The NFL Draft has been and gone and the Eagles walk away with five new rookies and a shiny new 24-year-old wideout named A.J Brown. Here is all you need to know about this year’s class.
Howie Roseman decided to double down on his new prototype of player. Built on athletic prowess and high-character, the Eagles GM avoided major controversies and filled every major hole this team had.
Jordan Davis
The Georgia product is considered the best defensive tackle in this class and for good reason. At 6’6 and 341 pounds, Davis is a mountain of a man but what’s even more intriguing is the speed and athleticism that he brings as well. Davis is well known for running a 40 time of 3.89 which is the fastest by a player weight over 340 pounds in over 20 years.
The Eagles moved up to get their man, someone who can not only plug rushing lanes, but drive through them with haste and power rarely seen. He’s truly a generational talent and someone who will be a cornerstone of the deensive line for years to come.
Cam Jurgens
At 51 overall the Eagles selected Nebraska Center Cam Jurgens to be the heir of Jason Kelce’s throne. Jurgens is quick on his feet with the needed athleticism to be in this offense. With how the Eagles have used Kelce over the years, this pick makes a ton of sense going forward. The focus continues to be on building for the future while helping the now.
Nakobe Dean
Dean was a part of the championship Georgia team and is now reunited with his big guy upfront in Jordan Davis. Dean was a project first-round pick that continued to fall in the draft due to medical concerns. He’ll apparently be ready for rookie minicamp and if this is true, it means the Eagles have somehow drafted a first-round talent in the third-round…unreal. The Eagles finally have their guy at linebacker. A highly intelligent leader who can go sideline-to-sideline with ease, Nakobe Dean is a Jordan Hicks-type pick but with the upside of a Roquan Smith-type player.
Kyron Johnson
Johnson played his collegiate ball at Kansas and is regarded as more of a pass-rushing linebacker. He played at the EDGE spot for the Jayhawks in 2021, leading the team in sacks and QB hits. He stands at 6’0, 231 lbs, so a little shorter than ideal, but will bring a pretty athletic skillset (8.43 RAS) to the Eagles.
The hybrid player ran a 4.4-second 40-yard dash, which would have ranked second at the NFL combine among all EDGE rushers and linebackers. His vertical is 39.5, he has a 10″0′ broad jump, and a 6.98 three-cone time. Considering that he did play defensive end last year, it would be fair to assume he’s being regarded at the very least as a stand-up edge rusher who can come in on a line with Patrick Johnson, a late-round selection from last year who fits the same bill.
Grant Calcaterra
Grant Calcaterra is a true receiving tight end with a relative athletic score of 8.5, which should come as no surprise.
He’s a little older at 23-years-old and actually provisionally retired from football due to concussion issues, having previously been playing for Oklahoma. Calcaterra received medical clearance in 2020 and joined SMU to reunite with teammate Tanner Mordecai. He ended the 2021 season with 12 starts, 465 yards, and 4 touchdowns.
At 6’4 241 lbs, Calcaterra moves like a wide receiver and can clearly cause havoc over the middle. He isn’t a blocking tight end by any means, but a player who earned second-team All-AAC honors in 2021 which is crazy considering he medically retired two years beforehand.
Photo by Michael Allio/Icon Sportswire
