The NFL draft is 17 days away and rumor after rumor keep popping up around the Eagles organization. Will they trade back up? Will they down again to collect more picks? Only Howie Lurie, I mean Roseman knows the answer the that, but I’m going to mock a draft I know the Eagles fans will like.
Round 1 Pick 12: Jaycee Horn 6’0 205 lbs CB South Carolina
Just like many of you, I was furious when Howie traded the 6th pick. We were in the perfect scenario to have either Kyle Pitts, Ja’Marr Chase, or Penei Sewell. Literally any of the 3 would’ve walked into this organization and made a massive impact, but it is what it is at this point.
You had to know trading down took you out of the running for a top offensive weapon, but it put you in a spot to select one of the better defensive prospects in the class. In my opinion Jaycee Horn is a top 3 defensive prospect.
He gives you everything we have been missing from a cornerback for a while. Horn fits the city with his competitiveness, grittiness, and alpha like mentality. Horn is a grinder and has the skill and athletic ability to back it up. He’s a very coachable player, who wants to be the best. Press coverage and ball skills are NFL ready and selecting Horn in a Jonathan Gannon type defense just makes too much sense. Pairing him alongside Darius Slay should instantly put the Eagles CB tandem amongst the best in the NFC.
Trade!!!! Eagles Receive 23 & 107, Jets Receive 37, 150, and a future 3rd.
Round 1 Pick 23: Terrace Marshall Jr 6’3 205 lbs WR LSU
We all know where the state of our receiving core lies, and it’s not great. We have a couple guys who have good upside including Jalen Reagor and Travis Fulgham. Then we have guys are completely unproven including JJaw, John Hightower, and Ques Watkins. Trading up here and selecting Terrace Marshall Jr would be the SMART thing to do, and hopefully Howie Roseman sees as such.
Marshall Jr would come into the Eagles lockeroom with the best catch radius and deep threat ability instantly. He can line up inside as a big slot, or outside. Though he does more of his damage from the outside. Marshall has this rep of not having WR1 qualities and that just not true. He’s got the body, catch radius, speed, route running to pose a threat at all times.
He also is an above average blocker, which will score bonus with Nick Sirianni and his offense. I can see Marshall being plugged into a Sirianni type offense and putting up big numbers. He has 1,000 + yards and 8+ touchdown a season potential in my honest opinion.
Marshall reminds me of a more athletic DeVante Parker. Big bodied WR who is strong handed and can go up with anyone to come down with the catch. Trading up to get him at 23 before giving Green Bay or New Orleans a chance to snag him would be extremely smart as well.
Round 3 Pick 70: Pete Werner 6’3 242 lbs LB OSU
This might be a pick that a lot of Eagles fans will scratch their head about. Not that it’s a bad pick, but cause Werner isn’t talked about as often as he should be. Werner is typically lined up as a SAM LB, which usually line up against the opposing teams tightends and are in coverage packages. He projects to be a 3 down LB in the NFL due to his NFL ready size, strenght, and ability to play in coverage and shoot the gap.
Werner is a stout tackler and rarely ever whiffs on a hit. Very technically sound in that aspect of his game. He’s a very competitive spirited player who brings an energy to the field that you want from your LB.
When you watch Werner’s film you get flashes of K.J. Wright and Wright is a player I always admired watching. Both fly around the field and are always near the ball.
Linebackers are a big part of Gannon’s defense so let’s hope Howie adds more emphasis to it this season.
Round 3 Pick 84: Hunter Long 6’5 254 lbs TE Boston College
Don’t be shocked to see Howie Roseman select another tight end in the first 100 picks. With word of Zach Ertz’s dismissal, the Eagles will need a new TE2 on the roster and no one fits that mold better than Hunter Long.
Long is my favorite TE in this draft not named Kyle Pitts. He has TE1 qualities, but his versatility as an above average blocker while also having sound route running and reliable hands and ball skills, TE2 will most likely be his role. In a Nick Sirianni offense TE1/TE2 stats really aren’t that far off truthfully. He uses his tight ends in so many different ways that the position holds so much value.
Long has Heath Miller upside and truthfully plays like a more athletic Jack Doyle if you know anything about Nick Sirianni, it’s that he LOVES Jack Doyle. The fit in Philadelphia for Hunter Long just makes a lot of sense.
Trade!!! Eagles Receive 89, Jets Receive 107 & 224.
Round 3 Pick 89: Quincy Roche 6’3 243 lbs DE Miami U
The former Temple Owl turned Miami Hurricane at pick 89 would be a smart play for some DE depth. Roche has a good blend of speed and counters off the edge that the Eagles could use in speed rush situations. Though Roche is a bit slim for a 4-3 edge rusher, his frame has room for him to gain 5-10 more pounds of muscle.
If you look at Roche’s numbers in his 4 year college career you might start to scratch your head as to why he’s not being talked about more. Roche racked up 182 tackles, 54 TFL, 30.5 sacks, and 8 FF’s. Those numbers don’t lie, he can get behind the line of scrimmage with the best of them. The problem with Roche is he is consider an average athlete, and below average twitch wise. As a depth edge rusher this doesn’t bother me as much and feel he could help this team situationally.
Round 4 Pick 123: Jaylen Twyman 6’3 301 lbs DT Pittsburgh
The Jaylen draft trend continues. Twyman draft stock has shot up the chart since his pro day. He proved to a lot of scouts that he is a lot stronger than most teams anticipated. While at Pittsburgh Twyman playing weight was around 290-293 lbs, he weighed in at his pro day at 301 and still looks physically fit.
This selection could end up being similar to finding a pot of gold. Twyman learning and playing behind Fletcher Cox and Javon Hargrave for a few years could suit well for Twyman. Out the gate being in on situational downs and taking a back seat to learn from some of the better DT’s in the league could really benefit him.
Twyman will come into the league extremely skilled already with quick but violent hands, relentless high energy, an arsenal of rush moves, and has really high IQ in terms of counters. The one concern will be can be muscle up the strength to shed off blocks.
Round 6 Pick 189: Demetric Felton 5’9 185 lbs WR UCLA
Demetric Felton in the 6th round could be huge for the Eagles. Why is that you ask? Well because they’d find a legitimate kick and punt returner that’s not named Jalen Reagor.
At UCLA Felton lined up as a RB and a slot WR so he can play in different packages if need be, but Felton is going to be one of the league better returners. He is electrifying in open space and we need a rehaul of our special teams unit.
Round 6 Pick 225: Tay Gowan 6’2 185 lbs CB UCF
This is the one pick I’m not sure will actually be there due to his sudden draft stock rising, but Ty Gowan is a speedy CB with decent size.
Gowan would come to the Eagles as a special teamer who would be the teams CB4/CB5 with room to compete for a back up role. He’s a competitor with a high motor. Does well challenging 50/50 balls and that’s something that’ll benefit him and keep him in the league for a long time.
Trade!!! Eagles Receive future 6th round pick, Cardinals Receive 234.
Round 7 Pick 240: Sam Ehlinger 6’2 222 lbs QB Texas
QB Factory!!!! Howie has to draft atleast one right? With that being said I actually like Ehlinger. Kid is a natural born leader who is juiced up all the time. Very similar body to Jalen Hurts if we’re being honest.
One thing I love about Ehlinger’s game is his accuracy improved every year. That’s a huge stat line in my eyes. Shows he can become a more efficient passer with time. I also love how poise he can be in any situation.
Big problem is his arm strenght. He doesn’t throw with a lot of juice on his ball. Whether that can improve, well that’s yet to be seen.
I’d love to see Ehlinger as a 3rd string hype man for this team, with room to potentially become a back up.
Well there you have it people, my first official Branded Mock Draft. I’ll be dropping more draft information soon to my Twitter page so follow for more draft analysis @ajtorres1230