A couple of weeks ago, the Eagles made a significant trade with the Miami Dolphins that dropped them down and outside the top 10. There were rumors saying that they were looking at a quarterback like Zach Wilson at pick six, but after realizing he wasn’t going to be available, they decided to regroup. The Eagles are now going to try and rebuild, and that means gaining draft capital this year and looking forward. With that being said, I made some moves in this mock draft in order to better help the Eagles gather talent through the draft and to be better prepared for the future.
Before I get too far into this, I wanted to lay out the trades I made in order to help you visualize why there are so many Eagles picks in this mock:
GB receives: 1.12
PHI receives: 1.29, 2.62, 4.135, 6.214
JAX receives: 6.214, 2022 1st
PHI receives: 1.25
TB receives: 5.150, 6.189
PHI receives: 4.137, 6.217
There are so many voids in the Eagles roster, that just about every position is a need, and so I wanted to ensure the ability to gather as many positional players that I could. So with that being said let’s go ahead and get started with this mock draft.
1.25 (via GB): Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
Anyone who follows Eagles football knows what kind of void the team has at the linebacker position. A linebacker can be a game-changing player if you get the right one, and Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah can be that guy in Philadelphia.
Owusu-Koramoah has elite athleticism that shows with his versatility, and he is able to play a as both standard linebacker or as a hybrid scheme 3-4 edge rusher. While watching him play there are a couple things you notice, but the major thing is how he moves around the field. JOK always knows where the ball is and is one of the best open field tackling linebackers I’ve seen. His football IQ over the middle half of the field could be an absolute weapon for any team that has the chance to get him.
1.29 (via JAX): Caleb Farley, CB, Virginia Tech
I’ll make this short and simple, If Caleb Farley is on the board at pick 29 and you don’t take him, you don't deserve to be in charge of making the picks. Farley, who showed great physical coverage in 2019, is going to dominate for an Eagles defense that has lacked physical corners for quite some time.
Cornerback, just like the linebacker position, should be considered a top priority for the Eagles front office. With cornerbacks like Jaycee Horn, Patrick Surtain II, and Caleb Farley in this draft, you should do everything you can to obtain one of them. Farley, who was known as a physical cornerback with great ball skills in the secondary, has every tool needed to be locked down at the next level. His play style resembles Darius Slay greatly, and being able to learn under a veteran like Slay could enhance Farley to an elite level.
2.37: Terrace Marshall Jr., WR, LSU
The Eagles are now two picks into the draft and have already improved their defense majorly. However, one of their biggest concerns has yet to be addressed on the other side of the ball…a reliable wide receiver for Jalen Hurts.
Terrace Marshall Jr. is my #5 receiver in this draft, but with a late first-round grade from me, the value at this pick is terrific. Last season the Eagles selected receiver Jalen Reagor with their first round pick, but they need a complementary talent now that Reagor is expected to move into the slot. Marshall offers great hands when faced with contact, and displays big play ability. He's a receiver who has was on the same depth chart as Ja’Marr Chase and Justin Jefferson and yet he still got reps, which shows he is not to be taken lightly. He can be a dangerous player in a system looking to prove something this year.
2.62 (via GB): Hamilcar Rashed Jr., EDGE, Oregon State
Rashed Jr. is one of my personal favorite edge rushers in this draft class. You don’t often get to see guys from Oregon State be a top level player, but after looking at his film, he certainly could be.
He offers a high level of speed off the edge that lets him get to the quarterback quickly and create pressure. With a quick first step off the line, he shows the ability to beat the tackle purely off speed. On top of his speed, he also shows the ability to beat the tackle with a strong base and good quick hands he is able to get the first hit on the tackle. There is a lot of potential in his game, and it could be a very good get here for the Eagles.
3.70: Jay Tufele, IDL, USC
With a strong foundation on the Eagles defensive line, they could still use another young tackle to rotate in with Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave. Adding a guy who can get to the quarterback like Tufele would present a good compliment to Cox in the trenches.
Tufele is a very good defensive tackle prospect out of USC, and given his play style he could be the perfect fit for the Eagles defensive line. The team needs a guy who can put some pressure on the quarterback up the middle, and Jay Tufele can be that guy. Statistically, he didn’t show what he was capable of, but watching film you see his ability to get to the quarterback. Quarterbacks are supposed to feel safe in the pocket, but when Tufele takes your pocket away QBs are forced to make decisions quicker or move outside the pocket, which could led to disaster for opposing offenses. What Tufele offers in upside could be a big piece in the rebuild of the Eagles.
3.84: Walker Little, OT, Stanford
The Eagles have a big void that still needs to be addressed through the draft, and that is the offensive line. The Eagles are constantly being struck down by injuries each and every season, and relying on older offensive linemen doesn’t make it easy on them. They need to start adding depth to the tackle position in order to protect their quarterback and help the run.
Walker Little went back to school after injuries depleted his draft stock, but after declaring this season, he could be a high risk/high reward player. Little shows the ability to be a franchise tackle, but with that being said, it depends on his health. The Eagles are looking to become a competitor in a year or two after this rebuild they are having to work through, and that means drafting players who can develop into stars after learning from the current veterans. What Little has to offer when learning to develop his skill set and read tougher defenses, he could become a key player later on.
4.123: Talanoa Hufanga, S, USC
The Eagles drafted one USC player, so I thought I’d give them another here. Okay, in all seriousness the Eagles need a safety and as far as drafting with value, this is excellent. After Malcolm Jenkins left, there was a large problem trying to find someone who can fill his shoes last season, but now Hufanga might just be the guy to take the reigns.
Hufanga was a player who caught my eye while watching other USC defensive players, and so I had to ensure he was legit. I broke down his film in all different ways trying to find something that didn’t intrigue me about his game, and yet I couldn’t find anything. Although he is not the best safety in this draft class, he has the traits to become a star for the Eagles secondary. You can teach the technical part of the game, but the ball skills he has over the middle half of the field, the athleticism he offers on his sideline-to-sideline ability is exciting to watch. He might not be an immediate star for the Eagles, but once he learns how to read the run and develop his skills from a technical standpoint, he could be very good and very reliable for the Eagles.
4.135 (via GB): Shaun Wade, CB, Ohio State
Even though they have addressed parts their horrendous defense earlier in this draft, they are not done needing help just yet. The Eagles still need to ensure they have the best team out there that they can possibly have, and adding another cornerback alongside Caleb Farley, and Darius Slay wouldn’t hurt.
There were a couple reasons that I chose for the Eagles to take Shaun Wade here instead of another offensive player, but the main reason is development. The Eagles have a star cornerback in Darius Slay who is getting older, and you have to take advantage of building for the future which means finding developmental players with excellent traits. Wade is one of the best lockdown slot cornerbacks in the NCAA, but struggled majorly on the outside due to lack of skill and familiarity with the position. Slay being able to teach Wade for a year or two and help him become familiar with the scheme and help his skillset translate along the outside could give the Eagles an elite secondary moving forward.
4.137 (via TB): Whop Philyor, WR, Indiana
Currently, the Eagles have quite possibly the worst receiving core in the league. They need to surround Jalen Hurts with as many possible weapons they can get. Jalen Reagor, Terrace Marshall, Travis Fulgham, Greg Ward, and Whop Philyor gives you a decent chance of turning this around.
Philyor was an extremely fun player to watch and is a prime example of size that doesn't define your game. Indiana had an incredible season this past year, and what Philyor displayed was a very dangerous player. His speed downfield, his athleticism, concentration on the football, he could be a very scary slot receiver for the Eagles.
Rest Of Draft
6.217(TB): Landon Young, OT, Kentucky
Another project at tackle, which the Eagles need to work on now with Lane Johnson getting older and the uncertainty of Andre Dillard and Jordan Mailata's futures.
6.224: Jaret Patterson, RB, Buffalo
The team needs to find a reliable compliment to Miles Sanders, so why not try looking at the guy who led the nation in rushing average last season (178.7 ypg)?
6.225: Nick Eubanks, TE, Michigan
He didn't have much production in college (45 receptions, 578 yards, six touchdowns), but his 6'5, 256lbs frame allows him to be a mismatch in goal line situations.
7.234: Josh Sills, IOL, Oklahoma State
He played 4/5 o-line positions in his college career, and at this point in the draft it's all about trying to hit the jackpot and finding a reliable, versatile lineman.
7.240: Paddy Fisher, LB, Northwestern
Fisher was a tackling machine in college (404 career tackles), and type of production usually translates well into a key special teams role in the NFL. he could also end up with a similar career trajectory as Alex Singleton, who after years of hard work has earned a starting role on the Eagles defense.
With this draft, the Eagles have transformed their roster completely around. By adding depth and helping them out for the future, adding star power to help their team immediately, and adding options for situational football, they would be drafting right. If they can put together a draft board like this, they have nothing to worry about looking forward.
