Fresh off of the 2020 NFL Combine, the Philadelphia Eagles got a better look at almost all of the prospects in the 2020 NFL Draft. The NFL Combine isn’t the determining factor on a player, but more of a resource to help determine if what you see on film is true or if you may have missed something and should dig a little deeper.
For the Eagles, a lot of the big-name receivers showed they were as advertised. It will be interesting to see how aggressive General Manager Howie Roseman and the Eagles are on draft night, mainly because if they want one of the top 3 receivers, they will likely need to trade up.
Free agency will also help paint a better picture of what a team needs to do for the draft, but here is a post-combine 7-round mock draft for the Eagles that has the compensatory picks added (via OverTheCap.com) and features some trades using the DraftTek.com trade value chart that uses OTC’s comp picks as well.
Round 1, Pick 21: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
I do not see any of the top 3 receivers making it to Pick 21. CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy, and Henry Ruggs will likely be long gone well before the Eagles pick at 21. Some feel they should trade up for one of those receivers, but I think they should sit back and pick up a great consultation prize at Pick 21. Former LSU receiver Justin Jefferson would be the perfect fit in the Eagles’ offense.
Just like Eagles’ quarterback Carson Wentz, Jefferson is a red zone stud. 12 of his 18 touchdowns this season were in the red zone, which is an impressive stat. In my scouting report, I mentioned that Jefferson is like 7-Eleven, he’s always open. He understands the game and it shows while he is running his routes. He would thrive in the Eagles’ offense playing in the slot. The big question of Jefferson was his speed, but his official 4.43 40-yard dash at the combine silenced that doubt.
Eagles fans should get familiar with Jefferson, as he has a very good chance to be the pick at 21 on draft day.
Round 2, Pick 48 (via Jets): K.J. Hamler, WR, PSU
*Trade*
Eagles receive Pick 48
New York Jets receive Pick 53, Pick 140, and WR Alshon Jeffery
Hello! Yup, you read that right. The Eagles have been on a support tour at the combine for Alshon Jeffery, but they aren’t fooling anyone. They want him gone and the New York Jets are the best bet. This would be a great move by Jets’ General Manager Joe Douglas. He would only move back 5 picks while adding Jeffery and another Pick (Pick 140).
For the Eagles, they get rid of the headache, locker room cancer, and a player with a disastrous contract and then they get to add one of my favorite receivers in the draft, former Penn State stud K.J. Hamler.
Hamler would add tons of speed to the Eagles offense, while also giving Wentz another weapon he can trust. Hamler may hear his name earlier than this, but his size may allow him to slide on draft day. I think the Eagles will definitely move up on Day 2 of the draft and Hamler could be their target.
Adding Jefferson and Hamler in the first two rounds would be huge for the Eagles and their star quarterback. You may be thinking that both receivers can only play slot receiver, but head coach Doug Pederson is as creative as they come and can move both of these guys all over the field.
Round 3, Pick 75 (via Colts): Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
*Trade*
Eagles receive Pick 75
Indianapolis Colts receive Pick 85 and 146
The evaluations on former Virginia cornerback Bryce Hall have been all over the place. Some have him going as high as the end of the first, while some have him going as low as the late third. I think the sweet spot for him is the end of the 2nd or early 3rd.
Hall is coming back off of an injury, so that will cause him to slide on draft day. When he starts to slide, the Eagles should trade up for him and not think twice.
Hall is respected for his football IQ and that is something the Eagles haven’t had at cornerback in a long time. He is a bigger cornerback too, standing at 6’1 and weighing in at 202 pounds. I watched him play receiver at Bishop McDevitt High School in Pennsylvania, so I know he is a baller.
I expect the Eagles will add one impact starter at cornerback in free agency, but they will need to add as many corners as they can this offseason. I think the Eagles could get Hall around this pick and get a steal, as he has the potential to plug-in and be one of their starters right away.
Round 3, Pick 103 (Comp Pick): Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
The Eagles have two elite tight ends with Zach Ertz and Dallas Goedert, so adding another one may not make sense to some fans. However, the Eagles love their 3 tight end sets and adding another good one early would be a good idea.
Thaddeus Moss is the son of Hall of Fame receiver Randy Moss, which has been said 100 times, but it is worth noting. Moss would plug-in nicely as the Eagles No. 3 tight end with the potential to be a solid No. 2 tight end in the NFL. He will likely never be an elite No. 1 tight end, but he has the tools to contribute to any team that likes to use two or more tight ends. He’s a perfect fit for the Eagles.
Moss did find out he needed surgery at the combine, but he should be good to go for the season.
Round 4, Pick 124: K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson
The Eagles need to add a safety this offseason and will hopefully do that in free agency as Rodney McLeod is a free agent and Malcolm Jenkins is still elite, but he isn’t getting younger. If they do not add one in free agency, there is a good one they can add in the middle rounds.
I am enamored by former Clemson safety K’Von Wallace. There is something about the way he plays the game that is enjoyable. He was also the team captain at Clemson and that holds a lot of weight for the Eagles.
Wallace may need some time to thrive in the NFL, but I think he has the traits to succeed as a long, successful starter in the league. He could plugin as the Eagles’ No. 3 safety right away, with the potential to be a leader on their defense for years to come.
Round 5, Pick 166: Tanner Muse, LB, Clemson
Clemson is known for having a versatile, athletic specimen on their defense that can line up at safety and linebacker and his name is Tanner Muse. All jokes aside, Muse may not be as good as Isaiah Simmons, who is likely a top 5 pick, but Muse has a future in the NFL. He played safety at Clemson but started to transition to linebacker late in the year.
Muse would not get drafted if he stayed at safety in my opinion, but the switch to linebacker, which he has been open to at the combine (via Ross Uglem), has him skying up boards. The Eagles took Nathan Gerry, a safety turned linebacker in the 5th round as well, so look for them to pull the trigger here again.
Muse ran an amazing 4.41 40-yard dash at the combine, while also putting up 20 reps on the bench press. With the way the Eagles value linebackers, Muse has a high chance to be the linebacker the Eagles add this offseason.
Round 5, Pick 168: Shyheim Carter, S, Alabama
The former Alabama defensive back is a tough evaluation because where is his best fit on defense in the NFL? Is he a slot corner? Is he a safety? Can you play him at the outside corner? All of these questions are good questions to ask if the player is worth figuring out, and Shyheim Carter is worth figuring out in the 5th round.
Philly is obviously hurting for defensive backs, so adding another guy to the mix that can likely play multiple positions would be smart. At a minimum, Carter will add depth while also being able to contribute on special teams right away. He also has a chance to become a starter with time and coaching. Even though his size is in question, I like his competitive nature and I think he has a chance to become a starting No. 3 safety in the NFL.
Round 6, Pick 190: Keith Ismael, Center, San Diego State University
Luckily for the Eagles, the best center in the NFL, Jason Kelce, is back for another year. However, the end is near for Kelce and the Eagles need to try and find someone to replace him. Ismael is a developmental center the Eagles should take a chance on late and see if they can strike gold again on center in the 6th round.
Final draft:
Round 1, Pick 21: Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
Round 2, Pick 48 (via Jets) (Trade: Pick 53, Pick 140, and WR Alshon Jeffery): K.J. Hamler, WR, PSU
Round 3, Pick 75 (via Colts) (Trade: Pick 85 and Pick 146): Bryce Hall, CB, Virginia
Round 3, Pick 103: Thaddeus Moss, TE, LSU
Round 4, Pick 124: K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson
Round 5, Pick 166: Tanner Muse, LB, Clemson
Round 5, Pick 168: Shyheim Carter, S, Alabama
Round 6, Pick 190: Keith Ismael, C, SDSU
