NFL Mock Draft 2018: Eagles trade out of the first round

There are only 17 days until the 2018 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 26. Just two and a half weeks to go! Until the big day gets here, we’re going to kill some time with our weekly Mock Draft Monday series. (For more mock draft madness, check out Saturday’s roundup.)

Last week, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar had the Eagles taking a potential slot cornerback at No. 32. Kadar has the Eagles potentially taking the same player this week but not at the same draft slot. He’s projecting Philadelphia to trade out of the first round.

TRADE: 32. Indianapolis Colts (via Philadelphia Eagles): Isaiah Wynn, G, Georgia

For all the talk of the Colts taking Nelson with the sixth pick, they could easily parachute back into the first round to get a player like Wynn. With three second-round picks, the Colts shouldn’t hesitate to give up No. 36 and No. 67 to come and get a starting offensive lineman.

The Eagles, meanwhile, can still find a good cornerback at the top of the second round, like Louisville’s Jaire Alexander.

Getting picks No. 36 and No. 67 from the Colts would be really good value for Philadelphia. The standard NFL draft pick value chart has selection No. 32 worth 590 points. The combined value of No. 36 and No. 67, meanwhile, is 795 points. Kadar obviously has the Colts being overly aggressive with their picks since Indy has a lot early on.

Based on NFL trade history, the price of the No. 32 pick is roughly worth an early second and an early fourth. It’s hard to expect the Eagles would realistically receive a trade offer like this one from the Colts, then.

With that said, all it takes is one team to get desperate. One team picking early in the second-round could be looking to move up in order to get their player locked into a contract with the fifth-year option that is standard for first-round picks.

Though I don’t expect the Eagles to be blown away with an overpay for No. 32, you can never say never with Howie Roseman at the helm. He could find a way to work his magic.

As for the pick itself, I explained last week why I wouldn’t be opposed to Philadelphia selecting Alexander with their first pick. Getting a good slot corner who can also be a weapon on punt returns would kill two birds with one stone for the Eagles. (As long as Eagles aren’t the bird being killed.)

I have been thinking lately about how anticlimactic it’ll be if/when the Eagles do move down from No. 32. We’ll potentially be waiting until around midnight just to see the team not even make a pick.

If you’re gonna do that, Eagles, at least make a trade that people can get excited about, value-wise.