Eagles Mock Draft 4.0: Acquiring Russell Wilson

On the most recent Flippin’ The Birds, the trio were lucky enough to spend some time with former Alabama/NFL tight end Hale Hentges. Hale currently works for Zebra Technologies, the home of the Next Gen stats we all know and love. Hale was also the former teammate of both Jalen Hurts and DeVonta Smith at Alabama, while also playing for Nick Sirianni in Indianapolis.

You can catch the full interview here, but let’s focus a mock (almost) purely on players who transcended the laws of physics at the Senior Bowl

TRADE:

Seahawks send: Russell Wilson & 107th overall pick

Eagles send: Jalen Hurts, Andre Dillard, 15th overall pick, & 19th overall pick

I tried to base this on the Stafford/Goff trade. Being that Hurts is significantly better than Goff, he holds more value. Add in a starting tackle (would be on the Seahawks), this allows for the Eagles to only touch their 2022 picks while also adding a day three pick. You can place a safe bet that if the Eagles were to draft a tackle with that extra fourth round pick, he’d be better than Dillard.

“The [NextGen] stats are going to show you that he’s going to perform very well when he’s got the time to throw, he’s going to move the ball downfield efficiently, and is going to make a decent attempt at fitting the ball into some tight windows.” – Hale Hentges

DeVonta Smith was 6th in the league in targeted air yards with 14.8 and was 4th in the league in targeted air yards % (how much of the team’s targeted air yards) with 38.05%. I’ve been on record that the Eagles shouldn’t sell the farm to acquire Wilson, but I believe the above proposal works for both teams. Smith gets a QB who can get him the ball downfield after he breaks the ankles of DBs with his route running.

Pick 16 – Roger McCreary – CB – Auburn

McCreary needed a strong week at the Senior Bowl to further cement himself as one of the top CBs in the draft, and boy did he ever.

He was named the best CB of the week on the American team and was a NextGen darling.

McCreary reached a top speed of 19.48 MPH, hit a max acceleration of 6.28 yards/ second squared (simply put: he can get 6.28 yards in a second while changing directions). That closing ability can translate well to the next level.

Pick 51 – Logan Hall – EDGE – Houston

Hall shot up boards with his performance at the Senior Bowl.

Logan Hall is a monster pic.twitter.com/FBm3IXScaL

— Tyler Forness (@TheRealForno) February 9, 2022

He has the ability to move up and down the line, an attribute that can be used on the Eagles DL. His 4.61 y/s2 shows his near-elite change of direction & explosive ability. He was invited to the combine and will most likely cement himself as a top 50 pick (which would put him out of this range).

Pick 83 – Troy Anderson – LB – Montana State

I’ll be transparent: Muma was available here.

But I LOVE Troy Anderson’s versatility. He has the length, range, and IQ to excel as a WILL in the Eagles defense. He played RB, QB, and LB at Montana State. That offensive knowledge will pay off dividends.

At the Senior Bowl he tied Chad Muma for most “fast accelerations” with 40. They had more than any other defensive player, including DBs. He had a 6.01 y/s2 acceleration, making him the LB with the quickest burst. He’s the only LB within the last three Senior Bowls with an average over 6 yards.

He was also one of two LBs (Tariq Carpenter – who is probably converting to safety) to hit a top speed of over 20 MPH.

He and Davion Taylor would be an incredibly speedy LB duo on the outside with Mr. MIKE TJ Edwards in the middle.

Pick 107 – Alec Pierce – WR – Cincinnati

Comped to Michael Pittman, Alec Pierce could give the Eagles the X receiver they’ve been longing for:

I think Cincinnati receiver Alec Pierce was maybe the “sleeper” during Senior Bowl week. I thought he was good at all levels. Showed more twitch/quickness than I was expecting. Knew he was a 50/50 ball getter. Liked watching his intermediate route running. pic.twitter.com/w2psWL6oK2

— Eric Crocker 🥷🏾 (@Crocky209) February 4, 2022

Rarely drops passes and is a route-connoisseur. Sirianni would love him.

Pierce was 9th among all Senior Bowl WRs with a top speed of 20.27 MPH.

Pick 122 – Coby Bryant – CB – Cincinnati

I fully expect Bryant to be gone by this pick, but The Draft Network had him available.

Bryant was named the top CB on the National team during the Senior Bowl. The two top CBs on the Eagles? Not bad.

Elite patience in press from Coby Bryant, CB, Cincinnati here #SeniorBowl pic.twitter.com/MQeUas6ZNP

— Matt Holder (@MHolder95) February 3, 2022

Pick 153 – Verone McKinley III – S – Oregon

11 interceptions since 2019 – top in the Power 5

He can play single high, in the box, and in the slot.

McKinley’s versatility and playmaking ability is desperately needed in the Eagles secondary.

VMIII ran a top speed of 19.38 MPH at the Senior Bowl.

Pick 161 – Cole Strange – IOL – Chattanooga

Strange took some reps at C during Senior Bowl week and did a really nice job:

This rep perfectly showcases Cole Strange from Tennessee-Chattanooga. Good snap to step quickness but base starts a bit too wide. Watch his hands fire into the chest plate of Travis Jones though. Despite giving up ground, he battles. He battled all week vs these guys. pic.twitter.com/VJjA7qUKPJ

— Russell Brown (@RussNFLDraft) February 7, 2022

He’s largely projected as LG but positional flexibility is a turn on to Jeff Stoutland. Prior to being drafted, Jack Driscoll worked out at center during his pro day.

If Landon Dickerson ends up being the heir apparent to Jason Kelce in 2023, Strange can step in at LG.

Pick 165 – Tre Turner – WR – Virginia Tech

I do not think Turner lasts this long, but he’s available on my screen so I’m taking him.

Two WRs may look like a bad use of resources to you, but in reality there are only two WRs on the Eagles roster guaranteed a spot in 2022: DeVonta Smith and Quez Watkins.

A free agent will surely be added, but until that happens we must assume the draft is where reinforcements come.

Turner’s got a great release at the line and was third among all offensive players in fast accelerations at the Senior Bowl (49).

#VirginiaTech WR Tre Turner has been a favorite sleeper of mine. Here’s one of his better reps I saw on the film today.

Love me a good release! Caught Kendrick reaching, and that’s all she wrote. pic.twitter.com/TuVG1kyzAO

— kenny g. (@Gritz_Blitz) February 2, 2022

He also reached a top speed of 20.1 MPH.