The game has yet to be played, but in all actuality, the 2019 Senior Bowl is now over as the players in attendance have now practiced all week in front of every scout and general manager in the NFL — including the Eagles.
The past week of work was an important one for the Eagles, who face a crucial NFL Draft coming up, considering both needs on the roster and the key spots — like offensive tackle and defensive tackle — where they have aging players that need to be replaced.
With that in mind, here is a 2019 NFL Mock Draft for the Eagles, comprised of only players that took part in the Senior Bowl this past week:
***Note: Not all projected compensatory picks are not included***
1st Round: Montez Sweat, DL, Mississippi State: Sweat was already projected to be one of the first defensive ends off the board. His week of practice at the Senior Bowl solidified that. Sweat had a great week of practice by all accounts, showing off his rare combination of both speed and strength for a player standing 6-foot-6, 245 pounds. His week of work backed up what has been a dominating two years for Sweat, who finished with 22.5 sacks in the last two seasons. Defensive end is a big need for the Eagles, both in 2019 and for the future, as the only young, stud defensive end they currently have on the roster is Derek Barnett — and even he has question marks following a season-ending shoulder injury.
2nd Round: Renell Wren, DT, Arizona State: Top personnel executive Howie Roseman called the defensive line class a potentially "historic" one earlier this month. Although Roseman is always one to play games through the media, the elite defensive linemen combined with the Eagles need along the line could result in defensive linemen with their first two picks.
Here is how Fran Duffy, writer and draft expert for PhiladelphiaEagles.com, described Wren:
"An explosive interior disruptor who can wreck plays early in the down because of his first step, Wren showed off that game-changing potential in drills on Tuesday and lived in the backfield. Keep an eye on this potential "riser" throughout the draft process."
With both Haloti Ngata and Timmy Jernigan potentially not coming back next year, the Eagles' need at defensive tackle is a big one. Wrenn, 6-foot-6, 297 pounds, has 7.5 tackles for a loss over the last two years.
2nd Round: Tytus Howard, OT, Alabama State: Howard had a strong week of practice at the Senior Bowl. Howard is a bit of a project, but he has all the physical tools the Eagles like from their tackle prospects, as he has elite athleticism for a player his size (6-foot-6), and got experience at both left and right tackle last season. Plus, he is a former quarterback, which will only add to the comparisons between Howard and the Eagles current right tackle, Lane Johnson.
4th Round (projected compensatory pick): Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware: The Eagles' need at safety is an underrated one, especially if they decide to keep Avonte Maddox at cornerback. Rodney McLeod very well could be back, but even if he is, he is a question mark coming off of a torn ACL/MCL that ended his season. Backup veteran Corey Graham likely won't be back, and Tre Sullivan has yet to prove he deserves big-time snaps at the position.
The combination of all those factors could lead the Eagles to invest a high pick in a safety, and if they do, Adderley will likely be high on their board. The Delaware product has experience at both cornerback and safety, giving him the versatility that is an absolutely must for Eagles' safeties. With eight interceptions over the last two seasons, Adderley also has a track record of being able to make plays on the ball the they are there to be made.
4th Round: Terry McLaurin, WR, Ohio State: The Eagles badly need speed at receiver, and McLaurin was the fastest receiver at the Senior Bowl this week, clocking in at an average of 20.1 miles per hour at his top speed. McLaurin isn't projected to be one of the top receivers in the draft, but with 701 yards and 11 touchdowns in 2018 — with an average of 20.0 yards per catch — he does have a track record of making big plays down the field. Add in the fact that he is considered an elite special teams player, ad McLaurin could be the player that the Eagles hoped Mack Hollins was going to be.
5th Round: L.J. Collier, DE, TCU: The Eagles love to move their defensive linemen around, and Collier is one of the most versatile defensive linemen at the Senior Bowl. Collier has experience at both defensive end and defensive tackle, and was a productive player at both, with 10 sacks and 16 tackles for a loss over the last two seasons. Collier might not be a starter right away, but in the fifth-round, Collier has enough tools and versatility to be able to contribute in 2019.
6th Round: Tyree Jackson, QB, Buffalo: The Eagles are likely going to add a quarterback, but picking one among the group at the Senior Bowl is not easy, as none of them appeared to have a strong week. Jackson, however, has the strongest arm of all the quarterbacks that took part in practice this past week. Jackson did not have a strong week of practice according to multiple reports from Alabama, and although the sixth-round might be low for him, the Eagles could take a flyer on him if he does indeed fall into the sixth round.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
