As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, we’re taking a look at every position on both sides of the ball to find some options for the Eagles throughout the three-day event. We started with QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs and OL. Up today: DT
The Eagles have Fletcher Cox, Javon Hargrave and Milton Williams back for the 2022 season but they can still reload at defensive tackle.
After all, Cox is back on a one-year deal in 2022 and Hargrave is entering the final year of his three-year contract. This is a position the Eagles really care about too.
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Even after the Eagles’ trade with the Saints, they still have two first-round picks and 10 total:
1-15 (from Miami)
1-18 (from New Orleans)
2-51
3-83
3-101 (from New Orleans)
4-124
5-154 (from Washington)
5-162
5-166 (from Arizona)
7-237 (from New Orleans)
Here are some defensive tackle options throughout the draft:
In first round
NFL
Jordan Davis (Georgia): There’s no one like the 6-foot-6, 341-pound Davis and that makes it really tough to figure out where he should go in the draft and how to project him as an NFL player. Conventional draft wisdom says to avoid taking a run-stuffing nose-tackle super high in the draft and there’s no question that Davis is great against the run. But his incredible combine performance and athletic profile makes you think that he has a ton of untapped pass-rushing potential. Any man that is 341 pounds and runs a 4.78 is a freak of nature.
Devonte Wyatt (Georgia): Davis casts a big shadow but don’t lose sight of his teammate. Wyatt (6-2, 304) is more of a traditional 3-technique who has the ability to play on the edge occasionally too. We saw the Eagles use Williams in that way in 2021. Wyatt’s combine was pretty impressive too and he actually ran a 4.77. He’s the best pure 3-tech in this draft and is seemingly a safe bet as a first-round pick.
In the middle rounds
Travis Jones (UConn): At 6-4, 325 pounds, Jones is big, strong and powerful. He had 4 1/2 sacks and 7 1/2 TFLs during his senior season despite a program that wasn’t very good. Jones was one of the standouts at the Senior Bowl this offseason.
Perrion Winfrey (Oklahoma): Speaking of Senior Bowl standouts, Winfrey stole the show in Mobile. He was one of the most impressive players at the annual event. At 6-3, 290, he’s a little slight in frame but makes up for it with some explosive athleticism up the gut. He’s a likely second-round pick and could be a legitimate target for the Eagles with the No. 51 overall pick in the second round.
Neil Farrell Jr. (LSU): A big boy at 6-4, 330+ pounds, Farrell actually has some surprising quickness to go along with his big-man strength. He’s not a huge threat to really pile up sacks but can stuff the run, force double teams and get after the QB on occasion.
Otito Ogbonnia (UCLA): He’s a little raw but Ogbonnia (6-3, 324) has the right size and traits to be a rotational defensive tackle from Day 1. Another player who had a nice week down in Mobile.
Late-round sleeper(s)
Haskell Garrett (Ohio State): A classic 3-technique, Garrett (6-2, 300) offers plenty of explosion for a likely late-round pick. He had 5 1/2 sacks in his senior season and was a first-team All-Big Ten player in 2021. He’s a little shorter and smaller than you’d like, which is a big reason why he’ll probably be available late on Day 3.
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