We’re just days away from draft month and the anticipation is growing. The Eagles have made a handful of moves during the free agency period, but their biggest offseason splash will likely come on draft night, where they’ll have three first-round picks and 10 selections overall to work with.
So without further ado, let’s jump right into our latest Eagles 7-round mock draft.
You can find out previous mocks here: 5.0, 4.0, 3.0, 2.0, 1.0
1 (15) DI Devonte Wyatt, Georgia
Although a lot of the hype surrounding interior lineman has shifted towards Jordan Davis, his Georgia running mate, Devonte Wyatt, is the more complete prospect and a safer selection for any defensive tackle needy team.
The Eagles don’t have a huge hole at defensive tackle, but they certainly need some youthful rejuvenation there. Wyatt is an explosive athlete who can lineup anywhere between the tackles and be productive. He has elite get off and showcases his natural bend whenever rushing the passer. Wyatt finished the 2021 season as one of the premiere pass rushing defensive tackles in the nation, posting a PFF pass rush grade of 84.0 while accumulating 4 sacks, 5 quarterback hits, and 17 hurries.
With the long-term future of Fletcher Cox up in the air, using one of their first-round picks to find his replacement feels like a foregone conclusion, especially when you consider how stout this defensive line class is. Wyatt is a perfect fit in Jonathan Gannon’s defense and could become an anchor for his defense for years to come.
1 (16) WR Jameson Williams, Alabama
Some will be turned off by the ACL injury he suffered in the National Championship Game, but Jameson Williams appears to be ahead of schedule in his recovery. In early March, just six weeks after his surgery, Williams was walking without a brace or a crutch, and he told reporters he expects to play in 2022.
Athletes return from injuries at a rapid pace now, so there’s no doubt in my mind that Williams will suit up and have an impact during his rookie campaign. That should be enough to convince the Eagles to select him in the first-round. If it wasn’t for the injury, there’s a good chance Williams would have been the first receiver off the board. Getting this kind of talent at 16 is extremely valuable and I can’t imagine Howie passing up the opportunity.
Breaking down Williams’ game, he’s a burner through and through. Whether you want to send him deep or design plays to get the ball into his hands quickly, Williams has the ability to take any play to the house. He reminds me a lot of Jaylen Waddle, his former teammate. PFF describes him as a ‘taller DeSean Jackson.’ As Eagles fans, that’s music to our ears.
While Williams does rely heavily on his speed to break away from corners, he understand the nuances behind route running. He knows how to sell routes by changing speed and using the defender’s leverage against them. The God given physical tools coupled with a very high football IQ, and you have a Pro Bowl talent in the making.
1 (19) EDGE David Ojabo, Michigan
Again, some will be turned off by his torn Achilles just a few weeks ago, and that’s fair. The way I see it, David Ojabo is a lottery pick and the Eagles have the benefit of taking this kind of risk with three first-round picks at their disposal. If Ojabo was healthy entering this year’s draft, he probably would have been gone before the Eagles were even on the clock.
Ojabo’s pass rushing potential is so high and it shouldn’t be diminished by his recent injury. He already possesses a handful of elite pass rushing moves that typically aren’t seen at the collegiate level. Just take this Dwight Freeney-esque move for example:
Ojabo is a pure speed rusher who should be a force in passing situations whenever he returns to the field. The Eagles need pass rushing help, and while drafting Ojabo won’t help the situation in 2022, he’s still a great long-term solution and will be a key cog along Gannon’s line in the coming years.
2 (51) LB Leo Chenal, Wisconsin
Wisconsin’s Leo Chenal is an old school linebacker. Standing at 6-foot-2, 261 pounds, he’s a force against the run. His 94.1 PFF run defense grade was just shy of Micah Parsons’ PFF college record, 94.8.
Chenal is at his best when moving downhill, whether it’s on a blitz or attacking ball carriers. His pass rush grade of 91.8 was among the highest in college football last season. When taking on blockers, Chenal rarely gets pushed back. More often than not, he gains ground when engaging with offensive lineman, something you typically don’t see from linebackers anymore.
With the addition of Kyzir White this offseason, the Eagles could use another big body, run thumper to solidify their linebacking corps. Chenal won’t be able to play much in passing situations, but on first and second down, he can be a real asset for any defense.
3 (83) S Nick Cross, Maryland
Physically speaking, Maryland’s Nick Cross checks every box. He has ideal size, standing at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, and he has rare straight line speed for a man of his size, running a 4.34 40 at the combine.
Cross can fly sideline to sideline. He showcased his playmaking ability time and time again throughout his collegiate career and flashed the ball skills that many teams covet at the next level. During his final year at Maryland, Cross totaled three interceptions, 66 tackles, 3 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles. He also posted a forced incompletion rate of 14.3% when targeted, an above average mark for college safeties.
Cross primarily lined up in single-high looks at Maryland, with some box looks sprinkled in here and there. He hasn’t shown much versatility up to this point, simply because he was never asked to do anything else. He has the physical ability to play in Gannon’s two-high looks, or as the box safety whenever the Eagles show their three safety looks.
4 (124) HB Brian Robinson Jr., Alabama
If the Eagles are going to continue to lean on their running game, drafting another back to add to the rotation makes sense. Brian Robinson Jr. out of Alabama would fit right into the Eagles backfield, replacing Jordan Howard as the team’s power back.
He’s a two down thumper who looks pissed off whenever he has the ball in his hands. In the semifinal round of the College Football Playoff this past season, Robinson went for 204 yards on 26 carries with 12 broken tackles against Cincinnati. He broke 13 tackles against Tennessee earlier in the season. He’s 6-foot-1, 225 pounds and he uses every inch of that frame to impose his will on defenders.
Robinson isn’t a homerun threat or someone who’s going to run past defenders in the open field, but he understands his limitations. He’s a one cut and go kind of runner, something the Eagles could use in their backfield.
5 (154) TE Chig Okonkwo, Maryland
Although Chig Okonkwo is technically listed as a tight end, he’s been used in so many different ways during his career at Maryland. Yes, he has 4.5 speed, can run crisp routes, and of course catch the ball, but he can lineup off the line and provide tremendous run blocking as an H-back.
Okonkwo has a little bit of Delanie Walker in his game. He can lineup in pretty much any alignment and still be effective, regardless of the fact that he is a bit undersized for the position (6-foot-2, 244 pounds).
It’ll be up to the Eagles coaching staff to really hone in his skills and put him in positions to succeed. If they can successfully do that, Okonkwo has the tools to be an impact player from day one. As versatile backup tight end to Dallas Goedert, Okonkwo presents tremendous upside and he could carve out a specific role for himself during his rookie season.
5 (162) CB Decobie Durant, South Carolina State
Decobie Durant is more of a developmental prospect at the cornerback position. He has nickel/outside versatility and can thrive in either zone or man coverage heavy schemes. He’s a bit undersized for an outside corner in the NFL, standing at 5-foot-9, 174 pounds, though that’s where he primarily played during his collegiate career.
From 2019-’21, Durant was stout in coverage, allowing a passer rating of 23.4, 36.4, and 65.5 when targeted during those years respectively. He definitely needs to add some bulk to reach his full potential in the NFL, but he already possesses the high football IQ and physical ability to play in any defense, which is always a plus.
5 (166) WR Kyle Philips, UCLA
UCLA’s Kyle Philips is going to be one of those players we look back and wonder why he was drafted so low, despite being a very valuable slot receiver. His game has shades of Hunter Renfrow, with a little more quickness and more refined route running ability from the rip.
He’s just so damn quick off the line of scrimmage, nickel corners had trouble getting their hands on him throughout his entire 2021 season. He can also be valuable in the running game as a blocker on the outside — something Nick Sirianni values in his wideouts.
It’s hard to envision Philips being a flop at the next level. He has all the physical tools to be a threat anywhere on the field, including in the red zone where the shorter field seems to actually benefit his absurd quickness. If Philips lasts this long, he’ll be a steal for any team he goes to. Hopefully, that team ends up being the Eagles.
6 (194) T Luke Tenuta, Virgina Tech
The Eagles love to grab developmental offensive lineman late in the draft, and for the most part, they’ve all worked out. Standing at 6-foot-9, Luke Tenuta is a physical specimen at the tackle position and has the versatility to play on both the right and left.
Jeff Stoutland has proven time and time again that he can develop even the longest of long shots into suitable NFL players. I’m sure he could do something similar with Tenuta.