OL at 12?

We know the Eagles love to draft DL and OL, especially early. There aren’t any DL who seem to be good value at pick 12. You never know what the Eagles think, but most draft analysts still see that a few picks early for a DL.

OL is a different story. The first tackle will be Rashawn Slater or Penei Sewell. Either could go at pick 5. Both could go in the Top 10. If one of them is on the board at 12, should the Eagles take him?

This is where the draft is complicated.

The strength of the Eagles right now is the O-line. That might seem a bit crazy to say after last year’s sack-fest, but injuries played a huge part in that. If the Eagles OL can stay healthy, they can be one of the best units in the NFL.

LT Jordan Mailata
LG Isaac Seumalo
OC Jason Kelce
RG Brandon Brooks
RT Lane Johnson

Everyone there is or can be an above average starter. Three of them have been All-Pros. Mailata did a lot of learning last year. He looked great at times, but inexperienced at others. With that time under his belt and a full summer, Mailata could take a big step forward.

The Eagles also have depth.

Andre Dillard has been a disappointment so far, but he’s got the potential to be a good backup if needed. He’s got the size and athleticism to be a good pass protector. The coaching staff just has to push him to compete and to play better. The coaches will push Dillard to battle for the starting job.

Jack Driscoll played RT last year and looked really good at times. The Eagles think he could play G or C. We’ll have to wait and see where he ends up, but Driscoll showed he’s a legit NFL player with starting ability.

Nate Herbig played both G spots and looked like he could be a good starter. The Eagles have talked about him also playing some C in the past.

Why would the Eagles consider OL at 12?

Kelce, Brooks and Johnson are all older players. They might last several years, but injuries have hampered Brooks and Johnson in recent years. You don’t always draft for right now. The best picks are usually made when thinking big picture. The Eagles could add an OL or two to re-stock the OL so it is deep for the next couple of years.

Slater could play any spot on the line. He lacks ideal size (6-4, 308), but he’s a good athlete and gifted blocker. Watch him vs Ohio State in 2019 and you’ll be impressed with how he handled those rushers.

Sewell has the higher ceiling because of his size and athleticism. He could become a dominant OL. I could see Jeff Stoutland loving his potential, whether at LT or RT. It just doesn’t seem likely that Sewell falls to 12. That would be a shocker.

The other guy who could go early is Alijah Vera-Tucker from USC. He is 6-5, 308 and has 32-inch arms. Most people would put him at OG, but his tape at LT is impressive. You could absolutely give him a shot at OT.

It would be no fun to see the Eagles go OL at 12, but there is definitely logic in such a move. I like Slater, Sewell and Vera-Tucker all quite a bit. I’d rather the team go elsewhere, but would certainly understand loading up on blockers. One of the biggest reasons the Eagles won Super Bowl LII is that the OL was great all year long.

*****

Jimmy Bama wrote an excellent piece on Mailata.

There is no guarantee that Mailata will build on last year and prove to be the answer at LT. I do think he showed enough that I want to see a full season out of him. I think he’s got tremendous potential.

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