With the NFL Draft now just under two weeks away, here is my latest Eagles 7-Round NFL Mock Draft:
1st, No. 21: Jalen Reagor, WR, TCU
I am becoming more-and-more skeptical that LSU's Justin Jefferson will be on the board when the Eagles go on the clock with the No. 21 overall pick. I am also skeptical they will take a wide receiver, given Howie Roseman's history of prioritizing the lines with his first-round pick.
Still, Reagor checks off a few very key boxes for the Eagles. The first one and most important one? The guy is a big-time playmaker.
Reagor doesn't have the elite-level speed that Henry Ruggs or KJ Hamler has, but he is still plenty quick, and turned short gains into long touchdowns plenty of times at TCU. He also projects as a player that can take the top off opposing defenses with vertical routes down the field. Both are qualities the Eagles desperately need on their offense.
What does separate Reagor from Hamler is that he has the size to be a natural fit on the outside if needed. Reagor measured in at 5-foot-11, 206 pounds, almost 30 pounds more than Hamler. His ability to be physical showed in the numerous 50/50 balls he won in college, including in the endzone, where he was a red zone target. He likely won't be able to do that in the NFL, but Reagor definitely projects as a receiver that could win contested catches down the field.
Pederson could get creative with Reagor as well, as he is dynamic in space and has good vision with the ball in his hands. Reagor is unlikely to make it past the second round, and trading down for him might be too risky.
2nd, No. 53: Cesar Ruiz, IOL, Michigan
This isn't an exciting pick, and Eagles fans won't like what it signals, but it feels like the day of drafting a Jason Kelce replacement is finally here. Ruiz, 6-foot-3, 307 pounds, is an excellent athlete for the center position and has the speed to be a very productive blocker on the second level. Multiple scouting reports mention his football IQ and his leadership qualities, two very important traits for any player stepping into Kelce's shows to have. Considered by some to be the best center in the draft, Ruiz would also bring position versatility to the Eagles line as he spent time at guard as well during his days at Michigan.
3rd, No. 103: James Proche, WR, SMU
The Eagles are going to be doubling up on receivers in this draft, and considering their need for speed on offense, they would be wise to take as many swings at a big-play receiver instead of trying to draft complimentary pieces at the position.
Like Reagor, Proche is a home-run threat every time he touches the ball. He scored 27 touchdowns over the last two seasons at SMU, finding the end zone in a variety of ways, from taking short passes to the house, to winning contested catches to getting behind defenses. Proche could be used in a variety of ways by the Eagles as he lined up all over the field at SMU, spending 41% of his time in the slot and the rest on either side of the offense. If both Proche and Reagor hit and become productive players, the Eagles could easily put Proche in the slot and have Reagor line up on the outside.
4th, No. 127: Jonathan Greenard, DE, Florida
Considering the need they have the position it would be somewhat surprising if the Eagles waited this long to address the defensive end position, but Greenard in the fourth round could end up being a steal. Greenard is an interesting prospect, standing 6-foot-3, 262 pounds with a good collection of pass rush moves. He finished with 9.5 sacks, 32 hurries, 18 quarterback hits and 47 total pressures last season in just 12 games for Florida. He was also effective against the run, totaling 15.5 tackles for a loss. Unlike Shareef Miller, Greenard should be able to come in right away and play, pairing up with Josh Sweat to give the Eagles a promising set of backup defensive ends.
4th, No. 145: Markus Bailey, LB, Purdue
The Eagles will be hoping-and-praying that TJ Edwards is ready to be the starting middle linebacker next season after moving on from Nigel Bradham. Still, they need to come out of the NFL Draft with a linebacker, and Bailey checks off a few key boxes. First, he has the ability to play both middle and outside linebacker. Second, he has great instincts, football intelligence and leadership qualities. Finally, he has suffered two torn ACLs. The health concerns are obvious, but when he is was on the field in college, Bailey consistently made big plays —13.5 sacks, six interceptions, 26.5 tackles for a loss and two forced fumbles in four seasons. He could be a steal in the fourth round for the Eagles if he stays healthy.
4th, No. 146: A.J. Dillion, RB, Boston College
Howie Roseman has had five running backs on his roster each of the last few seasons, and with only three on the roster right now, two jobs are up for grabs. A veteran will likely take one, but another will almost certainly go to a rookie. Dillion, 5-foot-11, 250 pounds, would be a nice complimentary piece to Miles Sanders and Boston Scott as a between-the-tackles, downhill runner. Dillion doesn't have elite speed but he is decisive with his cuts and rarely goes down in the backfield, as evident by his 5.3 yard-per-carry average last season on 318 attempts. Dillion, Sanders and Scott would be a great trio for the Eagles offense to count on over the coming years.
5th, No. 166: Dane Jackson, CB, Pittsburgh
The Eagles already made one big move at corner, trading for Darius Slay. Their decision to sign Nickell Robey-Coleman also decreases their need to find immediate help in the draft, which is why they will likely look more for developmental players than instant starters. A four-year starter at Pittsburgh, Jackson has plenty of experience playing in both man-and-zone coverage as well as lining up both in the slot and on the outside. He is a bit undersize at 5-foot-11, but he has shown the ability to make plays on the ball, knocking away 46 passes in four years. Ideally the Eagles won't need to play Jackson right away and can develop him to starter in 2021.
6th, No. 190: Jake Luton, QB, Oregon State
The front office is almost certain to take another swing on a quarterback in this year's draft, and although Clayton Thorson didn't work out, they will likely draft one with similar qualities. Luton has the size (6-foot-6) the Eagles like in their quarterbacks, but also has a quick release and one of this best attributes is his accuracy. Luton did an excellent job taking care of the ball at Oregon State, throwing just seven interceptions over his final two seasons on 582 attempts. Luton has all the tools for the Eagles to work with as they try to develop a backup quarterback.
You can reach Eliot Shorr-Parks on Twitter at @EliotShorrParks or email him at esp@94wip.com!
