We got a ton of great questions this weekend so we split up the mailbag into two parts.
Yesterday, we answered some questions about the current state of the roster.
And today, most of the questions are draft related:
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I agree with those three positions you mentioned first but I’d also add edge rusher to that group. In fact, the positions I’d prioritize most would be a defensive lineman, whether that’s an interior lineman or an edge rusher. And there will be some players likely in that range that make sense. DL isn’t the most pressing need. That’s probably at cornerback or safety but it feels more likely the Eagles wait until the second round to address them, especially safety. The Eagles value the line more and it’s a need. I’d be surprised if they don’t get a defensive lineman in the first round.
My top WRs: 1. Garrett Wilson, 2. Drake London, 3. Jameson Williams, 4. Christian Watson, 5. Chris Olave
Top top edge players: 1. Aidan Hutchinson, 2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, 3. Jermaine Johnson, 4. George Karlaftis, 5. David Ojabo
To get Sauce Gardner, that’s likely the range they would probably need to get to. It would be quite costly to get up into the top 10 and I think a trade from 15 down to the 11 or 12 range is probably more likely.
We had a few questions about what the structure of a trade might look like. It’s important to remember that teams are sometimes willing to give up more depending on what position they’re moving up to get.
Trade up into the top 10: If you remember last year, the Eagles traded a third-round pick on draft night to move up a couple spots from 12 to 10 to draft DeVonta Smith. So if the Eagles were to move up from 15 into the top 10, it would cost more than that. Back in 2018, the Cardinals traded up from 15 to 10 to draft Josh Rosen. They had to give up an additional third-round and fifth-round pick.
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So if the Eagles want to move up from 15 to 8, 9 or 10, they’d obviously have to give up No. 15, No. 83 and maybe one of those three fifth-round picks.
Trading back from 19: This is a little trickier because the Eagles would presumably be trading out for a team that wants to move up to draft a quarterback before the Steelers, who have pick No. 20. There have been just six quarterbacks drafted between picks 11-20 in the last decade so it’s tougher to find a close comp. Last year, the Giants traded back from 11 to 20 so the Bears could move up and take Justin Fields. They in return got a fifth-rounder that year and a first-rounder and a fourth-rounder the next season.
If the Eagles move back for another team to get a quarterback, they’re going to want a first-round pick in 2023. The only team that might want a QB after No. 20 is the Lions at 32 if they want a QB but don’t want to take one at No. 2. For them to move up that far, it would cost them. And it would cost a team in the second round even more. Because of that, the Eagles wold really need a 2023 first-rounder to move back that far.
Burks is a fascinating player because of how many different ways he was used at Arkansas. He’d be used a ton in the slot, which would likely mean Watkins would need to play more outside. Watkins was pretty new to the slot last year and handled it fine. But the Eagles think he can play either position, which gives them some flexibility.
If Derek Stingley and Sauce Gardner are gone by the time the Eagles are on the clock, the next two cornerbacks are likely Trent McDuffie from Washington and Andrew Booth from Clemson. Those are the other two corners who likely go in the first round. Although, Booth is now coming off of sports hernia surgery. Between the two, I’m a bigger fan of Booth, which doesn’t seem to be the consensus. But McDuffie’s sub-30” arms worry me a bit.
Yeah, combine performances matter. They just do. It’s the only chance to really test a player’s athleticism against other top players on a level field. The two names who might be dropping for various reasons are CB Derek Stingley and DE Kayvon Thibodeaux.
The concern with Stingley is that he was great in 2019 as a freshman but has missed a lot of time the last couple seasons. There are some medical concerns with him. Thibodeaux was once thought to be the top player in this class but some draft experts think his stock could be sliding. ESPN’s Todd McShay mentioned that some teams are concerned his floor isn’t high enough for a first-round pick. Not sure if I’m buying the big slide for Thibodeaux, though.
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