Eagles Seven-round Mock Draft: What if the Birds trade back?

COLLEGE FOOTBALL: NOV 07 Minnesota at Illinois
CHAMPAIGN, IL – NOVEMBER 07: Minnesota WR Rashod Bateman (0) during a college football game between the Minnesota Golden Gophers and Illinois Fighting Illini on November 7, 2020 at Memorial Stadium in Champaign, Ill (Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire)

Round 1: Pick 20 (via Chicago) – Rashod Bateman – Minnesota – WR

A year after missing out on Justin Jefferson, why not grab the next best thing?

Scouts have questioned Bateman’s speed, but he silenced those critics by running a 4.39 laser-timed 40-yard dash at the EXOS combine. The turf is different than the Lucas Oil Stadium turf (where the actual combine is held) so you’d have to add around .03-.05 to that time but that leaves him at a 4.42-4.44 40. Still very fast.

Bateman excels at routes and his catch radius is one that would be very welcomed by Jalen Hurts:

Sirianni loves for his wide receivers to be able to block, and Bateman is excellent in that regard. Running Miles Sanders to Bateman’s side could lead to big plays.

As the tweet stated above, there will always be that one receiver left out of the “top WR” discussion that excels in year one. With all the hype around Chase, Smith, and Waddle, Bateman could make a strong case for WR1 among them in Philly.

Round 2 Pick 37: – Levi Onwuzurike – Washington – DT

Malik Jackson is a cut candidate (his contract restructure makes it a near certainty) while Fletcher Cox is entering his age-31 season and can actually be cut post-June 1st to save $16 million in 2021 or cut post-June 1 in 2022 to save $17 million (no, I do not think he’ll be cut).

Javon Hargrave will look to build off his strong finish to 2020, Raequan Williams and T.Y. McGill will look to get more playing time, and Hassan Ridgeway is a free agent.

Widely viewed as DT2 behind Christian Barmore, Onwuzurike has a chance to put himself into first-round consideration with a strong Pro Day.

The Eagles suffered greatly in the run defense department in 2020, an area that Onwuzurike can help in.

It won’t take long in watching tape of the young DT for you to be impressed:

He has great ability with his hands and has enough agility to move across the line and plug up the holes.

Even without Jim Schwartz, the Eagles would be wise to keep their DL rotations to keep the players fresh. A rotation of Cox, Hargrave, McGill, Williams, and Onwuzurike would terrorize opposing offensive lines.

Round 2 Pick 52 (via Chicago): – Jabril Cox – LSU – LB

Have ya seen the linebacker play in 2020? Yeah…

The Eagles may have to reach a bit to get their guy, although after Pro Days are done, this may be just the right spot.

While many fans may want a traditional MIKE here, the Eagles have one in T.J. Edwards. Even Alex Singleton can provide some MIKE value although he’s better suited at SAM or WILL.

Jabril Cox provides the athleticism the Eagles haven’t had in a linebacker since Mychal Kendricks. He’s possibly the best coverage linebacker in the draft and provides an immediate boost to tight end and running back coverage, something #47 was very bad at.

Tired of seeing opposing tight ends have career days against your defense? Draft Jabril Cox.

Round 3 Pick 70: – Ifeatu Melifonwu – Syracuse – CB

6’2″ 212 lbs. Quickness. Fluid hips – Everything the Eagles need in a boundary corner. That’s Ifeatu Melifonwu.

After not having much press on him throughout the season (because who really pays attention to Upstate NY [I went to school in upstate NY so back off]), Melifonwu made sure people knew who he was after the Senior Bowl.

He’s physical. He can tackle. He can cover. What more do you want?

Round 3 Pick 83 (via Chicago): – Cameron McGrone – Michigan – LB

Two years in a row of picking two linebackers in the same draft? Who are these Eagles?

Yeah, I know, I mentioned TJ Edwards before, but the value of McGrone at this spot is too good to pass up.

At 6’1″ 230 lbs, the guy has some serious size to provide some pop and still has the athleticism to sit back in coverage and perform well.

He’s a hell of a blitzer and if you have a LB group of Singleton, McGrone, and Cox, there will be a lot of bumps and bruises on opposing offenses.

 

Round 3 Pick 84: (via Indianapolis) – Deonte Brown – Alabama – IOL

Have you seen this guy? He’s a monster.

6’3″ 364 lbs. WOW.

He’s a guard-only prospect, but that’s ok since the Eagles need some depth there. With Brandon Brooks and Isaac Seumalo coming off injury, and almost all ineptitude behind them, the team desperately needs adequate depth.

With a guy that size, there will be some questions regarding mobility. But I doubt Jeff Stoutland will complain about getting a guy like Brown to coach up.

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