Eagles NFL Draft Preview: The Edge Rushers; Could Philly Trade Up for One?
PHILADELPHIA - The Philadelphia Eagles had three double-digit sacks players on their edges in the run to Super Bowl LVII last season: Defensive Player of the Year candidate Hasson Reddick, the emerging and underrated Josh Sweat, and veteran stalwart Brandon Graham.
Despite all that success, however, the Eagles wanted more with the original plan being 2017 first-round pick Derek Barnett being the final piece of an awe-inspiring wave until a torn ACL at Detroit in Week 1 scuttled that plan.
The next man up was Patrick Johnson in his sophomore season but the Tulane product wasn’t producing as Philadelphia wanted so Howie Rosman took a flyer on proven veteran Robert Quinn in advance of the trade deadline but knee surgery derailed that as Quinn went from an 18.5-sack player in 2021 with Chicago to just one in 2022 and that was with the Bears.
Barnett is still under contract and could be the answer as the fourth rotational pass rusher next season. He never lived up to the hype coming out of the University of Tennessee but Barnett should be a solid role player if he’s healthy.
The depth kind of falls off from there.
Janarius Robinson certainly looks the part but hasn’t gotten on the field with either Minnesota or the Eagles. Tarron Jackson was relegated to the practice squad after Quinn was brought in and Matt Leo is an aging International Pathway player.
Reddick’s backups at SAM are Patrick Johnson and Kyron Johnson, the former solid if unspectacular and the latter an undersized option who needs to carve out his niche on special teams.
The belief around the league is mission No. 1 with the Eagles at the top of the draft will be finding a difference-maker up front on the defensive side. Not only does Philadelphia need the final piece but Graham is 35 and on a one-year deal so an heir apparent would be nice.
DRAFT DAY BOTTOM LINE: Former NFL GM and current SiriusXM draft analyst Mark Dominik, a friend of Howie Roseman, has speculated that the Philadelphia personnel chief could trade up to get one of the perceived top three D-Line players – edge rushers Will Anderson of Alabama and Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech, as well as Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter.
Anderson, who could go as high as No. 2 to Houston, seems like a pipe dream with the Eagles starting at 10 but the other two could be in the mix in a targeted trade-up. Otherwise, the position is deep enough to get help in an around Nos. 10 and 30, which is where Roseman starts the process.
EAGLES EDGE RUSHER DEPTH CHART:
RDE - Josh Sweat; Derek Barnett; Matt Leo
LDE - Brandon Graham; Tarron Jackson; Janarius Robinson
Overhang/SAM - Haason Reddick; Patrick Johnson; Kyron Johnson
EAGLES TODAY TOP 10 (we asked three former NFL scouts for their top 10 at the position and came up with a cumulative list):
1. Will Anderson, Alabama
2. Tyree Wilson, Texas Tech
3. Nolan Smith, Georgia
4. Lukas Van Ness, Iowa
5. Myles Murphy, Clemson
6. Keion White, Georgia Tech
7. Will McDonald, Iowa State
8. Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern
9. BJ Ojulari, LSU
10. Felix Anudike-Uzomah, Kansas State
Sleeper - Nick Hampton, Appalachian State
Boom or Bust - Will McDonald, Iowa State
BUILDING THE PERFECT EDGE RUSHER
Pass rush - Will Anderson, Alabama - Anderson is more of an overhang player but has prototypical length, advanced hands, and solid footwork. He should be a double-digit sack guy early in his career.
Run support - Myles Murphy, Clemson - Murphy strikes me as an old-school base left end with a live body to do a little more than just set the edge.
First-step explosion - Andre Carter, Army - Carter needs to get in an NFL weight room and is a Day 3 pick but his get-off is first-round worthy.
Power - Keion White, Georgia Tech - White is thought of more highly by NFL teams than most draftniks realize and that’s why he was one of 17 players invited to attend the festivities in Kansas City. One reason for that is his power and functional football strength, which is already at a pro level.
Finisher - Will Anderson, Alabama - Anderson doesn’t just generate pressure he closes like Mariano Rivera as his 27.5 sacks over his final two college seasons attest to.
PRE-DRAFT PROCESS NOTES:
-The Eagles didn’t bother kicking the tires on Anderson or Wilson, very clean prospects that will require a trade-up to go get. The players Philadelphia focused on for top-30 visits were ones that could be available at 10 like Nolan Smith, Lukas Van Ness of Iowa, and Myles Murphy, or 30 like Will McDonald and. B.J. Ojulari.
Eastern Michigan’s Jose Ramirez is a potential late-round selection and had a virtual meeting while Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore is a player Roseman likes and didn’t need extra intell on after the combine. Adebawore could add an inside/outside versatility to the mix like Graham as a bridge pick on Day 1 or Day 2.
Eagles Potential Picks:
Day 1 - Nolan Smith, Georgia; Lukas Van Ness, Iowa; Myles Murphy, Clemson; BJ Ojulari, LSU’ Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern; Will McDonald, Iowa State
-Smith and Van Ness are probably the only options at No. 10 or with a targeted trade down a few spots. The rest could be in the mix at the end of the first round or bridge picks into the second with a trade down there. Murphy is probably the one prospect not quite good enough to go at No. 10 but too good to be in the mix in the 30 range.
Day 2 - BJ Ojulari, LSU; Adetomiwa Adebawore, Northwestern; Will McDonald, Iowa State
-If the Eagles are forced to go offensive line or cornerback early, you can almost guarantee an edge player in the bridge pick range with Adebawore as the preferable option.
Day 3 - Jose Ramirez, Eastern Michigan
-Ramirez would be an attempt to get a player with more pass-rushing skill as an overhang player to back up Reddick.
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-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
