It is NFL Draft week. The buzz is in the air. NFL Draft week is like the week leading up to Christmas for kids. The NFL Draft is like Christmas for adults. Sometimes we get what we want, but sometimes we are left with a gift that we still scratch our heads about why we haven't thrown it away yet (cough cough Jalen Reagor.)
The Eagles have two first round picks in the first round. They have 15 and 18. There are a lot of different directions they can go with this. Here are my top 10 players the Eagles need to keep an eye on for BOTH 15 and 18.
**Please note that some of these players are being mocked to go before 15, but sometimes players actually drop.
1. Sauce Gardner CB Cincy
I do not expect this man to be available at 15 for the Eagles, however if he drops to them, Howie better do everything in his power to make him an Eagle. The man never allowed a TD in college and only gave up 14 yards in the College Football Playoff.
2. Garrett Wilson WR Ohio State
This is the first of 4 straight WR's on my big board. DeVonta Smith is going to be a star in this league. We finally locked up WR1, but we need someone else to play alongside him. Smith can not get 100 targets a game, I think the other team may catch onto that. If you want a WR who has elite separation it is Wilson, There is no one better in this class than him. He can play both the slot and the outside and could also be WR1.
3. Chis Olave WR Ohio State
If you want a WR who will be an incredible downfield threat than you want Olave from Ohio State. This is the one thing the Eagles are missing. We have plenty of red zone threats, but we barely have that true downfield threat. Olave is the best downfield threat in his class.
4. Drake London WR USC
London is one of the biggest WR's in his class and he uses that to his advantage. His size is unmatched when you compare that to his production. He led college football with 19 contested catches in 2021. Smith is a quick shifty WR, and London would fill the role of that giant presence on the field. I like his fit for throw for the middle and deep in the endzone.
5. Devin Lloyd LB Utah
Howie has never valued the LB position and he needs to start doing so. We saw what Dallas got with Micah Parsons last year, and I hope Howie realizes maybe they should do the same. Lloyd can do it all; he can take on blocks, elite blitzer, and cover a tight end or larger WR with ease.
6. Jameson Williams WR Alabama
If we were to create an Alabama to Eagles pipeline I do not think I would be upset. The reason Williams is the 4th WR on my board is because of his ACL injury. I do not want to see a Sidney Jones 2.0. If he were fully healthy I would put him at the top, but too much uncertainty at the moment with him.
6. Trent McDuffie CB Washington
We all know the Eagles have a need at CB. Darius Slay is elite, but we need someone to play opposite the field from him. McDuffie is a little undersized, but his production says otherwise. He allowed 16 catches on 36 targets for 111 yards and 0 TD's. I like his physicality and is a guy the fans will love.
7. Tyler Linderbaum C Iowa
I will admit this is more of a personal wish than a logical one. Linderbaum is easily the best interior lineman in this class. It is not official, but this definitely Jason Kelce's final year. Could you imagine Linderbaum as his long term replacement? Howie loves to build from the trenches and locking down the center position for the next decade is a very nice thing to look forward to.
8. Jordan Davis DL Georgia
Fletcher Cox is not getting any younger and like I previously said, the Eagles build from the trenches. If the Eagles want to lockdown their run defense they draft Davis. He ended his career with 41 tackles without a miss.
9. Derek Stingley Jr CB LSU
He is super high on draft boards for what he was able to do in 2019. He has not matched that 2019 production for the rest of his college career. He battled injuries in 2020 and 2021. If he can return to or come close to the 2019 production, than he will be an extremely valuable pick and probably a huge steal.
10. Charles Cross OT Mississippi State
Lane Johnson is not getting any younger and should look to replace him in the near future. The best way to continue to develop Jalen Hurts is to make sure he is protected. The Eagles injury bug on the offensive line has been bad for years. go get some depth. Cross is incredible in the pass protection and will allow Jalen plenty of time to get throws off.
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