The Eagles were down in Mobile, Alabama, last week for the Senior Bowl and even though free agency comes first, everyone is getting ready for the draft.
That’s what happens when you have three first-round picks.
We’ll be tracking mock drafts until late April, seeing how some analysts and pundits see the haul going for the Birds. Here’s the latest mock draft roundup:
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Kyle Stackpole, CBS Sports
15. Treylon Burks, WR, Arkansas
What they said: “Someone needs to help the city of Philadelphia forget about drafting Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson in 2020, and Burks can be that receiver. He's a yards-after-catch machine who would give Jalen Hurts, or whoever else starts under center in 2022, another explosive option alongside DeVonta Smith.”
16. David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan
NFL
What they said: “Derek Barnett is set to become a free agent, meaning the Eagles need another edge rusher. Ojabo would be an exciting replacement, especially if he continues his rapid ascension that included a breakout season playing opposite Hutchinson at Michigan. He and Josh Sweat would cause problems for NFC East quarterbacks.”
19. Devin Lloyd, LB, Utah
What they said: “The Eagles' linebacker corps need to be better, so they opt for the rangy, versatile Lloyd to bolster the front seven. The Utah product excels in coverage, is a reliable tackler and can even rush the passer off the edge.”
My take on the haul: In this mock draft, the Eagles make Burks the third receiver off the board, following Garrett Wilson to the Jets at 10 and Drake London to the Browns at 13. At 6-3, 225 pounds, Burks would be an ideal complement to DeVonta Smith. The Eagles have drafted receivers in the first round in back-to-back drafts and this would make it the third straight year for a receiver. That seems excessive but it’s clearly still a need, in large part because of the misses on Jalen Reagor and J.J. Arcega-Whiteside.
As far as the other two picks, I’m sure Eagles fans would love for the Birds to get two super athletes on defense in Ojabo and Lloyd to solidify the defense. Edge rusher is arguably the Eagles’ top need and there’s a chance Ojabo or Jermaine Johnson II would be available in one of their spots. I’m not sure Lloyd ends up lasting this deep into the draft but if he does, it would be a good pick. We all know the Eagles history of not drafting linebackers in the first round but maybe they’d change that because they have three picks.
Joe Marino, TheDraftNetwork
15. Ahmad Gardner, CB, Cincinnati
What they said: “Darius Slay enjoyed a bounce-back season, but the Philadelphia Eagles must get better opposite of him with Steven Nelson slated to become a free agent.
“Ahmad Gardner has the footwork, hips, speed, and length to be a dynamic press-man corner in the NFL. He has excellent ball skills and is more than willing to be physical. In this scenario, the value is too good to pass up at a premium position like cornerback.”
16. Kenyon Green, iOL, Texas A&M
What they said: “A big reason why the Eagles were able to make the playoffs and exceed expectations was due to the stellar play of the offensive line and it's an area that the Eagles should continue to prioritize.
“Kenyon Green is as rock-solid as it gets for an offensive line prospect. He projects as an immediate starter at guard. He is athletic, powerful, technically refined, and blocks with an edge.”
19. Travon Walker, DE, Georgia
What they said: “If there is anything that we've learned about Howie Roseman it's that he prioritizes the defensive end position. Given the aging veterans and expiring contracts currently on the depth chart, it's a position of need that the Eagles should address with one of their three first-round selections.
“Travon Walker is a physical and heavy-handed edge defender that excels at reducing pass rush angles and defending the run. He has the makings of a rock-solid starter that can complement Josh Sweat.”
My take on the haul: There are a few cornerbacks who might be available at one of the Eagles’ picks and Sauce Gardner is one of the best. This is a position where the Eagles might think they can find value in the second round but if they have a guy like Sauce rated much higher than the others and he’s available, take him.
The Green pick is an interesting one because Brandon Brooks just retired but interior OL still isn’t a pressing need if Jason Kelce returns for 2022. The Eagles still have Landon Dickerson and will have Isaac Seumalo returning from injury. Then they have Jack Driscoll, Sua Opeta and possibly Nate Herbig (RFA) coming off the bench. But the Eagles obviously care about their OL and Green is a really good player. If Kelce walks away, the Eagles could plug him into the starting lineup and move Seumalo to center and just keep on rolling. And even if Green sits for most of his rookie season, Kelce isn’t going to play forever and Seumalo has had his injury issues.
Walker is a tricky one because he’s 6-5, 275. Because of his size, he could play a few different positions along the line so it would come down to how the Eagles would want to use him in their defense. They could certainly find a role, but it would behoove them to have a plan in place.
READ: Eagles-only mock draft with just Senior Bowl players
Zack Patraw, SI.com
15. Derek Stingley, CB, LSU
What they said: “Cornerbacks begin to fall in this draft due to team-need and rising prospects. Stingley is easily the most talented cornerback in this class and has no business being available for the Eagles to select at 15, but as we know, anything can happen when it comes to the NFL Draft.”
16. DeMarvin Leal, DT, Texas A&M
What they said: “Leal is becoming a tough player to slot for a team. The Eagles could use an edge rusher with Derek Barnett potentially departing in free agency. Leal could step in as an edge or interior player for the Eagles.”
19. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
What they said: “The speed and motor that Dean possesses are like none other in this draft class of linebackers. While the Eagles aren't a team that typically drafts linebackers in the first round, if Dean is here at 19, it would be foolish to pass up on his talent.”
My take on the haul: If Stingley is there at 15, the Eagles might run the card in. There are some obvious injury concerns with the LSU product but if he checks out medically, he’s the most talented corner in this class. Stingley was great in 2019 but the last couple years have had their ups and downs and he’s missed a lot of games with injuries. If some teams get scared away by the last couple years, it would be a typical Howie Roseman move to pounce and pick up value.
This is a draft where the Eagles go defense, defense, defense and that’s not a bad idea. There’s not a pressing need at defensive tackle with Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and Milton Williams returning, but Cox is declining, Hargrave has one year left on his contract and Williams is still somewhat of an unknown. With how much the Eagles value their interior rush, we can’t rule this out. And with that 19th pick, the Eagles take Dean over Devin Lloyd, who goes to the Patriots at 21. I’m very curious to see which linebacker comes off the board first in April; right now, my guess is Lloyd.
Dalton Miller, ProFootballNetwork
15. Drake London, WR, USC
What they said: “Drake London is everything the Eagles tried to implement with Alshon Jeffery to help Carson Wentz on the outside. The difference is London is the supercharged version of Jeffery. He’s long, and that length and his physicality made him arguably the best contested catcher in college football history.
“He’ll open up the vertical passing attack and is an outstanding complement to DeVonta Smith. Size and body control are his calling cards, but he’s smooth as a route runner. He’s not “smooth for his size,” he’s just smooth. London’s tight at the top of his routes, and he possesses excellent change of direction and explosion out of his breaks.”
16. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
What they said: “Nakobe Dean‘s performance against Michigan was arguably the most impressive tape of any draft prospect in this cycle. A heat-seeking missile isn’t a good enough descriptor for what he accomplished against that team. You almost can’t convince me Georgia didn’t clone him and play with two of him that day.
“There are drawbacks with Dean. He doesn’t possess great length or height, which will make consistently covering NFL tight ends difficult. He also won’t close passing lanes the same way a traditionally sized linebacker will. But his lateral agility and outstanding physicality make him a menace against the run.
“He’s not a pass rusher like Micah Parsons, but Dean’s an elite blitzer as a linebacker. If the Eagles are smart, they’ll use him in that way early on as he progresses in coverage.
“Because of Georgia’s coverage scheme, he’s not often asked to spot drop into the curl and read QB intentions. But as Parsons showed, just because they were not asked does not mean they cannot do.”
19. Daxton Hill, S, Michigan
What they said: “Daxton Hill has the flexibility to play as a slot defender, a half-field safety, or as a single-high free safety. I actually quietly worry about his knees, because I’m not sure I’ve seen someone ever change direction so violently on defense before in my lifetime.
“He explodes in and out of breaks. When he plays from depth, his ability to close on passing lanes breaks my (already broken) brain.
“Hill’s also an incredibly physical player around the line of scrimmage. However, he is a project both in the slot and as a traditional safety. As much as I bet on the athleticism over the summer, I wish he would have progressed mentally in coverage. And despite his ridiculous speed, hardly any amount of athleticism can make up for poor technique and a late reaction vertically.
“But if this young man can take to coaching, he can be one of the biggest difference-makers in any NFL secondary. It’s why he’s still going so high in this 2022 NFL Mock Draft.”
My take on the haul: In this mock, Wilson and Burks are the first two receivers off the board, so the Eagles take London (6-5, 210) out of USC. Same idea with London, another big receiver who might be an ideal No. 2 to DeVonta Smith. London’s final season at USC ended early with a leg injury, but if he checks out medically, he’s a first-round talent for sure. London also played basketball at USC and has those types of skills on the football field.
We already talked about Dean but Hill would be somewhat of a surprise. Aside from the fact that the Eagles have never drafted a safety in the first round, the other four drafts from today’s roundup have Hill going 24th, 30th, 30th and 32nd. Still, he is an extremely versatile piece in the secondary and the Eagles could use a playmaker back there, especially with Rodney McLeod and Anthony Harris set to be free agents.
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Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports
15. Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
What they said: “This has been a popular pairing in our weekly mocks, partly because the Eagles could use Dean in the middle of their D (even if, historically, they don't draft off-ball linebackers in Round 1), and in part because Dean was so dominant during the 2021 season. And while he played on the best defense in the country, don't be fooled -- he didn't ride on the coattails of a dominant Georgia defensive line -- Dean was a huge reason for its success. There are questions about his size and how that translates to the NFL, but his tape tells a different story.”
16. Travon Walker, DL, Georgia
What they said: “Walker is something of a tweener, which is odd to say about someone who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 275 pounds. But he can line up as the 3, 4 or 5-tech, and that versatility, coupled with his non-stop motor and consistent playmaking ability, makes him an attractive option for several teams in this range looking to bolster their defensive line.”
19. Jameson Williams, WR, Alabama
What they said: “This likely won't be a popular pick because the Eagles have used first-rounders on wide receivers the last two years, but they'll only have four wideouts under contract after the season, and that includes J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. Williams tore his ACL in the national title game, but he's still one of the best players in this draft class and should be ready to contribute by next October.”
My take on the haul: We already talked about Dean and Walker but Williams is a new name on this roundup. Like we already mentioned, this would be the third year in a row drafting a receiver. Williams has a torn ACL, which might scare some teams away. But maybe the Eagles feel more willing to gamble with three first-rounders. And they took an Alabama player with an ACL tear last year (Landon Dickerson in the second round) and that’s working out well so far. Williams is clearly a first-round talent.