A Nod to the Defense in Eagles Mock Draft 1.0 from John McMullen
The NFL Scouting Combine is here and that means the mock-drafting season has officially kicked off so let's play pin the tail on the donkey and take our first stab at what the Eagles might be thinking.
The correct answer right now, of course, is not much because the combine itself will provide the organization with a lot of information, particularly the all-important medical evaluations and the pre-legal tampering at St. Elmo Steak House in Indianapolis will give Howie Roseman a better feel about who he can and can't keep in free agency.
But pointing out the exercise in futility any mock draft is at its core is no fun so let's pretend and provide some good cheer.
The Eagles start the 2023 draft process with only six picks and none between the third and seventh rounds.
More than likely, Roseman will try to trade back to add some middle-round picks but version 1.0 is about standing pat and revealing concepts and positions that should interest Philadelphia
Round 1, No. 10 - Illinois CB Devon Witherspoon - The smart money says the Eagles aren't going to be able to keep James Bradberry after an All-Pro level season. Philadelphia now realizes how having two top-tier outside cornerbacks helps the defense and will look to replicate what it had with Darius Slay and Bradberry by selecting Witherspoon, a physical, confident corner with length.
Remember that the Eagles would have taken either Jaycee Horn or Patrick Surtain in 2021 had either been in the mix so Roseman had already shifted this position to the highest levels when it comes to valuation.
Round 1, No. 30 - Kansas State edge rusher Felix Anudike-Uzomah - There is a lot of uncertainty after Haason Reddick and Josh Sweat on the edges and the Eagles like to come at opposing offenses in waves so getting another young edge rusher makes sense. Anudike-Uzomah has the Sweat-like length coupled with the quick-twitch ability to win right away which is big in the modern NFL when the football gets out so quickly.
Round 2 - No. 62 - UCLA RB Zach Charbonnet - The only way Miles Sanders is coming back is if the market completely crashes for him. Charbonnet is one of the value-backs in a deep class who could turn into a starter early in his career. A north-south runner who packs a punch at 220 pounds, Charbonnet could complement what Kenny Gainwell provides.
Round 3 - No. 94 - Michigan DT Mazi Smith - You know the Roseman default setting by now and with Linval Joseph, Ndamukong Suh, and either Fletcher Cox or Javon Hargrave likely moving on the Eagles need talented bodies to join Jordan Davis and Milton WIlliams on the interior of the defensive line. Smith is a 335-pound athlete who has a great three-cone time and the short-area quickness he provides is something Philadelphia can build on.
Round 7 - No. 221 - Michigan State S Xavier Henderson - Henderson is smart and instinctive but isn't going to wow you with the stopwatch. The Eagles are likely going to lose a safety so adding one as a developmental player as an insurance plan for Reed Blankenship and/or K'Von Wallace should be on the day planner.
Round 7 - No. 250 - Kentucky IOL Tashawn Manning - You always want to give Jeff Stoutland someone to work with and Manning is a powerful player who could start to flourish if he can improve his technique, footwork, and surfacing of blocks.
Getting Manning up to speed in the outside/outsize zone could be a worthy two- or three-year project.
-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen
