It may not officially be Mock Draft Season, but that hasn’t stopped numerous outlets from providing their takes on who will go where in the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pro Football Focus just released their latest mock draft on Monday and they had the Eagles taking a few interesting names in the first round.
By now, it’s clear the Eagles will end up with three first round picks in the upcoming draft. Carson Wentz is expected to hit the 75% threshold by next week to ensure the Eagles get Indianapolis’ first rounder.
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As it currently stands, the Eagles have the 12th, 13th, and 17th overall picks in 2022. In PFF’s latest iteration of their mock drafts, they have the Eagles taking all offensive and defensive lineman — a trademark of Howie Roseman’s draft strategy.
At 12th overall, PFF has the Eagles taking center Tyler Linderbaum out of Iowa. At 13, defensive tackle Jordan Davis out of Georgia. And at 17, defensive end David Ojabo out of Michigan.
While the Eagles have some bigger needs that they could address in the first round (cornerback, safety, maybe even quarterback), it would be hard to complain if this was the outcome.
Let’s start with Linderbaum, the standout center prospect from Iowa. Center has never been a premiere position on draft night, but Eagles fans know just how valuable the position can be when you have a stud at the position.
Trying to determine when exactly Jason Kelce is going to hang up the cleats is impossible, but it’s safe to assume it’ll be within the next two years. The Eagles technically did draft Landon Dickerson to be Kelce’s heir apparent, but he’s played so well at left guard that it might just make more sense to keep him at that position. Making a Linderbaum selection much more feasible.
The Iowa product is about as close to a ‘can’t miss’ center prospect that you’ll ever see. He’s been the highest graded player at the position in the country over the past two seasons, and in 2020, he surrendered just three total pressures on 280 pass blocking snaps.
He’d be fine addition to an already stout offensive line. You can never have too many capable offensive lineman, and Linderbaum more than exceeds just being capable.
Moving onto Jordan Davis at 13, he’s an absolute mammoth at the defensive tackle position. Standing at 6’6” and weighing in at 340 pounds, you’d be hard pressed to find an interior lineman with those measurable who can also move around the line.
He’s not a clear fit in most even fronts, Georgia typically uses nose tackles and defensive tackles at the 4i spot (outside shoulder of the offensive guard). But Jonathan Gannon runs a similar front and asks his defensive tackles to plug up holes as opposed to getting after the passer. Davis would be a solid first and second down interior lineman from day one, with some solid upside on the pass rushing front.
Last but not least, at 17th overall, PFF has Michigan edge rusher David Ojabo going to Philly.
Not many fans knew who Ojabo was coming into this year. He had only recorded one tackle before his junior season. In 13 games this year, Ojabo has racked up 11 sacks, 35 total tackles, 12 tackles for loss, three pass deflections, one fumble recovery, and five forced fumbles.
He’s an athletic specimen, standing at 6’5” and weighing in at 250 pounds. The Eagles will be in the market for an edge rusher this offseason, there’s no doubt about it. Derek Barnet and Ryan Kerrigan are both set to walk at the end of the year, leaving just Josh Sweat and Brandon Graham left.
With three first round picks this year, Roseman and his Eagles have a lot of maneuverability heading into draft night. Maybe he’ll spice things up a bit and trade up, or maybe he’ll take a first round corner for the first time in two decades.
But if we’re being honest, taking all offensive and defensive lineman would be a classic Roseman move and probably the most likely outcome come draft day.