Round 2: Elgton Jenkins, C/G, Mississippi State
Versatility is key and so is the protection of Carson Wentz. At Mississippi State, Jenkins has played just about every position on the offensive line at a high level. Most of the time, he has played in the center position. Since the 2017-2018 season, murmurs of Jason Kelce retiring have been a common occurrence. If that is the case, the Philadelphia Eagles should be keen on drafting Jenkins, who primarily is a center.
The other reason why Jenkins should be drafted is because the health of Brandon Brooks is still up in the air after his injury in the 2018-2019 playoffs. Jenkins is also a powerhouse with explosive, quick hand movement. He can posture up to protect the quarterback and hold blocks to create running room. The Eagles have did not have a reliable running game in the 2018-2019 season, so strengthening the offensive line early this draft provides young depth to learn under All-Pro veterans as well as the opportunity for these players to rotate in their position.
Round 2: Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
The next few picks are where I get defensive for the Philadelphia Eagles, starting with Vosean Joseph at linebacker. Jordan Hicks leaving creates room for improvement at this position. Paul Worrilow is still on the Eagles roster, but this leaves Kamau Grugier-Hill, Nigel Bradham, and Nate Gerry to cover the linebacker duties.
The addition of LJ Fort and BJ Bello’s 2018 production don’t answer the questions of how stable the linebacker position is. The Eagles have the best defensive line in football, which I don’t think is a biased judgment. However, to be as dominant at stopping the run as the Eagles have been, the linebackers are just as important.
I believe Worrilow, Bradham, and Grugier-Hill will be the starting three linebackers, but with the addition of Vosean Joseph, the linebacker position gets an immediate upgrade. This also extends into special teams coverage. In Joseph’s junior year at Florida, he had 93 tackles and 4 sacks. The production in college only increased as he received more playing time, which is always a pleasant sight for a draft prospect. In addition to his strength, which is playing the run, he is also productive in blitz
