The Philadelphia Eagles have eight picks remaining in the NFL Draft after acquiring Darius Slay and general manager Howie Roseman has made it clear that he wants to be aggressive in adding young, athletic playmakers to his roster.
Roseman has a reputation for excelling in free agency and the salary cap dealings but doesn’t have the greatest reputation for judging talent in the NFL draft.
With the Eagles scheduled to pick at No. 21 overall in the first round, here are four players Roseman should avoid while focusing on landing a game-changer with the pick.
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1. Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson
Higgins had a heralded collegiate career and could become a star in the NFL, but the Eagles need speed on the outside and a dynamic playmaker, something the former Clemson All-American lacks at times.
Higgins will make the contested catch and offers a huge frame in the red zone. With Howie Roseman needing to hit on wide receivers in the draft, the Eagles need the sure thing, and Higgins offers some pause.
2. Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU
A slender cornerback who’ll likely become a starter in his first or second season, Gladney isn’t one of the big 3 cornerbacks and could be had 10-17 picks later.
Gladney thrives in man to man coverage but can be a victim of double moves or smart quarterbacks.
3. Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State
The Eagles love edger rushers and adding a high-motor pass-rusher like Gross-Matos could be the attractive move at No. 21, but it’s the Eagles’ most pressing need and the former Penn State defensive end is not guaranteed to dominate as a rookie.
Gross-Matos is similar to Derek Barnett and there’s no guarantee that he’d crack the top-3 on the Eagles depth chart.
4. CB Trevon Diggs, Alabama
Diggs is a solid cornerback, but he is Jeff Okudah, Kristian Fulton or CJ Henderson.
Diggs offers the preferable height and arm length (six-foot-one, 32.75-inch arms) but his slender frame could remind Eagles fans of Ronald Darby.
He struggles with footwork and tackling, and isn’t a natural cornerback after switching over from wide receiver.
