The 2020 NFL Draft is almost three months away, and with the deadline for underclassmen to announce whether they will enter draft having passed Monday, the business of preparing for the NFL Draft is upon us.
The Eagles have several big needs and there’s been some discussion about a full-scale rebuild in the secondary.
If the Eagles do choose to use a first or second-round pick on a cornerback, here are seven options that make the most sense.
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1. Kristian Fulton LSU
With Jalen Mills set to hit free agency, the Eagles could replace the former LSU cornerback with one of the current Tiger greats.
Fulton made an immediate impact when thrown into the fire and over the past two seasons, he’s been the highest-graded cornerback in America according to grades from PFF.
Fulton is elite at the point of attack, as he owns the highest forced incompletion rate the past two years, allowing just 23.7% of contested targets to be caught.
2. Trevon Diggs Alabama
Diggs, the younger brother of Minnesota Vikings star receiver Stefon Diggs, is a projected top 15 pick, but guys slip all the time. Diggs finished his junior season with 37 tackles, three interceptions, eight passes defended, two fumble recoveries and two defensive touchdowns.
He’s not afraid of the bright lights or the big moment and could be just what the doctor ordered if the Eagles go cornerback in round one.
3. Jeff Gladney TCU
A knee injury will prevent the shut-down style cornerback from participating in the Senior Bowl. Gladney is viewed as one of the top cornerbacks in the 2020 class. He led the Horned Frogs with 14 pass breakups last season. He also had 31 tackles, including 1.5 tackles for loss, and one interception.
4. Bryce Hall Virginia
A big, physical cornerback, Hall was considered to be one of the best cornerbacks in college football entering the 2019 season but suffered a serious ankle injury during an October loss at Miami. As a result, Hall finishing the 2019 season with 13 solo tackles and four passes defended. Prior to the start of the 2019 season, the senior corner was receiving Day 2 grades from some draft analysts.
5. Troy Pride Jr. Notre Dame
Pride Jr. has elite speed and rarely gets beat on the big play. On 20-plus yard targets, Pride Jr. has allowed just six of 38 to be caught during his Notre Dame career but must improve his ball tracking skills at the next level.
6. Darnay Holmes UCLA
Over the past two seasons, Holmes has surrendered 20 explosive plays in coverage and allowed 11 touchdowns. Holmes led UCLA in interceptions during each of his three seasons and finished his Bruins career with eight interceptions, 28 pass defenses, and 121 tackles.
7. A.J. Terrell Clemson
Terrell is a thin player, in the mold of current Eagles cornerback, Sidney Jones. It won’t help the struggles he had against LSU in the National Championship game, but he’s still a talented cornerback. Terrell plays with good leverage and utilizes the sidelines as another defender. Terrell also has good ball skills, picking off six passes during his career.
