The Philadelphia Eagles are essentially set at every position so the 2019 NFL Draft will be about the Birds filling the best needs and drafting the best available players. With Carson Wentz set to get a new contract, Howie Roseman and company will need to invest draft picks over the next two years, on strong, athletic players, who can be productive on the cheap for the first few years of their career.
With Roseman and company likely to stand pat at the cornerback position, safety could be a position that the Eagles use one of the first 57 picks on. With Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod getting up there in age, here are five safeties The Eagles could target to help transition over the next three years.
Johnathan Abram, Mississippi State
Abrams is an in the box safety, who presents above average coverage skills for the position. Abrams is more Landon Collins with better ball skills to match. Abrams plays fast and physical and brings the wood. Abrams is a throwback safety who’ll have to work to refine his entire game.
Nasir Adderley, Delaware
The former CB from Philadelphia, Adderley is a free safety with great instincts and range, who can thrive in man coverage. An incredibly physical player, Adderley can use more seasoning with recognizing coverage and schemes, something Jenkins and McLeod can tutor him on.
Darnell Savage, Maryland
Savage is a heat-seeking missile near the line of scrimmage and presents very good instincts, explosiveness, and range to match. The box safety could produce like Tyrann Mathieu if placed in the right scheme and situation. While viewed as a smallish safety, he’s dynamic and can be an impact defender.
Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, Florida
Gardner-Johnson could be the pick because of his versatility. He plays with range, athleticism and toughness, and similar to Avonte Maddox, Gardner-Johnson is a jack of all trades, who could turn into an All-Pro ball hawk, or a shutdown slot corner.
Juan Thornhill, Virginia
A former cornerback, Thornhill is best used when playing and corraling center-fielder. Thornhill is an explosive player, who posted a 4.42-second 40-yard dash, 44″ vertical, and 141″ broad jump. A hybrid safety, Thornhill could allow Jenkins to play a few more years.
