Eagles Draft Talk

The draft is getting closer. The Eagles are finalizing their draft board by going to Pro Days and bringing prospects to Philly for visits. Let’s take a look at what the Eagles have been up to.

TOP 30 VISITS

DT Jordan Davis – Georgia

DT Devonte Wyatt – Georgia

CB Ahmad “Sauce” Gardner – Cincinnati

CB Marcus Jones – Houston

Davis will go in the first round. He’s the massive 6-6, 341 pound NT who put on a show at the Scouting Combine. Davis is powerful enough to eat blocks and clog the middle, but athletic enough to get into the backfield and be disruptive.

Wyatt is more of a normal DT at 6-3, 304. He’s also a terrific athlete. Wyatt could go in the first round, but might last to the early second. He would be a 3-technique in the NFL. With Fletcher Cox likely to leave after this season, the Eagles are interested in finding a new stud DT to add to the mix. Davis and Wyatt both make sense.

Gardner isn’t likely to make it to 15. The Eagles might be taking a close look at him to try to decide if he’s worth moving up for, should he get anywhere close to 15.

Jones is an undersized corner, but is an elite playmaker. He picked off 5 passes this past season and had 4 TDs as a returner, with two on kickoffs and two on punts. I’ve talked about the Eagles need to find playmakers. Jones would make sense.

PRO DAYS

Understand that the Eagles have scouts at all major Pro Days. We’re not trying to track that. We’re looking for coaches going to workout prospects and/or scouts showing special interest in prospects. With that in mind…

The Eagles DL coach Tracy Rocker was at Arkansas to workout NT John Ridgeway (6-5, 324). Ridgeway is mostly a run-stuffer, but he is a solid athlete for his size and has a good motor.

WR coach Aaron Moorehead was also at Arkansas. He worked out WR Treylon Burks, a 6-2, 225 star. Burks had a great year and is generally considered to be a first round pick.

QB coach Brian Johnson was at Pitt to check out Kenny Pickett. The Eagles also had dinner with him. I think the team has passive interest and is mostly trying to make other teams think they’ll consider a QB in the first round so that will improve trade-back options.

The Eagles had multiple reps at Nebraska’s Pro Day. They helped run OL drills, focusing on center Cam Jurgens. He’s likely a Day 2 prospect and would be a good replacement for Jason Kelce.

The Eagles had a scout closely watching C James Empey at BYU’s Pro Day. He is more of a late round prospect.

They also checked out DE/LB Uriah Leiataua, most likely a UDFA.

TE coach Jason Michael was at Iowa State’s Pro Day, working out Charlie Kolar. Kolar is 6-7, 256 and a good athlete. He will be a mid-round pick and would be an ideal backup to Dallas Goedert.

RB coach Jemal Singleton was also there. He was checking out RB Breece Hall, who could be the first RB taken. Hall is 217 pounds and ran for 20 TDs.

Defensive Coordinator Jonathan Gannon went to Georgia’s Pro Day. He was checking out half the team. Literally.

DE Travon Walker
DT Jordan Davis
DT Devonte Wyatt
LB Quay Walker
LB Nakobe Dean
LB Channing Tindall
S Lewis Cine
CB Derion Kendrick

Aside from Kendrick, I’d be fine with the Eagles going after any of those players.

Assistant OL coach Roy Istvan was at the Tulsa Pro Day. They have a stud LT in Tyler Smith, one of the nastiest blockers in the draft.

DL coach Tracy Rocker was at Uconn’s Pro Day to see DT Travis Jones in action. Jones might have had a good enough postseason to sneak into the first round.

Jemal Singleton was at the Michigan State Pro Day. He was working out Kenneth Walker III, one of the top RBs in the class. I like the fact that the Eagles are showing interest in the top backs.

Aaron Moorehead was at NDSU’s Pro Day. He worked out Christian Watson, a big, athletic WR. Watson will probably go early on Day 2.

The Eagles met with OL Trevor Penning at Northern Iowa’s Pro Day. Penning will likely be a first round pick. He could be the team’s RT of the future. Very nasty, very aggressive blocker.

The Eagles had a private meeting with Texas A&M DL Jayden Peevy. He’s a limited athlete and will likely be a late round pick.

The Eagles are showing interest in Washington State safety Jahad Woods. He played LB at WSU, but is 5-10, 218 and will play S in the NFL. Late round target.

TE coach Jason Michael was at Virginia’s Pro Day to see Jelani Woods in action. Woods is 6-7, 253 and a terrific athlete. Really intriguing prospect.

The Eagles had a coach at Purdue’s Pro Day to work out DE George Karlaftis. He’s a legit target for one of the first round picks.

The Eagles met with Baylor safety Jalen Pitre. He should go early second round so the Eagles would have to move back in the first or move up in the second to get him. I love Pitre as a prospect.

The Eagles had a coach working out LB Christian Harris at Alabama’s Pro Day. Good athlete who should go on Day 2.

QB coach Brian Johnson was at UNC’s Pro Day to see Sam Howell work out. He’s most likely a second round prospect.

The Eagles are showing interest in Utah WR/RS Britian Covey. He had 3 return TDs last year and is a late round or UDFA prospect.

The Eagles are showing interest in Washington State WR/RS Travell Harris. He would be a UDFA target.

The Eagles are showing interest in Tennessee DT Matthew Butler. Butler is 6-4, 297 and had 5 sacks last year. Day 3 target.

The Eagles met with Florida RT Jean Delance at his Pro Day. Likely a UDFA target.

The Eagles attended the Pro Day of West Florida safety D’Anthony Bell. I don’t remember ever hearing of West Florida before.

The Eagles had plenty of people at Temple, Rutgers and Penn State. It is hard to judge that since those Pro Days involve a simple drive.

*****

What can we take away from this?

The Eagles will take a DT at some point. They are interested in big dudes and athletic dudes. Maybe they take one of each.

The Eagles are definitely interested in drafting a RB early.

The Eagles would like to find a good backup TE for Goedert.

The team is looking at a lot of RS types. That was a major weakness last year.

They are looking at OCs and OTs. This might be the final year for Jason Kelce and Lane Johnson is getting up there.

The Eagles have checked out LBs and safeties. They know both positions still need upgrades.

*****

COMMENTS

_