As franchise defining moves go, the Philadelphia Eagles trading a shitload of picks to draft Carson Wentz last season and still ending up, via trade, with a pick in every round of this draft, makes everyone involved look like a genius.
Wentz, my No. 2 pre-draft quarterback behind Dak Prescott last season, looks every bit like the franchise QB the Eagles need. In free agency Philadelphia has brought in Alshon Jeffrey and Torrey Smith to their wide receiver corps. Pairing those two with Dorial Green-Beckham, Nelson Agholor and tight end Brent Celek should be all the passing weapons Wentz needs. Now he just needs a runner.
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Round 1, Pick 14: Dalvin Cook, RB, Florida State
2016: 288 carries, 1,765 yards, 19 touchdowns, 33 catches, 488 yards, one touchdown
And with the way I see the draft falling, they get their franchise back in Dalvin Cook. Cook not only steps in as a day one starter and potential offensive rookie of the year, his ability as a pass blocker and receiver could enable the Eagles to shed Darren Sproles’ contract.
Round 2, Pick 43: Fabian Moreau, CB, UCLA
2016: 31 tackles, one for a loss, two interceptions, eight passes defended, one forced fumble
I’ve seen a handful of first round grades on Moreau, so this is some solid value at a position the Eagles desperately need to address in the draft. Philadelphia currently has only two corners on their roster that played a down of football for them last season. Plus, he doesn’t want to make an Island of Fabian Moreau joke?
Round 3, Pick 99: Jordan Willis, DE, Kansas State
2016: 52 tackles, 17.5 for a loss, 11.5 sacks, three passes defended, one fumble recovery, three forced fumbles
Willis is probably steal here in the third round. He’s really been an afterthought after two tremendous seasons at Kansas State where he recorded 20 sacks and 31.5 tackles behind the line of scrimmage. At 6-5 and 258, he could add some more weight to be a full time defensive end, but Willis should be able to contribute on third downs immediately.
Round 4, Pick 118: Justin Evans, Safety, Texas A&M
2016: 87 tackles, five for a loss, four interceptions, eight passes defended
Evans is tall for a safety at 6-1, but he’s quick and doesn’t have an ounce of extra weight on him at 195. He’s lined up against some of the best wide receivers, running backs and tight ends in the country and still put up those numbers for the Aggies, which should make him an easy choice here to back up Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod.
Round 4, Pick 139: Nazair Jones, DT, North Carolina
2016: 70 tackles, 9.5 for a loss, 2.5 sacks, three passes defended, one fumble recovery, one forced fumble
Jones was a tackling machine on a sneaky good North Carolina team. He’s a solid No. 2 defensive tackle, able to slide off blocks and make plays at the line of scrimmage. Defensive tackles normally don’t get anywhere near 70 tackles at any level, so Jones’ motor is going strong whether he makes the play at the line or not.
Round 5, Pick 155: Jermaine Eluemunor, OG, Texas A&M
Eluemunor is from England and grew up playing rugby, so his the toughness needed to play guard in the NFL is already there. He started 13 games for the Aggies, facing off against inside rushers from Alabama, Auburn and LSU. You know, guys that will be drafted.
Round 6, Pick 194: Blair Brown, ILB, Ohio
2016: 128 tackles, 15 for a loss, 4.5 sacks, one forced fumble
Brown may end up playing more outside linebacker in the Eagles’ 4-3, but he could rotate in at any position and make a real difference on special teams as a rookie. Brown really came on as a blitzer this season and his 71 solo tackles are one of the top marks in the nation.
Round 7, Pick 230: Eric Wilson, OLB, Cincinnati
2016: 129 tackles, 7.5 for a loss, three sacks, two passes defended, two fumble recoveries, one forced fumble
Wilson surpassed 100 tackles for the last two seasons and that’s extremely rare for an outside linebacker. Wilson’s strength is coverage, so he’ll be a solid back up on the weak side and a guy that could conceivably compete for a starting job down the road.
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