Weekly Eagles Draft Simulation: Options for Philadelphia’s eight picks

Welcome to week seven of our Weekly Eagles Draft Simulation!! Last week, the Eagles were busy in free agency; signing nose tackle Javon Hargrave and safety Will Parks and trading for Darius Slay. While the team could be far from done, we are taking to The Draft Network’s draft simulator once again to see how this spring could turn out with the Eagles’ needs slightly evolving.

Round 1, Pick 21: AJ Epenesa, Edge, Iowa

Other Players Available:

• Yegur Gross-Matos, Edge, Penn State
• Jeff Gladney, Cornerback, TCU
• Josh Jones, Offensive Tackle, Houston

While all signs point to the Eagles needing a receiver in the first round, there was not one available that was worth taking over a player like AJ Epenesa. I am confident in Epenesa’s upside in the NFL and what he could do in the Eagles defensive line rotation. Of course, if the Eagles make a move this week for a certain star pass rusher … this pick will seem redundant.

Round 2, Pick 53: KJ Hamler, Wide Receiver, Penn State

Other Players Available:

• Donovan Peoples-Jones, Wide Receiver, Michigan
• AJ Terrell, Cornerback, Clemson
• Clyde Edwards-Helaire, Running Back, LSU

KJ Hamler will be welcomed in Philadelphia with open arms. The Penn State product has great quickness and speed that can win inside and out. Hamler will be an immediate contributor.

Round 3, Pick 103: Tyler Biadasz, Center, Wisconsin

Other Players Available:

• Alohi Gilman, Safety, Notre Dame
• Eno Benjamin, Running Back, ASU
• Van Jefferson, Wide Receiver, Florida

I would be surprised if Tyler Biadasz fell this far, but I certainly wouldn’t be opposed to drafting him. Biadasz is as solid an interior offensive lineman as they come. He is smart, experienced and was key in Wisconsin’s monster running game. Biadasz can play guard and center for the Eagles, making him the heir apparent to Jason Kelce.

Round 4, Pick 127: Bryan Edwards, Wide Receiver, South Carolina

Other Players Available:

• Antonio Gibson, Running Back, Memphis
• Brandon Jones, Safety, Texas
• Alton Robinson, Edge, Syracuse

Edwards is growing on me as a prospect. He is not flashy or a big time playmaker. But he is dependable, physical and makes clutch catches. The Eagles need all of those qualities on their offense with Alshon Jeffery likely on the outs. Edwards will immediately push for playing time, which is pretty damn good value in the fourth round.

Round 4, Pick 145: AJ Dillon, Running Back, Boston College

Other Players Available:

• Tyler Johnson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota
• Julian Blackmon, Safety, Utah
• Harrison Hand, Cornerback, Temple

Overkill? The Eagles likely have quite a dynamic running back duo next year with Miles Sanders and Boston Scott. However, if the Eagles want to stick to their habit of three running back rotations, Dillon makes for one hell of a third. Dillon is a freakishly good athlete despite weighing over 240 pounds. He is an old school running back who will grind down defenses with powerful running, good vision and dependability not to put the football on the ground. Letting Dillon take up the power back role in the Eagles offense is kinda too awesome to let not happen.

Round 4, Pick 145: Harrison Hand, Cornerback, Temple

Other Players Available:

• John Simpson, Guard, Clemson
• Tyler Johnson, Wide Receiver, Minnesota
• Julian Blackmon, Safety, Utah

This was a tough decision to make. However, the Eagles still need young players at cornerback with Jalen Mills moving to safety and Raul Douglas on the trade block. Harrison Hand is not only a home grown talent, but he has extremely high upside. Hand is very athletic with good size and plays with a chip on his shoulders. He is not exactly a ball hawk, but flashed really bright moments during his short time at Temple. He has the talent you take a chance on this late in the draft.

Round 5, Pick 168: Geno Stone, Safety, Iowa

Other Players Available:

• Khalil Davis, Defensive Tackle, Nebraska
• Harrison Bryant, Tight End, FAU
• Antoine Brooks Junior, Safety, Maryland

Geno Stone is not the flashiest safety in the class, but he was arguably one of the most dependable ones in college. Stone is not a great athlete, but he possesses everything above the shoulders to be a contributor on an NFL defense. Stone is extremely cerebral and plays with a lot of fire in his belly. He hits hard, but plays smart. He is very consistent in reading plays and attacking the ball before or just as it gets to its target. The biggest question with Stone is how his mental tools outweigh his middling athleticism, but it never really hampered him in college.

Round 6, Pick 166: Bravvion Roy, Defensive Tackle, Baylor

Other Players Available:

• JR Reed, Safety, Georgia
• Khalil Davis, Defensive Lineman, Nebraska
• Ke’shawn Vaughn, Running Back, Vanderbilt

The Eagles do not have great young depth at defensive tackle and Bravvion Roy would be a dependable two down defender early in his career. Roy is a huge lineman who eats up blockers and can ruin an interior running game. His upside is low, but he has a clear cut role on an NFL team.

Round 6, 190: Justin Strnad, Linebacker, Wake Forest

Other Players Available:

• Tanner Muse, Safety, Clemson
• Tyrie Cleveland, Wide Receiver, Florida
• Kendall Coleman, Edge, Syracuse

Justin Strnad was off to a strong start in 2019 before a ruptured bicep ended his season. The 6’3” linebacker has excellent movement skills for his size and thrived in coverage while at Wake Forest. Strnad won consistently with quickness and ability to diagnose plays and attack. He could improve as a run defender with inconsistency in sifting through traffic to get ball carriers. Strnad is also an experienced special teams player.