My initial reaction to this pick was "meh". But, I think that may have been more due to being disappointed with how the 2nd round went. I really wanted TJ Sanders, but every player I was hoping we'd get was coming off the board like wildfire. Sanders, Taylor, Ezeiruaku, Scourton, Oladejo, Amos and Turner. Without trading up, by the time we got to pick 64, I really didn't know who I wanted. Then I heard Mukuba and was like, "meh, I guess?"

I have to imagine this was a Fangio thing so I will trust in that. Ultimately, picking at the end of rounds is difficult.

In Vic's scheme he wanted the best Coverage Safety ... a true Center fielder and that's exactly what Mukuba gives us. He had the 2nd lowest QB rating allowed of any D1 Safety this past season on top of all the Interceptions he brings to the table.; the kid is a Ball Hawk. Kevin Winston Jr's strength is in run support; he's an excellent tackler, but he's not nearly as good in Coverage as he is coming forward (not to mention the injury concerns). I think schematically it was more between Mukuba and Xavier Watts (whom I really liked as well) ... but Mukuba is fast (4.45 time at the Combine) while Watts' best time was around 4.56 at his "Pro Day" and he simply graded out better in Coverage than Watts (as his QB Rating when thrown at shows). Size-wise there isn't much difference ... Watts is less than an inch taller but is heavier. You can't improve your height, but you can improve your weight easily with Pro trainers. Mukuba weighed in at 194 at his Pro Day which tells me he simply slimmed down a bit to run his 40 at the Combine. I don't see any reason why he won't be at or near 200 lbs when the season kicks off.

1 hour ago, Vic2025 said:

In Vic's scheme he wanted the best Coverage Safety ... a true Center fielder and that's exactly what Mukuba gives us. He had the 2nd lowest QB rating allowed of any D1 Safety this past season on top of all the Interceptions he brings to the table.; the kid is a Ball Hawk. Kevin Winston Jr's strength is in run support; he's an excellent tackler, but he's not nearly as good in Coverage as he is coming forward (not to mention the injury concerns). I think schematically it was more between Mukuba and Xavier Watts (whom I really liked as well) ... but Mukuba is fast (4.45 time at the Combine) while Watts' best time was around 4.56 at his "Pro Day" and he simply graded out better in Coverage than Watts (as his QB Rating when thrown at shows). Size-wise there isn't much difference ... Watts is less than an inch taller but is heavier. You can't improve your height, but you can improve your weight easily with Pro trainers. Mukuba weighed in at 194 at his Pro Day which tells me he simply slimmed down a bit to run his 40 at the Combine. I don't see any reason why he won't be at or near 200 lbs when the season kicks off.

Yes. Should be a pretty big upgrade once AM gets comfortable in the scheme. Think people are going to like him because he makes plays. An excellent pick.

On 4/26/2025 at 1:59 AM, Diehardfan said:

CJGJ is 5'11 209

This kid is 5'11 186

Yeah, he could bulk up a bit, but with the trainers and chefs he'll have access to at 22 that shouldn't be an issue.

They are making way too much out of this. We heard the same crap about Smith.

to be technical about it…Smith has had no trouble playing in the nfl at his weight. But he sure as hell hasn’t bulked up.

When someone comes through Alabama…or Clemson and Texas, the Eagles trainers aren’t doing anything special they didn’t already have access to.

He might become an all pro and be great at that weight. But he’s not bulking up. He’d have done it already.

1 hour ago, eagle45 said:

to be technical about it…Smith has had no trouble playing in the nfl at his weight. But he sure as hell hasn’t bulked up.

When someone comes through Alabama…or Clemson and Texas, the Eagles trainers aren’t doing anything special they didn’t already have access to.

He might become an all pro and be great at that weight. But he’s not bulking up. He’d have done it already.

Good points but reports are he is in the mid 190s already, so he probably can. Dawk put on weight after coming from those as well. It's not the program but the bodies still being able to add more at their younger age.

I like this pick. Smart, very good ball hawk, and a very willing hitter and tackler. Go get 'em Rookie!

On 4/26/2025 at 12:15 PM, CountBlah said:

Being an old fart with the ability to look dispassionately at the overall process, starting with the second round pick here, it REALLY looks like Howie regressed to his old ways of trying to be the smartest man in the room. When you select players that would have been there a round or three later, you are giving up BIG draft value.

I really hope everyone can point to this post and laugh at me, but that empty feeling in the pit of my stomach, says I doubt it. 😕

https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/eagles/2025/05/05/philadelphia-eagles-2025-nfl-draft-value-chart-consensus-board/83444278007/

According to statistics of statistics....Howie got slightly above average value in the draft. The late misses do not concern me...except such a low opinion of a drafted by us CB.

That was a place of need.

On 5/5/2025 at 10:44 PM, Traveler Vic said:

https://theeagleswire.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/eagles/2025/05/05/philadelphia-eagles-2025-nfl-draft-value-chart-consensus-board/83444278007/

According to statistics of statistics....Howie got slightly above average value in the draft. The late misses do not concern me...except such a low opinion of a drafted by us CB.

That was a place of need.

Let’s look at the numbers from that article. 5 picks were rated significantly higher than where they were taken. Two picks (Mukuba and Robinson) were taken right about where the Consensus had them ranking. Three picks (Kendall, McWilliams and Hinton) were reached according to the Consensus ranking.

The aggregate difference was plus 102, or 10 draft spots per pick.

Rd. 1, No. 31: Jihaad Campbell, LB, Alabama

Consensus rank: 14

Pick number: 31

Difference: +17

Round 2, Pick 64: S Andrew Mukuba, Texas

Consensus rank: 72

Pick number: 64

Difference: -8

Round 4, Pick 111: DT Ty Robinson, Nebraska

Consensus rank: 110

Pick number: 111

Difference: +1

Round 5, Pick 145: CB Mac McWilliams, Central Florida

Consensus rank: 226

Pick number: 145

Difference: -81

Round 5, Pick 161: LB Smael Mondon, Georgia

Consensus rank: 123

Pick number: 161

Difference: +38

Round 5, Pick 168: C/G Drew Kendall, Boston College

Consensus rank: 200

Pick number: 168

Difference: -32

Round 6, Pick 181: QB Kyle McCord, Syracuse

Consensus rank: 131

Pick number: 181

Difference: +50

Round 6, Pick 191: T Myles Hinton, Michigan

Consensus rank: 229

Pick number: 191

Difference: -38

Round 6, Pick 207: T Cameron Williams, Texas

Consensus rank: 92

Pick number: 207

Difference: +115

Round 6, Pick 209: OLB Antwaun Powell-Ryland, Virginia Tech

Consensus rank: 169

Pick number: 209

Difference: +40

When brkmsn wrote "Brian Dawkins was 5-11 3/8 and 189 lbs when he was measured at the NFL combine. He didn't get any taller, but he did add weight over time.", that should puut peaple at easy that are worried about his weight. I was reading somewhere that at his NFL Pro day he weighed 196. So he CAN and will add weight. It was mentioned here the Eagles have the best food you can get, and he will take advantage of that. He will easily be 200+ at some point soon. And the vids I watched of him- he HIT some people HARD. Dudes fearless.