Bijan Robinson at No. 10? Ed Kracz Thinks so in His Eagles Mock Draft 1.0
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Like Chauncey Gardner-Johnson took a shot at Jonathan Gannon for not having players in the right positions during Super Bowl LVII, I’m blaming this on Howie Roseman.
He lit the fire that has burned out of control as I sat down to do my Eagles mock draft 1.0, and that burning bonfire is Bijan Robinson at No. 10.
That's my pick in my Eagles mock draft 1.0.
Yeah, yeah, the Eagles don’t take running backs in the first round. Haven’t done it since 1986 when Keith Byars was, ironically, the 10th overall pick.
Yeah, yeah, Roseman was 11 years old at the time.
His words from Tuesday, however, planted this seed.
It began with a question about Kenny Gainwell.
After talking up Gainwell’s skill set, Roseman added: “We've also seen in this league that you need more than one. It's hard to roll with just one running back in this league. I think we're happy with Kenny; we know also that he hasn't hit his ceiling yet.
“Obviously, he had a good playoff run, but it is a position we are going to continue to add at. We don't have a lot of guys under contract right now, so we will continue to look at players at that position and a lot of positions.”
Now, the Eagles could add a RB in the second or third rounds. It’s a deep draft class.
The return of Miles Sanders cannot be ruled out, either, though that feels like a long shot. The Eagles also have Trey Sermon, but Robinson?
The Texas running back is on another level completely.
If he is still there at 10, then he’s probably the best player available, and that is what the Eagles say their philosophy is all about.
Taking Robinson sort of screws up the rest of my mock draft – and to be perfectly honest, I believe Roseman will investigate a trade down into the teens - but I’m going to swing away here, just like the Eagles should do when they are on the clock and Robinson is available.
The rest of my Eagles mock draft 1.0:
FIRST ROUND
No. 30: Will McDonald, edge, Iowa State
Nick Sirianni has inside intel at Iowa State, knowing Cyclones head coach Matt Campbell well. One hedge on him is his age. He will turn 24 in June, but his production is off the charts with 34 sacks in 48 career games, including back-to-back 13-sack seasons in 2020 and 2021.
SECOND ROUND
No. 62: Cody Mauch, OL, North Dakota State
Mauch can play all five positions on the offensive line, just like Isaac Seumalo could do when he was taken in the third round of the 2016 draft. The Eagles went O-line here last year in the second round with Cam Jurgens and do so again here.
THIRD ROUND
No. 94: Ji’Ayir Brown, DB, Penn State
Here’s what NFL draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said last week about Brown, who had 4.5 sacks and four interceptions last season:
“He is my top safety in the entire draft. He has corner skill. He can play in the middle of the field. He has ball production. You can drop him down low if you want. He is tough. He is physical.
“…He can cover tight ends. He can do everything. He is a really good player. He is one of my favorite guys to watch in this draft, and everything I've heard about him character-wise is off the charts.”
Sold.
SEVENTH ROUND
No. 221: Trey Dean, Safety, Florida
Roseman is a Florida GM, so why not? There’s more to the 6-3, 200-pound Dean than that, and he may be gone by now based on his size and production 4.5 sacks and four interceptions during his time with the Gators.
No. 250: Jacky Chen, OT, Pace
A 6-4, 300-pound developmental prospect for Jeff Stoutland.
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Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles Today and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglestoday.com and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.
