The first round of the NFL Draft has been and gone, but there’s still plenty more to come in what could prove to be a pivotal draft for the Eagles. With holes on both sides of the ball and and absence of both second and fourth round picks, the Eagles have to be meticulous in their proceedings during day two..here are four players they should be targeting.
Myles Jack LB:
Having slipped out of the first round due to a torn meniscus injury, linebacker Myles Jack is probably the most interesting name to keep an eye on tonight. There’s a good chance he goes in the second round but with many teams removing him from their board due to the extent of his injury, Myles Jack may…just may fall into the lap of a team who crave both depth and explosiveness at Linebacker, the Philadelphia Eagles. Averaging around 0.5 sacks a game prior to his devastating injury, Jack remains one of the most intriguing prospects in the Draft, but will a team be willing to take a chance on him before the Eagles do?
The fear is that he may not even be able to play out his rookie contract, but for a third round pick or even a potential trade up, is it not worth the risk for a player who can be so dominant? It’s unlikely, but entirely possible that Jack continues to slide down and it would not be surprising to see the Eagles take a chance on the injury stricken star.
Kenneth Dixon RB:
One of the names more likely to be drafted by the Eagles in the third round, Kenneth Dixon could not only fill a need for the Eagles but also become the perfect compliment to the styles of both Sproles and Mathews. Dixon became Louisiana Tech’s all time rushing leader after scoring 26 touchdowns in 2015. Not only is he efficient at getting the ball to the endzone, but his powerful running style and average of 5.6 yards per carry could provide the explosiveness and consistency the Eagles need to lift the load off of an injury plagued Mathews and an aging Sproles. Will he be on the board by the time the Eagles on the clock? Maybe. Will the Eagles spend their only third round pick on another Offensive piece? That’s another discussion entirely..
Kyle Murphy OT:
The value of Offensive Linemen is ever increasing after the Tunsil controversy last night. Five tackles were drafted in the first round and with that trend not projected to dip anytime soon, Kyle Murphy could be a name in hot demand. Prior to last night, you could make the argument that the Eagles could wait until the fifth round to upgrade the Offensive Line or at least add depth due to how deep the player pool is. After the first round, the Eagles may be left with very little to work with if they avoid drafting one in the third round. Not only would a dominant Murphy develop and rotate into games when needed, but by the time Wentz takes the reigns would most likely become a starter for Wentz to feel comfortable behind.
Harlan Miller CB:
The Eagles may have a solid amount of depth in the Secondary after an impressive Free Agency, but they could still use a hard hitter and they don’t come much more physical than Harlan Miller. Corners are also proving to be a commodity in this years’ draft and with the player pool much thinner, the difference between a third rounder and a fifth rounder is huge.
Miller registered 49 tackles and 6 for a loss in 2015. His quick footwork means that his bump-and-run ability is very impressive whilst his slightly undersized frame make him the perfect fit to learn under Schwartz. An established run defender who can mirror perfectly in man coverage and isn’t afraid to get dirty in the run game or impose his physicality on bigger receivers. Miller is Projected to go anywhere between the third and the fifth round but the Eagles should take the jump if he’s still on the board in the third. Why? Notonly is he a dream fit for the Eagles as a slot corner who can develop under two systematically experienced players, but the chances of him sinking to the fifth or anyone of his talent level sinking that low are minimal.
