Mock Drafts are fun but they can get repetitive quickly. And just like a bicycle wheel, the receiver the Eagles should take at 21 changes every week. One day it’s Justin Jefferson, the next it’s Denzel Mims. But what if we took the Eagles Draft needs and did something…stupid?
There’s a chance the NFL Draft is postponed due to the recent coronavirus pandemic so there’s plenty of time for serious Mock Drafts. On this slow and somber Sunday without Sports, it’s time to shake things up.
I wanted to see if I could make the worst Eagles mock draft possible while still ticking every box. By reversing draft needs, it enables us to find sleepers at the Eagles primary areas of need and hopefully learn some new names!
So let’s see how this trainwreck went
RULES
- No primary needs in the first 3 rounds.
- That’s about it really. I just wanted a rules section so it seemed all serious.
Trade with Falcons
Eagles send: RD1 pick 21, RD 3 pick 103, RD 5 pick 168
Falcons send: RD 1 pick 16
When looking at prospects at pick 21, it was hard to justify any of the minor needs. It’s not a strong class for centers, EDGE rushers are probably going to be drafted later on, and even in the worst mock of all time, the Eagles don’t pick a linebacker in round 1.
The Falcons need OL help. Badly. Matt Ryan was sacked 42 times in 2018, and that number shot to 48 in 2019. This also killed their run-game and as a result, if they’re unable to find some kind of serenity along the trenches, they’ll waste year after year. It’s a direct contrast to the vision we see in Philly. The Falcons can trade back, acquire some mid-round picks and select a name like Andrew Thomas at OT.
As for the Eagles, well, we can’t select a primary need for a while yet. But if there’s one thing that has lowkey bugged me about this team, it’s the total lack of defensive tackle depth over the last few years…
Round 1 pick 16: DT Javon Kinlaw, South Carolina
Kinlaw is a bad, bad man. He explodes off the line of scrimmage with the same tenacity as a Motorhead anthem and his strength across the board is terrifying. He’s got enough zip about him to crash into the pocket at a moments notice but his vision and decision-making aren’t quite there just yet. However, if you add a charging bull alongside Fletcher Cox, hello nightmare.
6 sacks and 6 TFL in 2019 saw Kinlaw build on a stunning 2018 campaign and it’s like watching a defensive end in a defensive tackle’s body. There’s no way someone 6’6, 310 lbs, should be that quick and that powerful. But somehow, this human Transformer is.
But what about Malik Jackson? The great thing about the former Jag is he can play the 3-tech or the 5-tech, as Michael Bennett did before him. We know there’s a chance DE depth is somehow even lighter than it was in 2019, so it keeps him on the field. Outside of that, it makes sense to ease Kinlaw in. Having a pairing of him and Ridgeway when Cox and Jackson need a breather would be absolutely ridiculous and I’m here for it.
Round 2 pick 53: C, Matt Hennessey, Temple
I know, I know. This hurt me too. BUT in each of the past two offseason’s, Jason Kelce’s potential return has been up in the air. With Isaac Seumalo now the starting left guard, there is a concern that if one of the most athletic centers of all time goes down, there’s no strong option to replace him.
Enter local kid Matt Hennessey, who has ‘project center’ written all over him. (Hey, if Dillard can red-shirt a year, so can Hennessey). He’s very athletic and moves laterally like a Gazelle. His hand placement is typically very impressive, and his lack of power doesn’t hinder him that much due to his raw athletic ability to anchor and win that first punch.
At the next level, it may take some time to develop, but Hennessey is a high-effort lineman that is very effective at getting to the second level and remaining compact in his blocks. This 6’4, 302, center could be the long-awaited heir to Jason Kelce’s throne.
Round 3 pick 85: S, Terrell Burgess
Okay, we’re starting to claw our way to more logical selections. Burgess played every single snap for the Utes last season and at 5’11, 192 lbs, he fits the mold of a more compact defensive back. What stands out here is how he was used.
Burgess is an in-the-box safety. If the Eagles lose Malcolm Jenkins, they could use someone with range who is typically a secure tackler. Burgess would at least make sense in that he ticks the boxes Jenkins used to…to some degree.
In man-coverage his lack of raw athleticism tends to get the better of him, and tight ends seem to move past with ease. However, in zone when he’s able to sit in C/F roles or rotate coverages and play downhill, he’s really instinctive at processing the play and positioning himself well. He’s worth taking a shot on.
Round 4 pick 127: LB, Akeem Davis-Gaither, Appalachian State
I’ve fallen in love with this man and even though it’s supposed to be the worst mock ever, the linebacker is a middling need that is probably going to be filled with a mid-round pick anyway.
Enter draft crush #42 Akeem Davis-Gaither.
His athleticism is beyond explosive and he bursts off the screen when playing the run. His reaction time to fly downhill is stunning, but he is a little lean and that may hurt him at the next level.
BUT.
He only allowed 10/21 targets of 10+ yards to be completed in the last two years, earned a PFF grade of 87.1 against the run, and was used down near the line of scrimmage frequently.
In coverage, his spacing and positioning is beyond impressive. In 2019, he registered 104 tackles (14.5 TFL), five sacks, eight PBU’s, six QB hits, and an interception in 2019.
Scroll down to see the rest of the mock draft on page 2 below.
