Eagles mailbag: Which draft positions are a draft priority?

 

We got a ton of great questions this weekend so we split up the mailbag into two parts.

Yesterday, we answered some questions about the current state of the roster.

And today, most of the questions are draft related:

I agree with those three positions you mentioned first but I’d also add edge rusher to that group. In fact, the positions I’d prioritize most would be a defensive lineman, whether that’s an interior lineman or an edge rusher. And there will be some players likely in that range that make sense. DL isn’t the most pressing need. That’s probably at cornerback or safety but it feels more likely the Eagles wait until the second round to address them, especially safety. The Eagles value the line more and it’s a need. I’d be surprised if they don’t get a defensive lineman in the first round.

My top WRs: 1. Garrett Wilson, 2. Drake London, 3. Jameson Williams, 4. Christian Watson, 5. Chris Olave

Top top edge players: 1. Aidan Hutchinson, 2. Kayvon Thibodeaux, 3. Jermaine Johnson, 4. George Karlaftis, 5. David Ojabo

To get Sauce Gardner, that’s likely the range they would probably need to get to. It would be quite costly to get up into the top 10 and I think a trade from 15 down to the 11 or 12 range is probably more likely.

We had a few questions about what the structure of a trade might look like. It’s important to remember that teams are sometimes willing to give up more depending on what position they’re moving up to get.

Trade up into the top 10: If you remember last year, the Eagles traded a third-round pick on draft night to move up a couple spots from 12 to 10 to draft DeVonta Smith. So if the Eagles were to move up from 15 into the top 10, it would cost more than that. Back in 2018, the Cardinals traded up from 15 to 10 to draft Josh Rosen. They had to give up an additional third-round and fifth-round pick.

So if the Eagles want to move up from 15 to 8, 9 or 10, they’d obviously have to give up No. 15, No. 83 and maybe one of those three fifth-round picks.

Trading back from 19: This is a little trickier because the Eagles would presumably be trading out for a team that wants to move up to draft a quarterback before the Steelers, who have pick No. 20. There have been just six quarterbacks drafted between picks 11-20 in the last decade so it’s tougher to find a close comp. Last year, the Giants traded back from 11 to 20 so the Bears could move up and take Justin Fields. They in return got a fifth-rounder that year and a first-rounder and a fourth-rounder the next season.

If the Eagles move back for another team to get a quarterback, they’re going to want a first-round pick in 2023. The only team that might want a QB after No. 20 is the Lions at 32 if they want a QB but don’t want to take one at No. 2. For them to move up that far, it would cost them. And it would cost a team in the second round even more. Because of that, the Eagles wold really need a 2023 first-rounder to move back that far.

Burks is a fascinating player because of how many different ways he was used at Arkansas. He’d be used a ton in the slot, which would likely mean Watkins would need to play more outside. Watkins was pretty new to the slot last year and handled it fine. But the Eagles think he can play either position, which gives them some flexibility.

If Derek Stingley and Sauce Gardner are gone by the time the Eagles are on the clock, the next two cornerbacks are likely Trent McDuffie from Washington and Andrew Booth from Clemson. Those are the other two corners who likely go in the first round. Although, Booth is now coming off of sports hernia surgery. Between the two, I’m a bigger fan of Booth, which doesn’t seem to be the consensus. But McDuffie’s sub-30” arms worry me a bit.

Yeah, combine performances matter. They just do. It’s the only chance to really test a player’s athleticism against other top players on a level field. The two names who might be dropping for various reasons are CB Derek Stingley and DE Kayvon Thibodeaux.

The concern with Stingley is that he was great in 2019 as a freshman but has missed a lot of time the last couple seasons. There are some medical concerns with him. Thibodeaux was once thought to be the top player in this class but some draft experts think his stock could be sliding. ESPN’s Todd McShay mentioned that some teams are concerned his floor isn’t high enough for a first-round pick. Not sure if I’m buying the big slide for Thibodeaux, though.

https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/eagles-mailbag-which-draft-positions-are-draft-priority

The murmurs about Thibodeaux dropping are interesting.  The one thing I read somewhere about him is that teams think he's a "me guy" and/or he doesn't give max effort all the time. If either or both of those are true, it could lead to him sliding some.  But again, could just be pre-draft "noise".

I'm not sure what to make of Thibodeaux.  10 sacks in the last 2 seasons?  Would think his production would better match the hype surrounding his draft profile.  I can't help but think of Dion Jordan too.  Seems like he could be one of those players that have all the traits (size, athleticism, etc) but can just never put it all together on the field.

That said, I'd be intrigued if he slid to within reasonable striking distance.

21 hours ago, EaglesAddict said:

The murmurs about Thibodeaux dropping are interesting.  The one thing I read somewhere about him is that teams think he's a "me guy" and/or he doesn't give max effort all the time. If either or both of those are true, it could lead to him sliding some.  But again, could just be pre-draft "noise".

I'm not sure what to make of Thibodeaux.  10 sacks in the last 2 seasons?  Would think his production would better match the hype surrounding his draft profile.  I can't help but think of Dion Jordan too.  Seems like he could be one of those players that have all the traits (size, athleticism, etc) but can just never put it all together on the field.

That said, I'd be intrigued if he slid to within reasonable striking distance.

You don't want a guy like that in the locker room or taking plays off on the field.  Pass

27 minutes ago, weko said:

You don't want a guy like that in the locker room or taking plays off on the field.  Pass

If that assessment is accurate, I 100% agree.  I just read some more unflattering stuff about him yesterday as well.  If all of it is true, he might have a big slide

Priority = needs

Must haves

• Starting corner
• Starting safety
• wide receiver
• Rotational DT who will replace Cox next year
• Rotational DE who will replace BG next year

should get

• Big running back
• Backup tight end

would be nice

• punter
• improve linebacker depth
• Improve wide receiver depth
• improve corner depth

With 6 picks in the first 4 rounds - we should be able to put a very big dent in these needs

Didn't put a center to replace Kelce in these because there's a guy from Notre Dame named Jarrett Patterson coming out next year and he's rated better than Linderbaum. 

19 hours ago, Rob331 said:

Priority = needs

Must haves

• Starting corner
• Starting safety
• wide receiver
• Rotational DT who will replace Cox next year
• Rotational DE who will replace BG next year

should get

• Big running back
• Backup tight end

would be nice

• punter
• improve linebacker depth
• Improve wide receiver depth
• improve corner depth

With 6 picks in the first 4 rounds - we should be able to put a very big dent in these needs

Didn't put a center to replace Kelce in these because there's a guy from Notre Dame named Jarrett Patterson coming out next year and he's rated better than Linderbaum. 

BG is mid 30's coming off a ruptured achilles, until they suit up for pre season and test him there's no guarantee he's anything more than rotational this year (he'll be here regardless because he's too expensive to cut).  We need a starting DE.

IMO our 2 most glaring needs (and are also immediate) are edge rusher and CB.  I’m really hoping the board falls in such a way that we are able to address those 2 spots on day 1 (with top prospects ant not reach for need like we did with Reagor, Marcus Smith, etc).  

After that (and in no particular order) are S, DT, and WR.  If we leave day 2 having addressed those 5 positions with the appropriate prospects, I’ll be ecstatic.  

2 hours ago, time2rock said:

IMO our 2 most glaring needs (and are also immediate) are edge rusher and CB.  I’m really hoping the board falls in such a way that we are able to address those 2 spots on day 1 (with top prospects ant not reach for need like we did with Reagor, Marcus Smith, etc).  

After that (and in no particular order) are S, DT, and WR.  If we leave day 2 having addressed those 5 positions with the appropriate prospects, I’ll be ecstatic.  

A couple realistic R1-3's:

R1- Jordan Davis, Andrew Booth

R2- Arnold Ebiketie

R3- Alec Pierce, Nick Cross

or

R1- Jermaine Johnson, Andrew Booth

R2- Travis Jones

R3- Alec Pierce, Nick Cross

or

R1- Jordan Davis, Andrew Booth

R2- Christian Watson

R3- Nick Cross, Matthew Butler

or

R1- Derek Stingley, Devonte Wyatt

R2- Jalen Pitre

R3- Kingsley Enagbare, Khalil Shakir

 

So many different combos, but I agree...those are my top 5 priorities: DE, CB, DT, WR, S.

DE, LB, CB, WR, S... DT... I would say the only positions the Eagles don't need to prioritise are RB and K. They can go IOL later in the draft given the OL coach but I think RT is going to be a need and it wouldn't hurt to try and address that sooner rather than later. 

17 hours ago, UK_EaglesFan89 said:

DE, LB, CB, WR, S... DT... I would say the only positions the Eagles don't need to prioritise are RB and K. They can go IOL later in the draft given the OL coach but I think RT is going to be a need and it wouldn't hurt to try and address that sooner rather than later. 

Realistically we're 'stuck with' Lane for the next 2 seasons - the dead money hit to the cap becomes much more affordable to cut ties in 2025.  $35M in 2022, $19.5M in 2023 (albeit both pre June 1 designations).  Fortunately he is still playing at a high level so being 'stuck with' him isn't a bad thing.  I do worry though how long he'll be able to hold up before the inevitable decline.  But I think we can wait on addressing RT until next year or 2024 - would hate to see a 1st round pick riding pine for 2 years.