2022 Eagles Mock

Posted: April 26th, 2022 | Author: | Filed under: Philadelphia Eagles | Comments Off on 2022 Eagles Mock

We’re just days away from the draft. Rumors are flying hard and heavy. The Eagles covet WR Jameson Williams. The Eagles covet C Cam Jurgens. The Eagles…oh, you get the point. Lots of rumors.

Let’s look at one possible scenario. This isn’t what I want to happen, but rather one possibility what might happen.

The Eagles are looking for a combination of difference-makers, starters and depth. The defense needs an infusion of young athletic players.

1 – 15 – DT Jordan Davis – Georgia – 6-6, 341
1 – 18 – WR Jahan Dotson – Penn State – 5-11, 178
2 – 51 – LB Christian Harris – Alabama – 6-1, 226
3 – 83 – CB Jalyn Armour-Davis – Alabama – 6-1, 197
3 – 101 – SAF Bryan Cook – Cincinnati – 6-1, 206
4 – 124 – LB Myjai Sanders – Cincinnati – 6-5, 242
5 – 154 – RB Zamir White – Georgia – 6-0, 214
5 – 162 – DL Zachary Carter – Florida – 6-4, 282
5 – 166 – TE Jake Ferguson – Wisconsin – 6-5, 250
7 – 237 – OL Dawson Deaton – Texas Tech – 6-6, 304

*****

1 – 15 – DT Jordan Davis – Georgia – 6-6, 341

This pick isn’t about adding a run-stuffing NT. This is about adding a rare talent to the front of the defense. People question why Davis came off the field at UGA. They want to know why he wasn’t more productive. Georgia had one of the most talented defenses I’ve ever seen. They rotated players to get every one on the field. They also ran a distinct scheme that didn’t just have DL flying up the field. Davis best football is ahead of him. He has rare movement skills for a player of his size. His 40-time was similar to WR Anquan Boldin’s. Davis also has tremendous agility. He can become a disruptive force in the NFL. The player he reminds me of is Akiem Hicks, someone I’ve wanted to see as an Eagle for years.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i4pW18Ntw3k

Is there risk? Of course. There are no perfect prospects. But Davis is the kind of guy you take a chance on. Fletcher Cox is probably in his final season so Davis would have a year to learn before taking over as the stud DT. As we’ve seen in recent years, Super Bowl teams have had stud DTs (Chris Jones, Vita Vea, Aaron Donald).

1 – 18 – WR Jahan Dotson – Penn State – 5-11, 178

I’m expecting a run on WRs so I think the top four guys will be gone. This might be a bit of a reach, but the more I thought about Dotson, the more he made sense for the Eagles. He can play outside or in the slot. Dotson has great hands and is a polished receiver. He can deliver big plays through his outstanding RAC ability or by going deep. Dotson locates the ball well on deep passes and adjusts to off-target throws. He is slight, but the Eagles took a chance on DeVonta Smith last year and his slender build didn’t slow him at all. Dotson also brings the added bonus of being a terrific punt returner. The Eagles need big plays on offense and STs. Dotson can help in both areas.

2 – 51 – LB Christian Harris – Alabama – 6-1, 226

The Eagles must find talent for the middle of the defense. There is a huge need for a LB who can cover a lot of ground and cover pass catchers. Harris is that guy. He is a gifted athlete who is just emerging. He’s not an instinctive LB (like TJ Edwards), but Harris uses his 4.44 speed to fly around and make plays. He can rush, cover and play the run. Harris is a strong tackler and physical player.

3 – 83 – CB Jalyn Armour-Davis – Alabama – 6-1, 197

The Eagles also need CB help. Alabama is a great place to go find corners, with Armour-Davis being this year’s stud. He only started one season, but played well and then followed that up with great pre-draft workouts. Armour-Davis ran 4.39 at the Combine. He is better at pressing than playing off so that is something he’ll have to work on in the NFL. I’m still trying to get a feel for what Jonathan Gannon wants in a corner. Armour-Davis hits and tackles well. He has solid ball skills. He’s probably not as gifted at zone coverage as the Eagles might want, but that can be developed.

3 – 101 – SAF Bryan Cook – Cincinnati – 6-1, 206

In my mind, the Eagles must be aggressive in regard to finding a safety. Anthony Harris and Marcus Epps is not a lethal combo (for opponents anyway). There were rumors that the Eagles went after Marcus Williams in free agency. He’s a centerfield type. Cook is a see-it and go hit-it type. He is a sure-tackler and physical hitter. Cook isn’t great in coverage, but he has potential and gets the job done. He’s got solid size and plays big. Cook has good closing speed. He made a lot of plays for the outstanding Bearcat defense this past season.

4 – 124 – LB Myjai Sanders – Cincinnati – 6-5, 242

The Eagles invested big money in Haason Reddick this offseason. He’ll play SAM and be an edge rusher in passing situations. I think Reddick will be a major part of Gannon’s scheming this year. There is risk, though. What if he gets hurt? The Eagles have Patrick Johnson behind him. My guess is that the Eagles will look to bring in a player similar to Reddick to give them depth at that spot. They’ve been sniffing around Nik Bonitto and Deangelo Malone (both around 6-3, 245 and guys that can rush or cover). Sanders might remind Gannon of Anthony Barr, the big talented SAM he had up in Minnesota. Sanders is more of a rusher, but is absolutely athletic enough to develop cover skills. I don’t know that he’ll fall this far, but it is such a deep group of edge rushers that I think it is possible.

https://twitter.com/JimNagy_SB/status/1497921643867430915

5 – 154 – RB Zamir White – Georgia – 6-0, 214

Jordan Howard was fantastic last year…when he was healthy. Unfortunately he is so tough and physical that he’s had injury issues in recent years. The Eagles need to add another talented RB to the mix. Miles Sanders isn’t meant to be a workhorse. White isn’t as big as I like, but he runs hard and with purpose. His running style brought a lot of juice to the Georgia offense, just like Howard’s running did for the Eagles. Players get fired up when their guy runs over people. White is a good athlete who will do more than just break tackles and move the chains. The coaches at UGA loved him and saw him as a team leader. I could see Nick Sirianni absolutely loving him. White is raw as a pass-catcher, but he’s very good in the Red Zone. He would be great value in the fifth round.

https://twitter.com/SECFootballVids/status/1434356612639170560

https://twitter.com/SEConCBS/status/1446968257848565764

5 – 162 – DL Zachary Carter – Florida – 6-4, 282

The Eagles love versatile DL. Carter can play DE or DT. He might remind you of Milton Williams with his size and versatility. Williams was the better athlete. Carter showed at UF that he could play in 3-man or 4-man fronts. He played right and left. He went to the Senior Bowl and showed how good of an interior rusher he was. Carter has the potential to develop into a key role player for a multiple defense.

5 – 166 – TE Jake Ferguson – Wisconsin – 6-5, 250

This is a good class of TEs. The Eagles must find a backup for Dallas Goedert. No disrespect intended for Jack Stoll, but they need someone who is more of a proven receiving threat. Ferguson caught 145 passes at Wisconsin. He’s more of a chain-mover than a playmaker, but he would be fine as the Eagles #2 TE. Ferguson is a solid blocker. It won’t shock me if the Eagles go for a TE earlier. There are some real good options.

7 – 237 – OL Dawson Deaton – Texas Tech – 6-6, 304

I’m pretty sure Howie Roseman is legally obligated to draft an O-linemen. I could see the Eagles looking for a RT prospect, but I’m not sure there will be any good options left at this point. Deaton had 30+ starts at center for Texas Tech and then played well at guard at the Shrine Game. He’s got the size to handle either spot. Deaton is a solid athlete and was a team captain. He is worth taking a chance on late in the draft.

*****

The biggest takeaway from this…the Eagles aren’t a one-draft fix. I’d love to see them move down from 18 to add another mid-round pick, but I can also see Howie moving up in other rounds to get players he has targeted. The Eagles have a solid roster as of now. They are trying to add weapons and to build for the future. They aren’t going to fill every need this weekend.

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