Rolling with the Tide?
NFL free agency is this week, which means it’s time for some very soon to be wrong mock drafts as teams start filling needs with veterans. Except the Eagles, who can’t really afford to sign anyone. So maybe one of these players will be their pick in April.
Charles Davis, NFL – LB Jihaad Campbell, Alabama
Recent history has shown that no matter where the Eagles pick in the draft, they find great prospects, continue to develop them and ultimately unleash them on the NFL to great effect. Yes, I know Philadelphia just re-upped LB Zack Baun. But the value here for Campbell — a tremendous player with a versatile game — is just too good. He’ll flourish under defensive coordinator Vic Fangio.
I don’t know what is worse about this mock, Shedeur Sanders 1st overall or Jaxson Dart 3rd overall.
As for Campbell, the Eagles did strike gold in finally maximizing Baun, who was also a tweener ILB/OLB. Campbell reminds me of Edgerrin Cooper last year: not really an OLB, but also underwhelming as an ILB; they even both weren’t the top ILB on their own team, when Deontae Lawson missed time they had his replacement be the play caller. Campbell and Cooper are even roughly the same size and tested well at the Combine. Cooper had a nice season, but he was also the 45th pick.
Campbell isn’t the kind of player the Eagles draft in the 1st round or that teams tend to draft in the 1st, and even if he was, he isn’t the kind of player they need. They’re not taking an LB who isn’t an EDGE. With Nic Scourton on the board, that should be the Eagles pick.
Josh Edwards, CBS – G Donovan Booker, Alabama
Tyler Booker lasting this late in the first round may come as a surprise to general manager Howie Roseman, but he is not one to question a gift. Booker is the potential long-term answer at the position manned by Mekhi Becton in 2024.
Nope, not seeing it. I can see the Eagles drafting an OL in the 1st round. But not one who tested so poorly. Booker was seen as a potential top half of the 1st round pick, then he had a disastrous showing in Indy, with middling and mostly poor testing. RAS isn’t everything, but the Eagles have drafted athletes and Booker’s 3.93 RAS says he is not an athlete. Nic Scourton and Donovan Ezeiruaku are on the board, give me one of them, or if you’re set on going iOL, Donovan Jackson.
Marcus Mosher, 33rd Team – S Malaki Starks, Georgia
The Philadelphia Eagles usually don’t value safeties that highly, and that’s the only reason why this pick might not happen.
But Malaki Starks is a do-it-all safety who had three years of production in Georgia. And the fact that he played at Georgia will be a selling point for Howie Roseman.
The only thing lazier than this pick and reasoning is my write up of it.
Chris Trapasso, CBS – DT Darius Alexander, Toledo
Howie Roseman stays true to form and picks a trench player in the first round. Another Toledo Rocket. Alexander can be a valuable chess piece in Vic Fangio’s scheme right away.
Alexander is certainly on the Eagles radar as they have two of his teammates on the roster. Going DT here, no complaints. But Alexander is a sixth year senior, how high is his ceiling?
Nate Tice and Charles McDonald, Yahoo – OL Marcus Mbow, Purdue
Eagles. Trenches. Mbow has a chance to stay out at right tackle (and be a Lane Johnson successor) or could bump inside to right guard if the Eagles move on from Mekhi Becton. Either way, it’s more big man depth that the Eagles love.
You’ll rarely be wrong mocking a lineman on either side of the ball to the Eagles. But Marcus Mbow at 32 is a reach. Speaking of reaches, Mbow doesn’t have much of one, measuring at the Combine with 32” arms. That’s a guard, and guard in the 1st round is a waste. And even if he measured like a tackle, he’s still a reach.
Can’t throw stones from a glass house so I’ll do my own.
I’m using PFF’s sim because it’s the most realistic. I did one on Pro Football Network the other day that had Kyren Lacy getting drafted. He should have been taken out of the sim months ago. Three rounds because why not, that’s what they give you for free.
First round
Top 5 available at positions that I or the Eagles would draft: Darius Alexander, Grey Zabel, Nic Scourton, TJ Sanders, Tyliek Williams
Tyliek Williams is really good, and I really like TJ Sanders. But I can probably get a DT later, EDGE is a bigger need, and twice I said give me Nic Scourton, so give me Nic Scourton. He’s a bit undersized but I don’t care. I don’t think he’ll be available in the real draft. This will be a recurring theme.
Second round
Top 10: Cam Skattebo, Jack Sawyer, Elijah Arroyo, Aireontae Ersery, Omarr Norman-Lott, Dylan Sampson, Kyle Kennard, Benjamin Morrison, Josiah Stewart, Mason Taylor
Skattebo (who I like) and Sawyer (who I do not) this high, absolutely not. I thought the Eagles should have drafted a TE last year. Between Elijah Arroyo and Mason Taylor, I prefer Mason Taylor. Good chance neither are actually available at 64 anyway.
Third round
Top 10: Jonah Savaiinaea, Tate Ratledge, Jeffrey Bassa, Charles Grant, Tez Johnson, Harold Fannin, Jared Wilson, Dorian Strong, Deone Walker, Kaimon Rucker
I’m taking Jared Wilson, another player I don’t expect to be on the board here in April. Wilson is a center but has the size and athleticism the Eagles love on the interior, and they’ve moved Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens to guard with no issues. Also a backup center is a real but low priority need, Wilson gives them a good plan B.
