With Day 2 of the NFL Draft starting soon, the Eagles have to gear their focus on their current needs. While Wide Receiver is still a key area, there are other positions that need just as much help as well. Here are five prospects that the team could look into drafting in the third round:
LB Akeem Davis-Gaither | Appalachian State
My personal favorite. This kid is a monster. No exaggeration. We had the pleasure of having him on the Flippin the Birds podcast for an interview and I was impressed. If the Eagles truly value speed then this is the man for the job. Akeem was a true playmaker for his defense as he tallied up 101 tackles, 5 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, 1 interception, and 8 pass deflections. Davis-Gaither has sideline to sideline speed when in coverage that’s accompanied by great ball skills. Placing him behind a defensive line as the Eagles have would do wonders for his future.
WR Van Jefferson| Florida
With Jalen Reagor in midnight green now, the Eagles need to find the right fit to pair with the former TCU product. Reagor’s versatility helps in that decision as they can continue to find versatile players. Can Jefferson can play both outside and inside. He is as fluid as they come when it comes to route-running. Not many prospects can move like him off of the line of scrimmage, especially against press coverage. His ability to keep cornerbacks off balance with his quick feet has led to him being a very underrated talent in this draft. In 23 games at Florida, Jefferson racked up 1,160 receiving yards, 12 touchdowns, and 84 receptions. While Jefferson isn’t really the vertical-speed threat we need, he only averaged 13.8 yards per catch in Florida, his route-running and ability to create separation would benefit the birds greatly.
CB Bryce Hall|Virginia
With how the draft has gone so far, there are still a lot of good corners on the board so this may not be the pipe dream that it once was. Especially with the fact that he missed the majority of last season due to an ankle injury. The Virginia product only played six games last season after suffering a season-ending injury. Even after the injury, Hall still finished his time in Virginia with 5 interceptions, 4 sacks, 38 pass deflections, and 154 tackles. Hall is an instinctive corner with quick reflexes and good ball skills. He may benefit in zone coverage over press, but he’ll definitely be a start corner at the next level.
S Julian Blackmon|Utah
Blackmon brings the versatility that Jim Schwartz loves. He can play nickel, split safety, and even come down to help for run support. He’s a good combination of size and speed and is disciplined enough to be a great player in this league.
S K’von Wallace | Clemson
The Eagles still have a need at safety as a majority of their safeties are on 1-year deals. K’Von could be a great developmental piece for the Eagles to have behind Mills and Parks. Wallace plays with great intensity while letting loose with huge hits. He can really get better at open field tackling but Wallace always makes the hits count when he lands them.
Mandatory Credit: Geoff Burke-USA TODAY Sports
