time2rock Posted April 23, 2022 Posted April 23, 2022 Exploring Eagles’ top options at edge throughout the 2022 draft As the 2022 NFL Draft nears, we’re taking a look at every position on both sides of the ball to find some options for the Eagles throughout the three-day event. We started with QBs, RBs, WRs, TEs, OL and DT. Up today: Edge. The Eagles added Haason Reddick as their big free agent splash this offseason but they can still get better at the edge rusher position. After a season with just 29 sacks as a team, they know that. This season, the Eagles have Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett returning as their top defensive ends and they have Reddick as their SAM linebacker in Jonathan Gannon’s multiple defense. Even after the Eagles’ trade with the Saints, they still have two first-round picks and 10 total: 1-15 (from Miami) 1-18 (from New Orleans) 2-51 3-83 3-101 (from New Orleans) 4-124 5-154 (from Washington) 5-162 5-166 (from Arizona) 7-237 (from New Orleans) Here are some edge options throughout the draft: In first round Travon Walker (Georgia): We’re not including Aidan Hutchinson on this list because even if he’s not the No. 1 pick, he won’t be far after. And the same might be true of Walker, who has rise to the top 5 and potentially to the top overall pick. But since Walker (6-5, 272) began in the Eagles’ range, we’ll talk about him. He’s a physical freak of a player who had a very specific role at Georgia. So even though his production wasn’t off the charts, he has all the physical ability to project as a dominant player in the NFL. Kayvon Thibodeaux (Oregon): Once thought to be a good bet for the No. 1 overall pick, Thibodeaux (6-4, 254) has been slipping in mock drafts because some are reportedly concerned about his level of commitment. Obviously, that’s a big deal for a team that might use a top 5 pick on a player. But Thibodeaux is certainly talented and has great potential after starting three seasons at Oregon. Jermaine Johnson (Florida State): Before the Senior Bowl, I had the Eagles taking Johnson at No. 19 and it seemed like a stretch. Now, it seems like a stretch he’ll be there when they’re on the clock at 15. Johnson (6-4, 254) had a tremendous year at FSU after transferring from Georgia and has been quickly rising over the last few months. A former JUCO transfer, Johnson had trouble getting on the field for the Bulldogs but made himself a first round pick at Florida State. He’s a pure edge rusher who could start at Day 1 for the Eagles at DE. George Karlaftis (Purdue): Karlaftis is the guy who will most likely be available when the Eagles pick. The 6-3, 266-pound power rushers had 14 1/2 sacks at Purdue in three seasons (27 games). He’s not a super twitched-up athlete but he has elite hands and a great speed-to-power move. Some wonder if he maxed out in college but the Greek-born Karlaftis didn’t begin playing football until his teenage years. In the middle rounds David Ojabo (Michigan): Before he tore his Achilles at his pro day, Ojabo felt like a really good possibility for the Eagles in the first round. But now he might be a Round 2 option with the slide. There would be risk in that (as the Eagles certainly know from when they drafted Sidney Jones in 2017) but the payoff could be huge. Ojabo (6-4, 250) had just one year of college production but had 11 sacks in 2021 playing opposite Hutchinson. He’s still very raw and learning the sport but the upside is big. Boye Mafe (Minnesota): Some mock drafts have Mafe sneaking into the first round but other have him lasting a bit longer. Mafe (6-3, 261) had seven sacks in 2021 and has the measurables to continue his improvement in the NFL. Arnold Ebiketie (Penn State): Ebiketie had 9 1/2 sacks in 2021 after transferring to Penn State from Temple, where he began his college career. Ebiketie (6-2, 250) is a native of Cameroon and didn’t begin playing football until high school in the United States. He could represent really good value in the second round and the Eagles had him in for a visit. DeAngelo Malone (Western Kentucky): The Eagles had Malone (6-3, 243) in for a visit and he’s an intriguing speed edge rusher. Malone ran a 4.54 at his pro day and has impressive burst who might be a late Day 2 option. Nik Bonitto (Oklahoma): At 6-3, 248 pounds, Bonitto could be an OLB in a 3-4 or a hybrid edge player in a 4-3 like the one the Eagles run. He had 15 sacks in 22 games overs final two college seasons Drake Jackson (USC): Another second-round option, Jackson (6-3, 273) has a solid frame and put on a bunch of weight between the combine and pro day — from 254 to 273. After playing pretty light in 2021, there are going to be some questions about what weight best suits him in the NFL and if he’ll be able to maintain his explosiveness when he’s heavier. Dominique Robinson (Miami, Ohio): Robinson is a former wide receiver but converted to edge in 2020 so he’s still learning the position. At 6-4, 253 pounds, Robinson has some impressive athletic traits but is obviously still pretty raw. Another downside is his age. Robinson will turn 24 in July. Josh Paschal (Kentucky): An option in the third round, Paschal (6-2, 270) played inside and outside at Kentucky and would offer the Eagles some versatility as a rotational player. Alex Wright (UAB): At 6-5, 251 pounds, Wright has good height and length (nearly 83-inch wingspan), which make him in intriguing middle-round option. He had 7 sacks in 2021. Not a finished product but good upside. Jesse Luketa (Penn State): Kind of a tweener, Luketa (6-2, 253) probably projects as a SAM linebacker in Gannon’s scheme. He had an impressive week at the Senior Bowl, often beating much bigger offensive tackles with ease. Definitely a tweener, which can be viewed as a positive or negative. But a Day 3 pick who can play special teams and develop into a rotational/backup on defense. Late-round sleeper(s) Micheal Clemons (Texas A&M): There are plenty of reasons why Clemons will be available on Day 3. He’ll be 25 in August. He’s missed a bunch of games with injury. He’s had some off-the-field incidents and run-ins with the law. So there are a ton of reasons to stay away from him. But the flashes from Clemons are impressive and he’s 6-5, 263 pounds with an 83+ inch wingspan and the potential to enter the NFL as a rotational 4-3 end with potential as a future starter. Carson Wells (Colorado): While he would likely be a standup rusher at 6-2, 241 pounds, Wells projects as a hybrid player at the next level. He had 38 TFLs and 15 1/2 sacks in his college career. He played for former Eagles DL coach Chris Wilson at Colorado. Wells wasn’t a combine invite but ran an impressive 4.59 at the Buffs’ pro day. https://www.nbcsports.com/philadelphia/eagles/nfl-draft-2022-eagles-top-options-edge
Rob331 Posted April 23, 2022 Posted April 23, 2022 I'd be happy with a red shirt year for Ojabo if it's paired with a pick of another DE like Cameron Thomas or Jeffrey Gunter.
time2rock Posted April 24, 2022 Author Posted April 24, 2022 Mafe intrigues me. I wouldn't pull the trigger on him at 15 or 18 but if we managed to trade down to late 1st / early 2nd I think he'd be in play. In my perfect world, Gardner slide to the 11-12 range and we trade up using pick 83 to get him. We then find a couple QBs still on the board after our pick and a team wanting to move ahead of NO and Pittsburgh to trade up to 18 to get him ... perhaps a team like Detroit picking 34th or Houston picking 37th (either team giving up their 2023 1st) or Seattle picking 40 and 41 (giving up both to get to 18). We could then use 40 and 124 to get to the top of the 2nd to get Mafe.
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