With the Super Bowl in the rearview, it’s officially draft season. From now until late April, there will be plenty of speculation about who will be drafted when by fans and analysts alike. One of those analysts is named Daniel Jeremiah, a former NFL scout and longtime draft insider.
Featured on NFL.com, Jeremiah’s second official mock draft is out as of February 21st, giving fans some critical insight as to which prospects are getting the most hype. Highlighted among these are players Philadelphia may be interested in, as the Eagles draft twice in the first round. Today, we look at who Jeremiah has slotted to hold up a midnight green jersey on draft night.
Eagles Draft According to Daniel Jeremiah
10th Overall Pick: Devon Witherspoon (CB/Illinois)
An edge rusher wouldn’t surprise me here, but I think Witherspoon is the best corner in the draft. He reminds me a lot of former Eagles Pro Bowler Asante Samuel.
At pick number ten, Jeremiah has the Eagles going corner with Illinois’s Devon Witherspoon. Witherspoon has been one of the early risers to start the draft process, quickly entering the CB1 debate in a stacked cornerback draft class.
The Illinois senior is a long, rangy cornerback who is super sticky in man coverage. He isn’t an elite athlete by any means, but his ball skills and ability to be just physical enough in coverage to not draw flags more than cover any athletic limitations. He fits the same mold as Sauce Gardner in that regard, a build which has obviously thrived in the NFL.
Another strength of Witherspoon’s is his willingness to hit in the run game. In fact, it’s more than just a willingness–he outright wants to lay out a running back every chance he gets. Nothing stood out to me in film more than a play against Indiana where he read the halfback screen, beat the blocks, and eviscerated the back. In a position notorious for poor tackling, Witherspoon has separated himself in a major way.
My only question with this pick is would Howie Roseman make it? In normal years, the Eagles draft for the trenches early. Given the age of tackle Lane Johnson and the likelihood of multiple defensive linemen leaving in free agency, it could be that Philly ignores the need at corner to stay on brand, especially with the depth of this cornerback class. Guys like Paris Johnson Jr. (OT), Broderick Jones (OT), or Brian Bresee (DT) could all be viable options here, at least according to Jeremiah’s mock.
And Jeremiah even addresses this. However, instead of mentioning o-line or interior d-line, he notes that the Eagles could draft an EDGE, another potential position of need. However, looking at the mock, Jeremiah already had the top four edge rushers off the board, leaving the Eagles without a top talent to draft at the position. If the draft falls the right way, EDGE is definitely an option, but not with the way Jeremiah’s went. Witherspoon was the right pick in the situation.
30th Overall Pick: Felix Anudike-Uzomah (EDGE/Kansas State)
The way the Eagles do business, I’d be shocked if they left the first round without an offensive or defensive lineman.
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