Thanks to one final trade, we now have four teams that won’t make their first selections in the 2018 NFL Draft until today. That means we might as well fill out their draft boards too, with some changes based on what happened Thursday night. Up first is the Super Bowl LII Champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Philadelphia traded out of the first round in exchange for the Ravens’ second round pick (52), their fourth round pick (125) and next year’s second rounder. Baltimore got the No. 32 pick and the Eagles’ fourth rounder (132)
Here’s what I think Philly should do.
Round 2, Pick 52: (from Ravens) Dorian O’Daniel, OLB, Clemson
2017: 88 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, five sacks, two interceptions, two returned for touchdowns, two fumble recoveries (6-1, 215 pounds)
With so many teams in the latter portion of the first round wasting their picks on reaches, plenty of high quality players should fall into the second round. O’Daniel was always going to be a second rounder, but if teams had actually known what the hell they were doing above the Eagles here, he would have been long gone by the time they picked at 52.
Round 4, Pick 125: Christian Kirk, WR, Texas A&M
2017: 71 catches, 919 yards, 10 touchdowns, 22 kick returns, 490 kick return yards, 22.3 yards per kick return, one kick return touchdown, 10 punt returns, 191 punt return yards, 19.1 yards per punt return, one punt return touchdown (5-10, 200 pounds)
The Eagles roster is still loaded from the team that won the Super Bowl last year and they have some solid depth at wideout. Kirk can contribute to that group and help out special teams. The Eagles need that as currently Corey Clement is the only guy coming back from 2017 that returned kicks or punts.
Round 4, Pick 130: Wyatt Teller, OG, Virginia Tech
6-4, 301 pounds
Teller projects as a future NFL starter. Early on, he can be a utility guy and provide depth along all three interior line positions.
Round 5, Pick 169: Duke Dawson, CB, Florida
2017: 34 tackles, two for a loss, four interceptions, one returned for a touchdown, nine passes defended (5-10, 208 pounds)
If there is a spot on Philadelphia’s roster where the depth is unimpressive, it’s at corner. Dawson should immediately slide into the dime position and could even overtake Rasul Douglas as the nickle back before year’s end. He consistently lined up against some of the most talented wide receivers in the country during his NCAA tenure.
Round 6, Pick 206: Durham Smythe, TE, Notre Dame
2017: 15 catches, 244 yards, one touchdown (6-5, 257 pounds)
Smythe was underused at Notre Dame on offense, but his yards per catch (16.3) is kind of insane. He should be a solid red zone target and good edge blocker. With Zach Ertz and Richard Rodgers as the one and two TE, Smythe won’t be expected to produce early.
Round 7, Pick 250: Ja’Whaun Bentley, ILB, Purdue
2017: 97 tackles, 11.5 for a loss, one sack, one interception, one returned for a touchdown, three passes defended, two forced fumbles (6-2, 225 pounds)
The Eagles only have two inside linebackers on the roster right now. They need to come out of this draft with another or they’ll be looking at free agents. Bentley is solid in coverage and was a tackling machine for the Boilermakers.
