Mock draft: The Eagles get immediate secondary help
The Eagles select a shutdown SEC cornerback in our first-round NFL mock draft. By Shamus Clancy
The Eagles had their playoff hopes dashed after a loss to the Cowboys. They're currently slated to have the sixth pick in next April's draft. Depending on Week 17 results, the Eagles can pick as high as third and as low as 10th.
Given that, here's our NFL first-round mock draft.
Following two miraculous wins from the Jets, Jacksonville has locked themselves into the top pick for 2021. It's a no-brainer decision for the Jaguars here, grabbing Lawrence and bringing the franchise the most star power its ever had.
The Jets' two-game winning streak will have New Yorkers complaining for decades, but they get a more-than-fine consolation prize with the multi-dimensional Justin Fields. This isn't the tanking outcome current Jets general manager and former Eagles executive Joe Douglas wanted, but he should be joyed at this.
Miami is on the cusp of making the playoffs and they'll probably end up with a top-five pick too on account of the Laremy Tunsil trade last offseason. What a turnaround. Tua Tagovailoa is their guy at quarterback, but the Dolphins' receivers around him just aren't enough. Chase, who had 20 touchdowns for LSU in 2019, fixes that in an instant.
With a new front office and head coach on the way, it's time for Atlanta to just start over. Maybe Matt Ryan leaves in a trade or hangs around for one more year, but the Falcons need their future answer at QB. Lance, who had 28 touchdowns and zero interceptions in a full season for the Bison in 2019, could be that next franchise guy.
Step 1: Acquire a franchise quarterback. The Bengals did that last year with Heisman Trophy winner Joe Burrow.
Step 2: Get a guy who will protect him for the next decade. Cincinnati can do that easily here with Sewell.
Eagles fans have seen enough Michael Jacquet for a lifetime. After watching receivers run wild against them for years now, the Eagles now have an opportunity to find a capable CB2 immediately in Surtain who can blossom into a top shutdown corner in time.
With Kenny Golladay and Marvin Jones set to hit free agency, Detroit will likely need to completely reboot its wide receiving corps. Drafting an acrobatic and dynamic wideout in Smith, who's compiled 2,767 receiving yards and 32 total touchdowns the last two years, gives Matthew Stafford another legit threat to sling the ball to.
Will Penn State fans in the area be able to handle both Saquon Barkley and Parsons playing in the Meadowlands for the Giants? New York has been a below-average defensive unit for a handful of years now, so bringing in a havoc-causing linebacker in Parsons makes for a seamless plug-and-play option.
Matt Rhule and Joe Brady have overhauled Carolina's offense in their first year with the club. There's talent across the unit with Robby Anderson, Chris Samuel, D.J. Moore and Christian McCaffrey, but still a hole at quarterback. Wilson, following a breakout year for BYU, could be the guy to unlock the aerial attack.
With the top-four quarterbacks off the board and talented pass-catches already in Denver, the Broncos opt to put Drew Lock in the best position to succeed here with an upgrade along the offensive line.
The Cowboys' secondary has been a complete mess all season. Simply taking the best defensive back on the board should work for Dallas and Farley can help balance out their backend.
Justin Herbert's rookie campaign looks like just the beginning for a player who has the capability of being an elite quarterback. If you have a guy that good as your signal-caller, you better surround him with talent at receiver. Waddle, despite currently recovering from a broken right ankle, can be that guy for Herbert in the coming years.
Slater's versatility to play multiple spots along the offensive line should have him seeing the field quickly in Minnesota while also giving Dalvin Cook another big body to run behind.
San Francisco is one quarterback trade away from having Kyle Shanahan's offense light up defenses once again. They should beef up the defense and grab Rousseau, who recorded 15.5 sacks as a redshirt freshman in 2019 for Miami.
It feels all too perfect for New England to go tight end here. Pitts has been the most dominate tight end in college ball this year and can help reinvent this Patriots offense in the post-Tom Brady era.
The Raiders don't have a single overwhelming need and just select based on talent here with Paye, who has totaled 16.5 tackles for loss and 8.5 sacks across 16 games over the last two seasons.
Kyler Murray is a supreme talent. Keeping him upright and throwing to the game's best wide receiver duo in DeAndre Hopkins and Christian Kirk will always be Arizona's biggest priority. Grabbing Darrisaw here to protect Murray is perfect.
The Colts might be take a quarterback here, but Philip Rivers has showcases enough this season that he'd be capable in 2021 even at age 39. Leatherwood, measuring at 6'6" and 310 lbs., would revamp Indianapolis' offensive tackle spot.
Washington may rise to the postseason this year, but that's due to their vaunted defensive line, not their offense. With Dwayne Haskins just getting cut, quarterback is the clearest need. Trask, who's thrown 43 touchdowns and just five interceptions for Florida this year, might finally be an answer for their QB woes.
Mitchell Trubisky can't be counted on as the long-term solution for Chicago at quarterback, but if he's the starter in 2021, it'd be wise to sure up the offensive line in front of him with a bruiser like Davis.
Bateman will be Trevor Lawrence's new best friend. The wideout was a complete beast for Minnesota in 2019 with 11 touchdowns and a whopping 20.3 yards per reception on 60 catches.
Collins feels like the next evolution of jack-of-all-trade defenders at the pro level. He's done a little bit everything for Tulsa this season, registering 54 total tackles, 7.5 tackles for loss, four sacks and four interceptions.
Miami is in a great position moving forward because of that 2019 Tunsil trade, so why not take a crack at finding their next Tunsil here to protect Tagovailoa? Mayfield, a junior, was a two-year starter for the Wolverines.
Lamar Jackson hasn't been quite the passer he was in 2019 this season, but that's partially due to a lackluster group of receivers. Moore has battled injuries during his collegiate career in the Big 10, but his big freshman season in 2018 of 14 touchdowns illustrates that he has big-play potential.
Derrick Henry could be going for his third-straight rushing title in 2021. Drafting Eichenberg gives Henry the help he needs to accomplish that.
Tampa Bay's defense has carried them as much in 2020 as Tom Brady has, but there's always room for upgrades. Horn has experience defending all the great receivers in the SEC and could give their D another big boost.
The pick New York got in return for Jamal Adams turns into a new young safety for the Jets. Holland is a ballhawk with nine interceptions in his first two college seasons before sitting out in 2020.
Despite Sean McDerrmott's standing as a defensive coach, Buffalo has been only a little better than average on that side of the ball in 2020. Wade is a Day 1 upgrade for the Bills in the secondary.
Taysom Hill isn't the next guy for the Saints, nor is Jameis Winston. With a complete roster, New Orleans can afford to grab their quarterback of the future here even if Drew Brees returns for another season.
Penn State: Tight End U? Pittsburgh may want to go quarterback here, but with no obvious target on the board, they do a quick move for a talented tight end who'll aid whomever is under center in 2021.
Stokes has starred for the Bulldogs as a junior, recording four interceptions and taking two of them back to the house. For a Green Bay defense that's had just 16 takeaways in 2020, Stokes is a huge boost.
Sure, just give Kansas City another stud on offense. Why not? They already run the league with ease.
