2020 Eagles Draft Preview

There are two main goals to this draft and the entire offseason: get younger and faster. Oh yeah, it wouldn’t hurt to add a couple of pass catchers.

The first round is in the books and the Eagles did add WR Jalen Reagor. He’s a young, speedy playmaker so things are off to a good start. The Eagles still have seven picks and they have lots of work left to do.

Some people are upset that Howie Roseman didn’t move up in the first round. I thought the Eagles would stay put at 21 or even move back. Howie and owner Jeffrey Lurie have spent the last 15 to 18 months explaining that the Eagles needed a deep draft class. The team was the second oldest in the league entering the 2019 season and that had to change. In order to do that, you need draft picks.

It is easy to say “Make the deal, Howie!!!”, but he has to balance that with his owner telling him to keep as many picks as possible to get the team younger.

The pressure is on Howie and his staff to turn those picks into good players. Younger is only good if you find good young players.

The picks:

1 – WR Jalen Reagor – TCU – 5-11, 206
2 – 53
3 – 103
4 – 127
4 – 145
4 – 146
5 – 168
6 – 190

Needs:

WR has already been addressed, but remains a position that needs talent. Build a WR corps. Get different players with different skill sets.

The Eagles are thin at LB, in terms of talent and numbers. They need to add a quality talent to the mix.

Safety is set for 2020, but the Eagles could use a young player to develop for the future.

The starting OL appears to be set, but the departure of Big V means the Eagles could use a swing tackle. That could be a draft target. Jason Kelce isn’t getting any younger so the team could look for someone to develop behind him.

The team would look to be good at DT, but Cox and Jackson are older so maybe they would add someone for the future at that spot.

There are plenty of bodies at DE. You only add someone there if you think they are clear upgrade on the current pass rushers.

The Eagles could always use a talented CB.

Depth is needed at TE and QB.

There is a need for another RB to be added to the mix. There will be some good choices later in the draft.

Depth Chart

I’m only listing players that I think have a realistic shot at making the roster in 2019. For now, that includes Alshon Jeffery.

WR  Alshon Jeffery ..… J.J. Arcega-Whiteside
WR  DeSean Jackson … Jalen Reagor
WR  Greg Ward
QB  Carson Wentz ….. Nate Sudfeld
RB  Miles Sanders … Boston Scott … Elijah Holyfield
TE  Zach Ertz …….… Dallas Goedert
LT  Andre Dillard …….… Jordan Mailata
LG  Isaac Seumalo
OC  Jason Kelce ………. Nate Herbig
RG  Brandon Brooks … Matt Pryor
RT  Lane Johnson

DE  Brandon Graham …. Josh Sweat
DT  Fletcher Cox ……….. Hassan Ridgeway …. Bruce Hector
DT  Javon Hargrave …… Malik Jackson ……. Anthony Rush
DE  Derek Barnett ……… Genard Avery
WB Jatavis Brown ……… Duke Riley
MB T.J. Edwards
SB  Nate Gerry ………….. Alex Singleton
SS  Jalen Mills
FS  Rodney McLeod ….. Will Parks
CB  Darius Slay 
CB  Avonte Maddox …. Sidney Jones
NB  Nickell Robey-Coleman ……… Cre’Von LeBlanc

P Cameron Johnston
K Jake Elliott
LS Rick Lovato

*****

Eagles Draft Interest

OFFENSE

QB Cole McDonald – Hawaii
QB James Morgan – Florida International

RB Artavis Pierce – Oregon State
RB Darrynton Evans – Appalachian State

WR Denzel Mims – Baylor
WR Aaron Fuller – Washington
WR Antonio Gandy-Golden – Liberty
WR Brandon Aiyuk – Arizona State
WR Jalen Reagor – TCU
WR Quartney Davis – Texas A&M
WR K.J. Hamler – Penn State

TE Giovanni Ricci – Western Michigan

OT Josh Jones – Houston
OT Saahdiq Charles – LSU
OT Ezra Cleveland – Boise State

OG Michael Onwenu – Michigan
OG Damien Lewis – LSU
OG Robert Hunt – Louisiana-Lafayette

OC Cesar Ruiz – Michigan
OC Nick Harris – Washington
OC Luke Juriga – Western Michigan
OC Matt Hennessy – Temple

DEFENSE

DT Justin Madubuike – Texas A&M
DT Leki Fotu – Utah
DT James Lynch – Baylor
DT Raequan Williams – Michigan State
DT Raekwon Davis – Alabama

DE Derrek Tuszka – North Dakota State
DE Kenny Willekes – Michigan State
DE Terrell Lewis – Alabama

LB Patrick Queen – LSU
LB Logan Wilson – Wyoming
LB Davian Taylor – Colorado
LB Marshe Terry – Northern Illinois
LB Willie Gay – Miss State
LB Shaun Bradley – Temple

S K’Von Wallace – Clemson
S Ashtyn Davis – California

CB Darnay Holmes – UCLA
CB Amik Robertson – Louisiana Tech
CB Cam Dantzler – Miss State
CB Jabaris Davis – Auburn
CB John Reid – Penn State
CB Luqman Barcoo – San Diego State

DRAFT BOARD

-1st Round Board for the Eagles-

QB:

RB:

WR:

TE:

OL:

DE: Yetur Gross-Matos

DT: Marlon Davidson

LB:

IB: 

S: Antoine Winfield, Jr.

CB: Kristian Fulton

*****

-2nd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB: Jalen Hurts

RB: J.K. Dobbins, Jonathan Taylor, D’Andre Swift

WR: Tee Higgins, Denzel Mims, Laviska Shenault, K.J. Hamler, Michael Pittman Jr.

TE: Cole Kmet

OL: Josh Jones, Prince Tega Wanogho, Robert Hunt, Saahdiq Charles, Ezra Cleveland, Nick Harris, Matt Hennessy

DE: A.J. Epenesa, Josh Uche

DT: Ross Blacklock, DaVon Hamilton, Justin Madubuike, Neville Gallimore

LB: Zack Baun, Logan Wilson

IB: 

S: Xavier McKinney, Grant Delpit, Kyle Dugger, Jeremy Chinn

CB: Trevon Diggs, Jaylon Johnson

*****

-3rd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB:

RB: Cam Akers, Antonio Gibson, Anthony McFarland

WR: Chase Claypool, Bryan Edwards, Van Jefferson, Lynn Bowden

TE: Adam Trautman, Albert Okwuegbunam, Harrison Bryant

OL: Damien Lewis, Lloyd Cushenberry, Tyler Biadasz, Jack Driscoll, Ben Bartch, John Simpson, Tyre Phillips, Jonah Jackson, Ben Bredeson,

DE: Jonathan Greenard, Alton Robinson, Darrell Taylor, Jabari Zuniga, Terrell Lewis

DT: James Lynch, Jordan Elliott, Leki Fotu

LB: Akeem Davis-Gaither, Willie Gay, Davion Taylor

IB: Malik Harrison

S: Ashtyn Davis, Geno Stone, Terrell Burgess, K’Von Wallace

CB: Amik Robertson, Darnay Holmes, Troy Pride, Reggie Robinson, Cam Dantzler

*****

ALL TOMMY TEAM 

(my favorite non-1st round players)

QB Anthony Gordon – Washington State
RB  Darrynton Evans – Appalachian State
WR  Laviska Shenault – Colorado
WR  Van Jefferson – Florida
WR  Jauan Jennings – Tennessee
TE  Sean McKeon – Michigan
OT  Kyle Murphy – Rhode Island
OG  Jonah Jackson – Ohio State
OC  Nick Harris – Washington
OG  Kevin Dotson – Louisiana-Lafayette
OT  Robert Hunt – Louisiana-Lafayette

DE  Jonathan Greenard – Florida
DT  James Lynch – Baylor
DT  Robert Windsor – Penn State
DE  Derrek Tuszka – North Dakota State
LB  Akeem Davis-Gaither – Appalachian State
IB  Logan Wilson – Wyoming
LB  Carter Coughlin – Minnesota
S  Geno Stone – Iowa
S  Chris Miller – Baylor
CB  Amik Robertson – Louisiana Tech
CB  Dane Jackson – Pitt

***

Please draft a couple of these players

WR Tee Higgins – Clemson
WR Van Jefferson – Florida
WR Juaun Jennings – Tennessee
WR Tyler Johnson – Minnesota
RB DeeJay Dallas – Miami
RB Rico Dowdle – South Carolina
OL Calvin Throckmorton – Oregon
OL Kyle Murphy – Rhode Island
OT Charlie Heck – UNC

DE Jonathan Greenard – Florida
DE Derrek Tuszka – North Dakota State
DT James Lynch – Baylor
DT Leki Fotu – Utah
DT Robert Windsor – Penn State
DL Jason Strowbridge – UNC
LB Logan Wilson – Wyoming
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither – Appalachian State
S Antoine Winfield – Minnesota
S Chris Miller – Baylor
CB Reggie Robinson – Tulsa

Please avoid these players

QB – I know the Eagles have looked into Day 3 guys, but this isn’t a good class. Spend the pick elsewhere.
WR K.J. Hamler – Penn State – Good player, but the Eagles added a similar guy already. Go get a different type of receiver.
OT Ezra Cleveland – Boise State – Athletic OT who lacks a mean streak. Didn’t the Eagles draft that guy last year?
RB A.J. Dillon – Boston College – I know some people love Dillon, but I’m not sure he’d be a good fit for the Eagles.
CB Cam Dantzler – Miss State – Long, lean CB who can cover, has good ball skills, but is slow. The Rasul Douglas experiment already failed.

***

We already know the first pick. Here is my ideal scenario for the rest of the draft.

1 – WR Jalen Reagor – TCU
2 – LB Logan Wilson – Wyoming
3 – WR Bryan Edwards – South Carolina
4 – S Geno Stone – Iowa
4 – OT Charlie Heck – UNC
4 –  CB John Reid – Penn State
5 – DE Derrek Tuszka – North Dakota State
6 – RB DeeJay Dallas – Miami

Wilson can run, cover and tackle. He would give the Eagles a strong presence in the middle of the defense. Wilson is versatile enough to play any of the LB spots. He is a good athlete and playmaker. He’s what this defense needs in the middle of the field.

There should still be some good receivers in the third round. I went with Edwards because he is 6-3, 212 and has terrific hands. He makes some insane catches. Edwards isn’t a burner, but give Carson Wentz a big, physical receiver with good hands and I think he’ll be happy. Edwards battled top CBs in the SEC so he should be ready for the challenges of the NFL.

I love Stone. He is a fierce hitter and strong tackler. He’s smart. Stone can play zone or man. He’s got good range and can help on the back end of the defense.

Heck is taller than I like at 6-8, but he played LT at Carolina and has the potential to play there in the NFL. He is a team captain and the son of a former NFL player and current OL coach. Heck is going to understand what it takes to play in the NFL. He can handle tough coaching from Jeff Stoutland.

Reid could play CB or S for the Eagles. He has good hands. He’s a smart, aware DB who can make plays. Reid is a solid tackler, but not an impact hitter. He has some RS experience.

Tuszka grew on me the more I watched him. I think he has NFL ability and I think he would be a good fit in the Wide-9. He also plays with some attitude and we know Schwartz likes that.

I think Dallas would be a terrific fit for the Eagles offense. He is 215 pounds and is a physical runner. Dallas is very good on screen passes. He would be an exellent addition to the Eagles group of RBs. You don’t have to feed Dallas the ball to have him be effective.

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