Pick 53 – Miles Sanders
The Eagles passed on Josh Jacobs in the first round, but don’t expect them to pass on a back that’s a better fit for their offense. Sanders, a Penn State product, checks all the boxes for the Eagles in a complementary back for Jordan Howard.
Sanders averaged 5.8 yards per carry last year at Penn State, while racking up 1,274 yards on the ground. He complemented that with 24 catches out of the backfield for 139 yards.
His combine stats were also strong, running a 4.49-second 40-yard dash and a broad jump of 10’4″, which placed him in the top 15% of running backs at the combine.
Sanders isn’t afraid of contact, as you can see below, and is patient enough to allow his offensive linemen to block for him.
RB 2 – Miles Sanders
5-11
211lbs
4.49 40-Yard DashOne of my favorite runs here. Awesome elusiveness #NFLdraft pic.twitter.com/1NmOOJiYzb
— Matt Gajewski (@Matt_Gajewski) April 23, 2019
Our own David Malandra Jr has a clip of Sal Paolantonio suggesting a few days ago that Sanders should be the Eagles’ pick:
ESPN Sal Paolantonio saying @PennStateFball RB Miles Sanders would be a good fit for the Eagles#Eagles #PennState #NFLDraft pic.twitter.com/Z5yDLfJyAo
— David Malandra Jr (@David_Malandra) April 25, 2019
The Sanders pick will make many Eagles fans happy tonight and the Eagles will have a dynamic backfield once again in 2019.
Pick 57 – Juan Thornhill
Two safeties went in the first round, Darnell Savage and Johnathan Abram, so some of the popular ones are still available tonight. Nasir Adderley, Juan Thornhill, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Taylor Rapp, and Deionte Thompson highlight some of those players that should hear their name called tonight.
With at least four teams in front of the Eagles’ 57th pick needing a safety, expect a popular player mocked to Eagles (Gardner-Johnson) to be unavailable at 57. However, their consolation prize is nothing to complain about.
The 2018 All-ACC safety is a ballhawk and is not afraid to get into the backfield to help with run support:
If you throw up a jump ball, expect Juan Thornhill to come down with it. The 2x All-ACC DB is ready to show that at the NFL level! 🏈#Wahoowa⚔️ (@UVAFootball, @Juan_Thornhill) pic.twitter.com/944YaliCks
— ACC Digital Network (@theACCDN) April 22, 2019
Thornhill ran a blistering 4.42 second 40-yard dash at the combine and posted the second-best reps on the bench press among defensive backs with 21 reps of 225 lb.
The selection of Thornhill works well with how the Eagles like to run their defense. A third safety like him in the nickel defense will provide back end coverage with Rodney McLeod while Malcolm Jenkins creeps towards the line of scrimmage as the nickel linebacker.
Thornhill has been widely mocked to the Cowboys at pick 58, wouldn’t it be nice to see the Eagles steal a player from them a pick earlier like they did with Goedert last year?
What do you think, Eagles fans? What’s your prediction for tonight?
