NFL Mock Draft 2019: Eagles trade Nick Foles to Raiders to move up to No. 4 overall

We interrupt the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2019 NFL Playoff run to bring you an interesting mock draft scenario I recently stumbled across.

Trevor Sikkema of The Draft Network has the Eagles trading Nick Foles AND their first 2019 first-round pick to move up to No. 4 overall to select Alabama defensive tackle Quinnen Williams.

What quarterback Nick Foles is doing for the Eagles for the second season in a row is incredible, but they’re just not going to give up on Carson Wentz. He is still the guy no matter how far Foles goes — I think?

Foles will turn 30 years old this month, but as we’ve seen from around the NFL, early 30s can be where a quarterback really hits his stride — Foles certainly seems to be. Tell me Jon Gruden wouldn’t pull the trigger on this deal to get a veteran, playoff-winning quarterback while also acquiring more draft picks for new GM Mike Mayock.

Foles’ contract includes both a team and player opt in/out this offseason. On the Eagles’ side, they can choose to sign Foles for $20 million guaranteed for one more year. For Foles, he can choose to pay back $2 million of his signing bonus and be a unrestricted free agent, regardless of the team’s desires. Foles will likely do that latter, as it could allow him to sign for more money on the open market. But Eagles’ GM Howie Roseman is a heckin’ wizard, and perhaps he can convince Foles to signed and get $20 million guaranteed while promising to trade him to a team of interest that would likely sign him to an extension.

Likely? No, but the Eagles will do whatever they can to get something out of Foles. Perhaps this is it.

Anyways, Philly sees their chance to get the best interior defensive lineman in the draft (a need), they make the call, they get Quinnen.

To be honest, I have no idea what the future holds for Foles, especially if the Eagles keep winning in the playoffs. The most recent word is that the Eagles plan to trade Foles this offseason and they’re expected to have a quality market for him.

Assuming Jon Gruden isn’t high on Derek Carr, the Raiders could make sense as an Eagles trade partner given that they have five first-round picks over the next two years. Former Eagles preseason broadcaster and current Raiders general manager Mike Mayock, a Philly native, is obviously very familiar with Foles.

As for the pick itself, the thought of adding Williams to this Eagles defensive line is exciting. The 6-4, 298 pound redshirt sophomore logged 71 total tackles, 19.5 tackles for loss, eight sacks, and one pass deflection in 2018. Putting him next to Fletcher Cox feels unfair. The Eagles would have two absolute beasts on the interior.

Scouting report via The Draft Network:

PROS: Exceptional power and violence in his hands. Displaces blockers with power and is almost never pushed around. Controls exchanges at the line of scrimmage with terrific hand placement and torque. Terrific job processing his keys and attacking, difficult to reach in the run game. Drops anchor vs. doubles and rarely gets displaced despite his size.

Despite playing from a square stance, still shows a quick first step off the snap. Reaction timing to the snap is excellent, quickly finds his opponent’s edge and shows the power and flexibility to turn tight corners to the pocket. Quick-footed, will lull blockers to sleep and then burst by them.

Wide array of rush moves. Rips, clubs, snatches, swims are all used frequently. Can challenge interior offensive linemen on their edge or with power on a bull rush. If left 1v1, victories are frequent. Reads pass sets and does a great job of showing hands to force linemen to overextend to get into his frame, then swipes and flashes by them. Works hard and physicality is a strength.

The Eagles certainly have a need at defensive tackle. Tim Jernigan doesn’t have any guaranteed money remaining in his contract after this season so the Eagles could look to move on from him. I’d think they’ll try to restructure his deal but it remains to be seen if both sides can come to an agreement. It might have to be a one-year “prove it (again)” contract. Elsewhere, 35-year-old Haloti Ngata is going to be a free agent and he could easily retire after this season.

SB Nation’s latest mock draft has the Eagles picking up defensive line help without trading up.

25. Philadelphia Eagles: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State

Brandon Graham and Chris Long are both free agents after the season, so the Eagles could look for a new edge rusher with their first-round pick. Sweat is a lanky pass rusher who brings speed around the corner. He needs to bulk up a little in the NFL, but he should be productive straight away at getting after the quarterback.

The 2019 NFL Draft is loaded with d-line talent and the Eagles (correctly) prefer to build through the trenches so it won’t be surprising if that’s the pick at No. 32 overall.