2020 NFL Mock Draft: Eagles already projected to take another Penn State player

There are just 360 days until the 2020 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 23. We’re going to kill some time until then with our weekly Mock Draft Monday series.

Just kidding, this isn’t going to be a regular feature until some point in January or February next year.

But we are going to look at a couple of 2020 NFL mock drafts because, well, why not. First up is this pick from SB Nation’s Dan Kadar:

24. Philadelphia Eagles: Isaiah Simmons, S/LB, Clemson

Simmons is an athletic, hybrid defender who is comfortable at linebacker and safety. With Nigel Bradham’s pending free agency, Simmons could play on the weak side for the Eagles.

The Eagles could very well have a big need at linebacker at this point next year ... especially considering it’s a position they could still afford to address right now.

Bradham actually isn’t scheduled to be a free agent in 2020 but he does have an option the Eagles will need to make a decision on by March 12. Philadelphia can save $4.465 million (compared to $5.3 million in dead money) by declining Bradham’s option and letting him become a free agent.

The Eagles will obviously have to do something at linebacker if Bradham isn’t retained. But it’s probably a safe bet to say it won’t involve drafting a first-round player at that position. Howie Roseman has been in charge for nine drafts and eight of them ended up with Philly taking a lineman or a quarterback.

Last year at this time, Kadar had the Eagles taking Clemson offensive tackle Mitch Hyatt at No. 31. Hyatt ended going up undrafted, so you can see just how useful these mocks can be. But, hey, Kadar did correctly project the position that Philly ended up taking this year.

Here’s another 2020 selection from The Draft Network:

23. Yetur Gross-Matos, EDGE, Penn State

The 6-foot-5, 270 pound edge defender in Happy Valley recorded 20 (TWENTY!) tackles for loss in his first season as a starter last year. Good luck saying his name, and good luck blocking him. He’s a stud.

What a great name.

Taking this dude would continue the Penn State-to-Philly pipeline that really opened up this year with the Eagles drafting both Miles Sanders and Shareef Miller in addition to reportedly signing Ryan Bates and DeAndre Thompkins in undrafted free agency.

The Eagles could easily use another young edge rusher with Brandon Graham turning 32 next April and Vinny Curry set to be a free agent after this season.

So, what do you think. Who do you already have your eyes on for the Eagles next year?