in the fourth or fifth round. He should be able to beat out Sudfeld for the primary backup job and should be able to keep the team on the right track if needed to fill in for a game or two.
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