From Eagles’ perspective, it’ll take work to land top-three receiver
To the surprise of no one, there were issues Monday during the dry run for the upcoming first NFL draft via teleconference.
How bad were the problems?
The draft will go as scheduled with the first round Thursday, the second and third rounds Friday and the final four rounds Saturday.
Exactly what teams actually learned from the practice lottery are state secrets to be kept under wraps until anonymous sources blame the bad decisions they will make on a process they’ve had plenty of time to study and get comfortable with.
There was even an attempt to bash the Cincinnati Bengals, who have the first pick for causing a delay of the exercise,
ESPN mouthpiece Adam Schefter tweeting “Text from a participant on the NFL’s mock draft that started at 1 pm EST. Mock draft today already technical glitch w Cincinnatis 1st pick!!! Brutal.”
Locally, what Eagles fans need to know is it’s going to take resources their team really cannot afford to burn to move into range for speedster Henry Ruggs III, who makes the most sense for them.
Ruggs would make any team’s draft, and not just because he plays as fast as the 4.27-second 40-yard dash he ran at the combine. The guy has big-time hands, moves and a gift for finishing. Ruggs’ first five catches for Alabama resulted in touchdowns. Think that opened the offense up for his teammates?
That said, wide receiver Jerry Jeudy of Alabama is almost as explosive and probably more instinctive running routes. He has the vision of a running back and is a finisher.
The Eagles would be high-fiving themselves via a group text message if they got Ruggs, Jeudy or Oklahoma receiver CeeDee Lamb, who got his numbers in a Big 12 Conference that plays All-Star level defense.
Standing in their way for Ruggs are the Las Vegas Raiders, the Denver Broncos
and the Minnesota Vikings, among other teams.
Both of the Raiders’ first-round picks (12 and 19) are easier to deal than the 21st overall selection held by the Eagles. The Vikings own the 22nd and 25th choices, the Broncos No. 15.
Unless the Eagles are going to add tight end Zach Ertz to a deal or get rid of their assets in 2021, they can’t compete with that capital.
What the Eagles must do is hit on more than half of their eight draft picks, a list that includes a secondrounder, a third-rounder and three fourth-round picks on the final day of the draft.
Did we mention the Miami Dolphins have three first-round picks, the Jacksonville Jaguars and San Francisco 49ers two each?
Eagles general manager Howie Roseman and the revamped scouting and football operations staff are on the clock.
That said, here’s a look at how the first round of the draft could fall with only a hint of trades:
1. BENGALS » Joe Burrow, QB, LSU. Forget the small hands. Burrow threw 60 TD passes last season and he’s big enough to last the season.
2. REDSKINS » Chase Young, DE, Ohio State. New head coach Ron Rivera might listen to offers for this pick but let’s be honest, this is a nobrainer. Best of luck to the NFC East as it tries to block Young.
3. LIONS » Justin Herbert, QB, Oregon. The Dolphins trade up here to grab Herbert, a Carson Wentz knockoff with touch who can stay healthy.
4. GIANTS » Isaiah Simmons,
LB, Clemson. He’s the Saquon Barkley on the defensive side of the ball in this year’s draft.
5. DOLPHINS » Jeffrey Okudah, CB, Ohio State. The Lions’ pick from the trade. Okudah is a shutdown corner.
6. CHARGERS » Tua Tagovailoa, QB, Alabama. Tagovailoa throws the best ball in the draft. The red flag is a medical. When Tagovailoa isn’t on the field you know he’s having surgery.
7. PANTHERS » Derrick Brown, DT, Auburn. Not an elite interior pass rusher but he collapses the pocket and stops the run.
8. CARDINALS » CeeDee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma. Cards and quarterback Kyler Murray want Lamb, who does something new every time he gets the ball.
9. JAGUARS » Jerry Jeudy, WR, Alabama. An exceptional player who makes the tough catches look easy.
10. BROWNS » Henry Ruggs III, WR, Alabama. The Raiders trade into this spot and for good reason – Ruggs is DeSean Jackson without the injuries.
11. JETS » Tristan Wirfs, OT, Iowa. Joe Douglas entertains offers but stays with one of the safest picks in the draft.
12. RAIDERS » Andrew Thomas, OT, Georgia. This is the Browns’ selection via trade and it’s between Thomas and Mekhi Becton.
13. 49ERS » C.J. Henderson, CB, Florida. If they don’t trade out, Henderson would be an excellent pick.
14. BUCCANEERS » Mekhi Becton, OT, Louisville. Becton (6-7, 364) is the oneman village the Bucs need to protect Tom Brady.
15. BRONCOS » Jedrick Willis, OT, Alabama. Unless the Broncos move up it’s between Willis and linebacker Kenneth Murray.
16. FALCONS » Javon Kinlaw, DT, South Carolina. His big first step and size (6-5 and 325 pounds) are just what the Falcons need.
17. COWBOYS » K’Lavon Chaisson, DE, LSU. Superfast pass rusher the Eagles aren’t going to want to block twice a year.
18. DOLPHINS » Austin Jackson, OT, USC. A bit of a reach but the Dolphins have a bit of a need at tackle.
19. RAIDERS » Kenneth Murray, LB, Oklahoma. He’s a downhill-tackling machine although let’s not forget, any tackler stands out in the Big 12.
20. JAGUARS » Yetur GrossMatos, DE, Penn State. A lot of potential in this prospect for a Jaguars club that almost certainly won’t keep disgruntled pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue.
21. EAGLES » Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU. Still not sold on this guy because Burrow made everybody look good. Jefferson had 18 TD grabs and averaged 13.9 yards on a team-leading 111 catches in the slot. Ja’Marr Chase had 20 TD receptions and averaged 21.2 yards per grab playing outside.
22. VIKINGS » Denzel Mims, WR, Baylor. Mims has speed, good hands and a penchant for making easy catches look tough.
23. SAINTS » Patrick Queen, LB, LSU. If he wasn’t 6-foot, this sideline-to-sideline talent would be the first linebacker to come off the board.
24. PATRIOTS » Grant Delpit, S, LSU. A real Patriots pick. Delpit had a good, not a great 2019 season playing on a high-ankle sprain. In 2018 he was a star.
25. VIKINGS » A.J. Terrell, CB, Clemson. You can’t have enough tall corners, and the Vikings just parted with Xavier Rhodes.
26. DOLPHINS » Kristian Fulton, CB, LSU. The Fish could trade out of this pick and collect a running back on the second day.
27. SEAHAWKS » Jeff Gladney, CB, TCU. Tenacious, productive and versatile, the Seahawks can figure out where to play him unless they trade down or go with a workhorse running back like D’Andre Swift.
28. RAVENS » A.J. Epenesa, DE, Iowa. Sturdy and reliable, he can play in a 4-3 or a 3-4 alignment.
29. TITANS » Jaylon Johnson, CB, Utah. They need help at cornerback more than receiver. Offensive tackle Ezra Cleveland also would be an intriguing pick.
30. PACKERS » Xavier McKinney, S, Alabama. He plays everywhere but with a 4.63 in the 40, lacks the speed you’d like in the back end.
31. 49ERS » Tee Higgins, WR, Clemson. A lot of upside with this long, playmaking target.
32. CHIEFS » D’Andre Smith, RB, Georgia. This guy can contribute in a lot of ways for the Super Bowl champs.