Chris Infante’s mock draft 1.0
I had to title it, that’s what all the cool people are doing.
Here’s what I think will happen:
Splash #1 – Trade up with Dolphins
Jerry Jeudy’s short shuttle may have turned some people off. Combine that with Henry Ruggs’ meteoric rise up draft boards, it can cause the star wide receiver to drop on draft day.
In this mock, Lamb goes 8 to the Cards, the Raiders pass on Ruggs and grab linebacker Patrick Queen, and the Colts and Broncos pass on Jeudy to address other needs. The Raiders are sitting there at 19 ready to take Jeudy, so Howie gets on the phone and calls up the Dolphins. He trades the 21st pick and the final third round pick to move up three spots to 18. Not that the Dolphins need more picks, but they accept it to continue their massive overhaul.
Jeudy instantly becomes the Eagles’ #1 wide receiver. Wentz and Jeudy for a long, long time will be beautiful.
Splash #2 – Trade up with Bears
Trading up again? In front of the Cowboys again? The Eagles traded up to 49 in 2018 to get in front of the Cowboys to select a tight end that they wanted. It happens again in 2020. The Cowboys will be looking to complement Michael Gallup in their offense and add a dynamic wide receiver. Enter Howie, again. He calls up the Bears and offers the 53rd pick and the first fourth round pick to move up to 50. The Bears accept and the Eagles double dip at wide receiver with with K.J. Hamler.
Hamler didn’t run the 40 at the combine and the coronavirus postponed his Pro Day so if he doesn’t get a chance to run the 40 before the draft, he may slip down some picks.
He met with the Eagles at the Combine, he’s a Penn St alum, he’s best friends with Miles Sanders, he hopes Sanders “put in a good word.” Time to go get him.
Jeudy, Hamler, DJax. On your marks, get set, go.
Spla…just kidding. Third round pick 85
A swiss army knife player perfect for Jim Schwartz’s defense slipping to the third? Far-fetched, but the computer dropped him so I’ll take him. Welcome to the Birds, Kyle Dugger.
Dude is an animal. He flies all over the field and can come up in the box and support the run. Sound familiar? The perfect Malcolm Jenkins heir. He would not disappoint in midnight green.
We’re going back to back in the fourth
With the departure of the first fourth round pick, the Eagles will have to wait from pic 85 all the way to picks 145 and 146.
That doesn’t mean quality players can’t be had.
Harrison Hand is a local guy (Grew up in Cherry Hill, NJ and went to Temple) and is a feisty corner. He excels in zone coverage and is disciplined enough to stay with a deep receiver and not get too handsy, something that plagued Eagles corners for years.
McTelvin Agim is a big dude (6’3″ 307 lbs) but he ran a sub 5 second 40 and has really good agility for his size. Let him back up and learn from Fletcher Cox and Malik Jackson and Agim could turn into a late round gem.
We’re going back to (kind of) back in the fifth
Picks 166 and 168 are up next for the Eagles and they have yet to address linebacker. They grabbed two in free agency, but depth is needed.
Justin Strnad is an athlete of a linebacker. Playing safety in high school, he has the quickness to stay with tight ends and the speed to get into the backfield. Some great podcast called Flippin’ The Birds interviewed him on March 11th, you can find the article and episode here, and he also possesses the character traits the Eagles look for in a player. He had a day versus Lamar Jackson in 2017 when Wake Forest beat Louisville: 9 tackles, 2.5 for loss, 2.5 sacks, one forced fumble. The speed to stay with Lamar Jackson, that could help.
Shaquille Quarterman goes boom on running backs with ease. His coverage skills are laaaaacking but that’s coachable and can be masked by the athletes next to him. Backing up Kwiatkoski can prove to pay dividends for a position that sorely lacked competent depth.
Last but definitely not least
As you see in my mock, no running back. As you see in my free agents, no running back.
Until now
The Eagles need a bruising running back to spell Sanders and Scott. Enter Sewo Olonilua.
25 reps of 225 lbs on the bench press. 6’6″ wing span. 6’3″ 232 lbs. 4.66 40 yard dash. He is a wrecking ball.
If you google his name, you’ll find countless videos of him running over defenders. He does need to work on pass protection and fumbles, but he projects as a much better Josh Adams. Remember how excited you were for him? Worth a late round flier.
Complete draft:
There you go, Eagles fans. My perfect free agency and draft plans. You can go to bed easy now that I’ve fixed them.
Be sure to follow us at @PhiladelphiaSN, myself at @Infante54, my co-host @BCameronPSN, and the best podcast in the world @FlippinTheBirds
Mandatory Photo Credit: AP Photo/Vasha Hunt
