It’s an exciting week for NFL Draft nuts and team scouts alike. With the East-West Shrine Bowl taking place on Thursday, Senior Bowl practices are also being held down in Mobile, where team officials will be looking to get up close and personal with some of the stars of tomorrow. The Eagles are typically big advocates of meeting with players at the prospect showcase, so here are 10 names Howie Roseman will likely have circled in red coming into the event.
Wide receiver
Ladd McConkey, Georgia
If there’s anyone catching praise early down in Mobile, it’s this shifty slot receiver. McConkey obviously has ties to what feels like 50% of the current Eagles team as a Georgia Bulldog and would fill a huge need for the Birds, who are likely saying goodbye to Quez Watkins this offseason.
McConkey and 478 yards for Georgia in 2023 but put them up in a variety of ways. He’s efficient out of the slot as a deep-threat, but also in intermediate areas thanks to his burst off the line of scrimmage and quickness in his breaks. This means he’d also be useful on screens and the Eagles have really lacked a viable receiver to execute screens consistently for a while now.
Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky
Another slot wideout, Corley stands at 5’10, 215 lbs but plays like a running back. Not only does he bring great speed to the offense, but he’s physical too. You don’t often find slot receivers who can be effective route-runners and physical wideouts who can hold their own when absorbing contact on curls, but Corley does tick both of those boxes. He put up 984 yards and 11 touchdowns last year.
Jamari Thrash, Louisville
At 6’1, 185 lbs, Thrash is a little bigger than your average slot wideout, but the Eagles could also be looking for a WR4 to chip in behind the starting trio. Thrash is versatile and can tick a few boxes for the Eagles at once. He had 858 yards to his name in 2023 and has already started turning heads in Mobile with some big-time deep catches.
Offensive Tackle
Tyler Guyton, Oklahoma
It’s not a huge need for the Eagles, but development has always been the name of Stoutland’s game, and this 6’7, 328 pound monster is another who has caught the eye down in Mobile. He’s a functional athlete with a lot of power who was an honorable mention for the All-Big 12 team in 2023.
Guyton is typically a right tackle meaning he could learn behind Lane Johnson for a couple of years before taking the baton. He’s likely to be a first-round pick, which means Philadelphia’s 22nd overall selection could well be in play, and it would hardly be surprising to see another first-rounder spent on a lineman.
EDGE
Laiatu Latu, UCLA
The Eagles probably aren’t going to be investing a ton in the defensive line, especially on the outside, but Brandon Graham could be on his way out and depth behind is lacking depending on how you view the scheme change.
Latu had 13 sacks in 2023 and could well be a top-10 pick when all is said and done due his array of pass-rushing moves and explosiveness off the line. Will the Eagles fall in love with a defensive lineman in the first-round for the third year in a row?
Defensive Tackle
McKinnley Jackson, Texas A&M
With one defensive standout likely drawing Roseman’s gaze at the East-West Shrine Bowl, another Aggie could well be doing so here. McKinnley stands at 6’1, 320 lbs and is a prime run-stuffing defensive tackle. He’s got a big reach, a bigger motor, and put up 27 tackles, 3 sacks, and 3 QB hits in 2023.
The Eagles could do with some developmental depth behind the likes of Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis, especially if Fletcher Cox leaves. The transition to a 3-4 would see a new focus on those bigger nose tackles and McKinnley has the athleticism to contribute as a pass-rusher as well as being powerful enough to maintain double teams.
T’Vondre Sweat, Texas
A sweaty tandem in Philly? Say it ain’t so! Sweat is another specialist against the run who stands a little bigger at 6’4, 362 lbs. He had 8 tackles for a loss last year and 45 overall. He’s got the prototypical frame and power to really be a weapon at the next level but does lack the stamina and explosiveness to be a factor right out of the gate (as to be expected). With that said, he could be a great long-term pickup.
Linebacker
Payton Wilson, NC State
Payton Wilson has been one of the real studs during the opening couple of days of practice in Mobile. He’s a rapid linebacker who would probably thrive more in a four-man front due to being able to use his lateral quickness more, but he’s got much more to offer than sheer speed.
With 6 sacks and 3 interceptions to his name last season, Wilson is a versatile linebacker who would relish a MIKE role at the NFL level. He’s instinctive around the ball and has the instincts to play downhill, as well as having some strong tackling fundamentals.
Cornerback
Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo
The talk of the town after the opening day of practice, Quinyon Mitchell feels like he’s destined for the first round. At 6’0, 200 lbs, Mitchell has fluid hips, a twitchy lower half, and a real feisty streak in his play. According to PFF, he allowed 27 receptions on 62 targets last year, batting down 18 passes in the process. The Eagles would be behoove to finally invest in a corner they can hang their hat on for more than a couple of seasons and Mitchell has all the makings of a dominant force at the NFL level.
Safety
Jaylin Simpson, Auburn
Depth at Safety is light in Philadelphia, and Jaylin Simpson could be a perfect prospect to develop alongside Reed Blankenship. He’s 6’1, and 180 lbs and while not an overly proficient run defender, he wouldn’t have to be alongside Blankenship and in this new defense.
Simpson is great around the catch point. He knocked down 3 passes for Auburn last year and is very good in coverage. As a mid-round prospect, the Eagles can coach up some tackling deficiencies and the confidence to play downhill. But as a Safety to sit back, allow plays to develop consistently make the right decisions, he’s a great prospect.
AP Photo/Ryan Sun, File
