The NFL Combine is just around the corner and with it comes a lot of speculation and media hype. But for the Philadelphia Eagles, this draft could be their most important for quite some time. Without a second round pick, the birds have to spend their thirteenth overall pick very wisely so as opposed to listing the positions the team should look into taking in the first round, here are the ones they should avoid.
Wide Receiver:
The Eagles receiving core could definitely use a helping hand, but the birds have a habit of drafting first round receivers who don’t quite live up to the hype. This isn’t to say that another wideout would break the mould because they definitely could. Laquon Treadwell seems to be the name echoing around Philadelphia right now but there are far more prominent holes on Offense that need filling. The talent at Wide Receiver is very deep in this years draft, it would make much more sense to see if a potential first rounder slips down the order or to look deeper into the class than take a receiver in the first round.
Offensive Tackle:
Put down your pitchforks for just a second, I’m not saying that the Eagles shouldn’t add depth to the Offensive Line, I’m saying that they shouldn’t take a TACKLE in the first round. Whilst a little hasty at the snap, Lane Johnson is an incredible asset to the team. Jason Peters is battling injury concerns and could be entering his final year but the bigger picture would see Johnson move over to the left side and see the Eagles find a replacement for Johnson.
The problem last season wasn’t the tackles..it was the guards. Barbre, Tobin and Garnder all seemed to struggle massively in pass protection and with players such as Cody Whitehair projected to go in the middle of the first round, this is a move that makes much more sense for the Eagles.
Again, Tackles aren’t exactly set to be a rarity in this years draft so there’s no reason why the Eagles can’t find some depth in the later rounds..which they’d be wise to do, especially if Jason’s injury concerns arise. But it’s much more important to build a line of starters before you draft someone in the first who would not see the majority of the snaps at his position.
Quarterback:
For me, this is the biggest red flag going into this years draft. There are three or four quarterbacks projected to potentially go in the first round this season..but are they ready to start in the NFL? In a league that puts so much pressure on finding “great” Quarterbacks, it’s almost as if teams are forced to keep looking for the next Peyton Manning. Nobody knows how well these players are going to perform in the NFL but in comparison to previous seasons, the gap in talent is big enough to fall into the abyss of a potential bust.
Regardless of what direction the Eagles decide to move in with regards to a starting Quarterback, drafting one this early is not the right decision. Not only would Pederson be placing all his chips that will dictate the success his debut season as a Head Coach on one number in a game of draft Roulette, but he’s neglecting the areas that need talent much more desperately that don’t have the same avenues (EG a starter heading into free agency) as the Quarterback.
If Bradford stays-
If Sam Bradford does stay in Philadelphia, drafting a Quarterback in the first round makes no sense whatsoever. The situation is murky but the idea would see Pederson groom a young Quarterback to one day become “the guy”. In that time, Bradford may well emerge as “the guy” that Pederson is looking for. A third round pick on someone such as Dak Prescott to work with as a project Quarterback under a former Heisman Trophy winner makes much more sense than pinning the potential success or failure of your first season as a Head Coach on the shoulders of a rookie.
If the Eagles sign a free agent “bridge” Quarterback ( Chase Daniel):
The method would be very much be the same here. The difference being that he may see time sooner due to the lack of starting experience in Chase Daniel (or alternate concerns with potential targets). The concept of drafting in the first round would make more sense but is it worth spending a first round pick on a rookie who will as a consequence likely lack protection and be no more use than than Sam Bradford or any free agent?
If the team decide to pin all hopes on a Quarterback drafted in the first round:
Be prepared for a very steep learning curve and a season that may see the Eagles slide even further out of contention unless they can find the right weapons and protection to surround him with. Wentz has a strong arm and Lynch is mobile but both seem to suffer when throwing under pressure…something that Bradford endured plenty of in 2015.
