2019 Eagles Draft Preview – Day Two

Day Two of the NFL Draft is here.

The picks:

2 – 53
2 – 57
4 – 138
5 – 163

Needs:

MLB is wide open right now. I doubt the Eagles will draft their 2019 starter, but that is a position they could target.

The team needs talent at RB. They don’t necessarily need a starter, but they do need someone who can offer some impact, as a runner, receiver or both. The Eagles didn’t get enough big plays from the backfield last year. That needs to change.

The Eagles are talented at safety, but also old. They could use a young player to develop for 2020.

This is a great DL class. The Eagles need depth at DT. They might need depth at DE, depending on Chris Long. They need youth at both spots.

OL is a confusing situation. Outsiders talk about replacing Jason Peters. The team thinks Jordan Mailata could really be that guy. Big V is there for 2019 in case of injury. RG Brandon Brooks is rehabbing an Achilles injury so guard could use some depth. Center too.

The Eagles don’t need a WR, but they easily could add someone to develop for the future. Rookies can’t be counted on so you would take someone now to get ready for 2020 or even 2021.

Depth Chart

I’m only listing players that I think have a realistic shot at making the roster in 2019.

WR  Alshon Jeffery ..… Mack Hollins
WR  DeSean Jackson … Shelton Gibson
WR  Nelson Agholor … Braxton Miller
QB  Carson Wentz ….. Nate Sudfeld
RB  Jordan Howard … Corey Clement ..… Wendell Smallwood
TE  Zach Ertz …….… Dallas Goedert …….. Richard Rodgers
LT  Jason Peters …….… Andre Dillard
LG  Isaac Seumalo …… Jordan Mailata
OC  Jason Kelce
RG  Brandon Brooks … Matt Pryor
RT  Lane Johnson …… Halapoulivaati Vaitai

DE  Brandon Graham …. Chris Long ??? … Josh Sweat
DT  Fletcher Cox ……….. Treyvon Hester
DT  Marlin Jackson …….Tim Jernigan ………. Bruce Hector
DE  Derek Barnett ……… Vinny Curry
WB Kamu Grugier-Hill ….. Nate Gerry
MB Paul Worrilow …….. L.J. Fort
SB  Nigel Bradham ………
SS  Malcolm Jenkins …… Andrew Sendejo
FS  Rodney McLeod ….. Tre Sullivan
CB  Ronald Darby  ……. Rasul Douglas
CB  Jalen Mills  …………. Avonte Maddox
NB  Sidney Jones ……… Cre’Von LeBlanc

P Cameron Johnston
K Jake Elliott
LS Rick Lovato

Eagles Draft Interest

Top 30 Visits (removed picked players)

S Chauncey Gardner-Johnson – Florida
S Juan Thornhill – Virginia
CB Amani Oruwariye – Penn State
CB Isaiah Johnson – Houston
DE Oshane Ximines- Old Dominion
DE Jaylon Ferguson – La Tech
DT Trysten Hill – UCF

OL Cody Ford – Oklahoma
OL Hjalte Froholdt – Arkansas
RB Karan Higdon – Michigan
RB Darrell Henderson – Memphis
RB Justice Hill – Oklahoma State
RB Miles Sanders – Penn State
WR A.J. Brown – Ole Miss
WR Parris Campbell – Ohio State
WR Jalen Hurd – Baylor
WR Mecole Hardman – Georgia
WR Diontae Johnson – Toledo

Pro Days / Workouts

OT Martez Ivey – Florida – Met with him
OT Isaiah Prince – Ohio State – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day
OT David Edwards – Wisconsin – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day
OT Oli Udoh – Elon – Private workout
OG Lester Cotton – Alabama – Jeff Stoutland worked him out at his Pro Day
OG Iosua Opeta – Weber State – Asst OL coach worked him out at his Pro Day
OG Michael Jordan – Ohio State – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day
OG Nate Davis – Charlotte – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day
OG Demetrius Knox – Ohio State – Met with him at his Pro Day
OG Beau Benzschawel – Wisconsin – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day
OC Ross Pierschbacher – Alabama – Jeff Stoutland worked him out at his Pro Day
OC Nate Trewyn – Wisconsin-Whitewater – Asst OL coach at his Pro Day (UW)
TE Kahale Warring – San Diego State – TE coach at his Pro Day
TE Trevon Wesco – West Virginia – Met with him at his Pro Day
TE Dax Raymond – Utah State – TE coach at his Pro Day
WR Corey Contini – Ohio Dominican – Eagles scout talked to him at his Pro Day
RB Damien Harris – Alabama – Duce Staley worked him out at his Pro Day
RB Trayveon Williams – Texas A&M – Coach at his Pro Day
RB Travis Homer – Miami – Duce Staley worked him out at his Pro Day
RB Darrell Henderson – Memphis – Duce Staley worked him out at his Pro Day
RB Tony Pollard – Memphis – Duce Staley worked him out at his Pro Day
RB Darwin Thompson – Utah State – Private workout
RB David Montgomery – Iowa State – Met with him at his Pro Day
RB Devin Singletary – Florida Atlantic – Duce Staley met with him at his Pro Day
QB Tyree Jackson – Buffalo – Assistant coach at his Pro Day

DE Jaylon Ferguson- La Tech – DL coach worked him out at his Pro Day
DE Austin Bryant – Clemson – DL coach at his Pro Day
DE Ahmad Gooden – Samford – Showing some interest
DE Porter Gustin – USC – Scout worked him out at his Pro Day
DE Titus Davis – UCF – DL coach at his Pro Day
DE Gerri Green – Miss State – Asst coach worked him out at his Pro Day
DE Maxx Crosby – Eastern Michigan – Scout worked him out at his Pro Day
DE Zach Allen – Boston College – Asst coach worked him out at his Pro Day
DE Wyatt Ray – Boston College – Asst coach worked him out at his Pro Day
DT Trysten Hill – UCF – DL coach worked him out at his Pro Day
DT Albert Huggins – Clemson – DL coach at his Pro Day
DT Braxton Hoyett – Miss State – Asst coach worked him out at his Pro Day
LB Emeke Egbule – Houston – Private workout
LB Cody Barton – Utah – LB coach at his Pro Day
LB Kaden Ellis – Idaho – LB coach saw him work out at Utah Pro Day
LB Connor Strachan – Boston College – Asst coach worked him out at his Pro Day
CB JoeJuan Williams – Vanderbilt – Cory Undlin at his Pro Day
CB Rashard Causey – UCF – Scout met with him at his Pro Day

The Eagles have worked out plenty of local prospects. I don’t have all of them listed because it is so hard to gauge just how much interest there is. A player from Temple can visit the Eagles and doesn’t count against their limit of 30 because he’s local.

Some misc thoughts…

The Eagles have talked about wanting to add a young QB almost every year. I doubt they draft anyone this season. The only QB they’ve shown specific interest in is Buffalo’s Tyree Jackson. I do think he’d be ideal for the Eagles, but he’s likely to go around the third round. That’s not good value for this team.

The Eagles have checked out a lot of tweeners. Usually that means DE/LB types. This year that means DE/DT types.

Rashan Gary 6-4, 276
L.J. Collier 6-2, 283
Jaylon Ferguson 6-5, 271
Zach Allen 6-4, 279
Austin Bryant 6-4, 271
Kyle Phillips 6-4, 277

There are others who fit this and the Eagles have seen at all-star games or the Combine

Charles Omenihu 6-5, 280
John Cominsky 6-5, 286
Jonathan Ledbetter 6-4, 280
Kingsley Keke 6-3, 288

The Eagles had Adam Gotsis (6-4, 287) rated highly back in the 2016 draft. He went in the second round to Denver. They have looked at some tweeners the past two years, but this year they seem more interested than ever. Essentially you would be getting a big DE with pass rushing experience and moving them to DT. A lot of colleges now use 3-man fronts so you have these big DEs or undersized DTs who get a chance to play a different role. They have to be strong vs the run, but also athletic enough to be an OT to the QB.

It will be interesting to see if the Eagles take one of these guys, and if so, how early.

The Eagles have shown interest in return specialists. Mecole Hardman and Diontae Johnson came to Philly for visits. Both are speedy receivers, but also dynamic returners. Don’t be surprised if the Eagles add a RS on Day 3.

WHAT HAPPENS IN THE SECOND ROUND?

Going strictly off interest/need, I lean toward the Eagles going for a safety and then trading back. That would add a young, talented player to the secondary. By trading back, the team could add a Day 3 pick, possibly two. I think they would target RB/WR/LB/DL with the trade back.

***

Safeties of interest:

Chauncey Gardner-Johnson
Nassir Adderley
Juan Thornhill

I much prefer CGJ in that group. The Eagles might also like Thornhill a lot. He’s not my cup of tea, but he can cover and make plays.

Here are some other names the Eagles could target in the second round.

RB Miles Sanders
RB Justice Hill

WR Parris Campbell
WR Miles Boykin

OL Elgton Jenkins

DE Chase Winovich

DT Dre’Mont Jones

LB Mack Wilson

CB Isaiah Johnson

This isn’t my favorite group of players. These are guys who the Eagles might like and who would make some sense for the team.

***

Ideally, I’d love to get Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and then move back. Go get a RB with that pick and you’ve have a good Day Two.

*****

-Remaining 1st Round Board for the Eagles-

OL:  Jawaan Taylor, Cody Ford

S: Chauncey Gardner-Johnson

CB: Rock Ya-Sin

***

-2nd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB: n/a

RB:  Miles Sanders

WR: Deebo Samuel, Hakeem Butler, A.J. Brown, D.K. Metcalf, Parris Campbell, Miles Boykin

TE: n/a

OL:  Chuma Edoga, Greg Little, Yodny Cajuste, Dalton Risner, Erik McCoy, Elgton Jenkins

DE: Chase Winovich, Jaylon Ferguson

DT: Dre’Mont Jones

LB:

IB: Mack Wilson, Jahlani Tavai

S: Nassir Adderley

CB: Trayvon Mullen, Isaiah Johnson, JoeJuan Williams

***

-3rd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB: n/a

RB: Darrell Henderson, David Montgomery

WR: Riley Ridley, J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, Gary Jennings, David Sills

TE: Jace Sternberger, Kaden Smith, Josh Oliver, Kahale Warring

OL:  Max Scharping, David Edwards, Michael Jordan, Drew Samia, Michael Deiter,

DE: Charles Omenihu, Oshane Ximines, Maxx Crosby, John Cominsky, Zach Allen, D’Andre Walker

DT: Kingsley Keke, Gerald Willis, Khalen Saunders, Trysten Hill

LB: Blake Cashman, Germaine Pratt

IB: Bobby Okereke

S: Marquise Blair, Juan Thornhill, Deionte Thompson, Marvel Tell

CB: Sean Bunting, Lonnie Johnson, Justin Layne, Amani Oruwaryie

*****

ALL TOMMY TEAM 

(my favorite non-1st round players)

QB Trace McSorley – Penn State
RB  David Montgomery – Iowa State
WR  Deebo Samuel – South Carolina
WR  Stanley Morgan Jr. – Nebraska
WR  Darius Slayton – Auburn
TE  Trevon Wesco – West Virginia
OT  Yodney Cajuste – West Virginia
OG  Phil Haynes – Wake Forest
OC  Erik McCoy – Texas A&M
OG  Drew Samia – Oklahoma
OT  Chuma Edoga – USC

DE  L.J. Collier – TCU
DT  Daniel Wise – Kansas
DT  Kingsley Keke – Texas A&M
DE  Malik Carney – UNC
LB  Blake Cashman – Minnesota
IB  Terrill Hankes – New Mexico State
LB  Emeke Egbule – Houston
S  Marquise Blair – Utah
S  Jaquan Johnson – Miami
CB  Julian Love – Notre Dame
CB  Sean Bunting – Central Michigan

***

Please draft a couple of these players

WR Deebo Samuel – South Carolina
WR Parris Campbell – Ohio State
G/C Elgton Jenkins – Miss State
OG Drew Samia – Oklahoma
OG Michael Dieter – Wisconsin
RB Tony Pollard – Memphis
RB Travis Homer – Miami
RB Jalin Moore – Appalachian State

DE Maxx Crosby – Eastern Michigan
DE Malik Carney – UNC
DT Jeffery Simmons – Mississippi State
DT Jerry Tillery – Notre Dame
LB Troy Reeder – Delaware
LB Bobby Okereke – Stanford
S Marquise Blair – Utah
S Darnell Savage – Maryland
S Sheldrick Redwine – Miami

Please avoid these players

C Ross Pierschbacher – Alabama – Just never impressed me, but some see as mid-round target.
DT Renell Wren – Arizona – Has moments where he looks really good, but his lack of production is a red flag for me. Only 14.5 TFLs in four years.
S Juan Thornhill – Virginia – He is very talented. Can cover. Can make plays. But his tackling drives me nuts. Dives at ankles over and over and over. Ugh.
OT Greg Little – Ole Miss – Has the potential to be a good NFL LT, but I don’t like the fit for the Eagles.
WR Andy Isabella – UMass – Small, but very fast. Doesn’t have great hands and isn’t a strong route runner. Needs a lot of work.

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