Eagles Mock 2.0

We are now another week closer to the real draft so let’s take a look at another Eagles-only mock draft. This is not what I want to happen. Rather, this is a look at a potential scenario.

I intentionally went with different players and a different slant on things. Using the same players over and over isn’t any fun. Here we go…

1st Round – Safety Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah – Notre Dame – 6-2, 221

I’m sure I just made a few of you wonder what the heck is wrong with my brain. The Fighting Irish referred to Owusu-Koramoah as a LB. Put on the game tape and you see a weapon more than anything else. This guy is special. He can line up in the slot and cover receivers 1-on-1. He can blitz off the edge. Owusu-Koramoah is a good run defender and impact hitter. He makes things happen.

Last year Owusu-Koramoah finished second on the team in tackles. He also had an INT, 1.5 sacks, 3 FF, 3 pass breakups and a pair of fumble recoveries. He had 11 TFL, showing you that he makes his share of plays in the backfield.

I was watching tape of a receiver and just noticed Owusu-Koramoah’s feet. He has incredible movement skills for a guy his size. This is not your typical S/LB tweener. Owusu-Koramoah is a gifted athlete.

Jonathan Gannon saw the impact that Harrison Smith had for the Vikings defense. Smith is 6-1, 214. He’s versatile and very instinctive. He’s a good athlete, but nothing like Owusu-Koramoah. The Eagles desperately need a difference-maker in the back seven. Owusu-Koramoah could be Gannon’s new version of Smith, someone who can blitz, play the run and cover.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SGi4hJKi12s

Owusu-Koramoah has special potential. He would be a really interesting addition to the Eagles defense.

2nd Round – CB Eric Stokes – Georgia – 6-1, 194

The Eagles must come away with a high-level corner prospect. Stokes has good size and ran sub-4.30 at his Pro Day. He picked off 4 passes in 2020, showing the kind of ball skills you want in a DB. Stokes would immediately challenge for a starting role. The Eagles face speedy receivers like Terry McLaurin, Darius Slayton and Amari Cooper. Stokes would help deal with those guys. We saw last year that Darius Slay no longer has the speed to run with the fastest guys. Stokes could be a big help in that area.

3rd Round – WR D’Wayne Eskridge – Western Michigan – 5-9, 190

Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham could be the starters on the outside. Greg Ward has been the primary slot the last couple of years, but he’s just a move-the-chains guy. The Eagles need a playmaker in the slot and Eskridge would be that guy. He is an explosive player, averaging 19 yards per catch for his career. Eskridge also has experience as a KOR.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g0APf_QnNyg

Nick Sirianni wants to make yards after the catch a big part of the Eagles offense. Eskridge is perfect for that. He’s both elusive and explosive. You can hit him with a short pass and he can turn that into a big play. He lacks ideal size, but might be able to play some on the outside because of his speed and talent. Eskridge looked great at the Senior Bowl. He’s one of my favorite players in the draft and would look great in midnight green.

3rd Round – DT Dayo Odeyingbo – Vanderbilt – 6-5, 285

Odeyingbo tore his Achilles while preparing for the Senior Bowl. That’s a shame because he’s such an interesting prospect. Vandy used him in a 3-man line a lot and had him play mostly DE. If you watch the Florida game, you’ll see Odeyingbo play a lot of DT/NT. He was highly disruptive and impressed the heck out of me. I think he could be a terrific DT in a 1-gap system.

Odeyingbo is a good athlete. He’s got 35-inch arms so he can keep blockers away from his body. He’s very quick off the ball and has a good motor.

https://twitter.com/Jordan_Reid/status/1336418632210010117

There is risk because he’s coming off the Achilles injury, but most players come back from that. Obviously the Sidney Jones experiment didn’t pan out, but that was as much mental as physical.

4th Round – OL Royce Newman – Ole Miss – 6-5, 310

The Eagles should have a good starting OL. They even have some good backups, but they need more youth and depth. Newman is big, athletic and versatile, just what the Eagles are looking for. He started at LG in 2019 and moved to RT in 2020. If Jack Driscoll moves to G or C, the Eagles could use a backup RT. Newman looked good at the Senior Bowl, playing both G and T.

Athleticism pops off the screen when I watch #OleMiss RT Royce Newman on film. Scored a 8.55 RAS score per @MathBomb, shows lateral quickness, technically sound in re-positioning hands and footwork.

Scoop block, pulling to backers, likely moves to guard at next level. pic.twitter.com/m1uDuoVJlE

— Devin Jackson (@RealD_Jackson) April 3, 2021

A lot of people feel he could be a starting guard in the NFL. He’s athletic enough he might be able to start at tackle as well. He could be a good backup at both spots.

5th Round – DE Cameron Sample – Tulane – 6-3, 267

I remember sitting at Senior Bowl practices and watching a DE just dominate. I got the helmet mixed up with another player and didn’t realize it was Sample who was impressing the heck out of me. Sample had 5 sacks and 1 FF as a senior, hardly compelling numbers. I had watched some tape of him, but not a lot. He lit it up in Mobile and really got my attenion.

Sample really helped himself in Mobile. He looked good at DE or when lined up as an interior pass rusher. He gave guards and centers fits with his quickness and hands. Sample then stood out in the game and won Defensive MVP.

6th Round – LB Nick Niemann – Iowa – 6-3, 234

We don’t know what the coaches will want at LB. Niemann would give them a player with size, speed (4.48) and ability. He could play SAM or WLB. Niemann is comfortable in coverage. He wasn’t much of a playmaker at Iowa, but his best football could be ahead of him. He showed the ability to play up on the LOS or out in space. At the least, Niemann could be a good backup and STer.

NICK NIEMANN WITH THE CHERRY ON TOP pic.twitter.com/MFYDa5x1og

— Heavens! (@HeavensFX) December 28, 2019

That was his only pick in college, but you can see skill and speed on that play.

6th Round – TE Tre’ McKitty – Georgia – 6-4, 247

If you go by the numbers, McKitty isn’t much of a prospect. He caught 56 passes and 3 TDs in his career. Those are pedestrian numbers. Put on the tape and you get a different story. You see a talented player who was on some awkaward offenses. McKitty played at Florida State for three years. They just weren’t good. He then went to Georgia in 2020. They ran the ball over and over and didn’t throw much to McKitty. When they did, he looked good.

I thought he looked good at the Senior Bowl and showed NFL talent. McKitty has the potential to be a good blocker. I don’t know if he can ever be a volume receiver, but he could be a good role player. His best football is ahead of him.

7th Round – CB Darren Hall – San Diego State – 5-11, 188

The Eagles need multiple corners to help rebuild their secondary. Hall doesn’t have ideal size, but runs well (4.41) and has good ball skills. He broke up 16 passes in 2019 and then picked off 3 passes last year. He can press or play off and jump routes.

San Diego State CB Darren Hall with a beautiful off-hand jam rep. Scraped the hands, got in phase, looked and leaned to locate the ball, pass breakup. Dominant rep #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/wpLZy6D1oJ

— Brad Kelly (@BradKelly17) January 27, 2021

Hall finished his career with 6 INTs and 25 PBUs.

7th Round – OL Robert Jones – Middle Tennessee – 6-4, 307

Another versatile OL for the Eagles. Jones played OG and OT in his college career. He played both spots at the Senior Bowl and showed flashes of real ability. He doesn’t have ideal length or athleticism so he might have to move inside. Jones is a tough, physical blocker.

MTST RT Robert Jones has some technical flaws as a pass protector but he has good size/power/temperament in run game

Currently listed as OG/OC on @seniorbowl roster – feels like best spots at next level

2019 tape vs Michigan, Iowa, Duke. Good battles vs WKU DE DeAngelo Malone pic.twitter.com/NvUYMPdJVo

— Ben Fennell (@BenFennell_NFL) December 30, 2020

I think Jeff Stoutland could find a few things to like about Jones.

7th Round – RB Deon Jackson – Duke – 5-11, 218

Jackson didn’t post gaudy numbers at Duke. He played behind some mediocre OLs and with some bad offenses. Jackson had a terrific showing at his Pro Day, running 4.42 and jumping 36 inches. That shows speed and explosion.

https://twitter.com/MattFFDynasty/status/1382463779032682510

He is a north-south runner with good burst. Give him good blocking and he can deliver big plays. Jackson is a solid pass catcher. He’s tough and talented. Could be good as part of a RB group. Also has KOR experience.

_