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What would the Eagles' draft look like if they took a quarterback? The team obviously has a lot of needs, but the trade winds are blowing and rumors are swirling that Carson Wentz could be on the move. If that happens, the Eagles will almost certainly need to target a passer in the first round. I mingled with The Draft Network’s Simulator to see how that could play out.
Pick 6: Justin Fields, Quarterback, Ohio State
If Carson Wentz is truly out the door, Justin Fields taking his place is a dream scenario. While the NFL debates who the second-best quarterback in this class is, it’s pretty evident to me that it’s Justin Fields. Fields is a strong-armed, extremely accurate quarterback whose athleticism is a huge plus. Fields would be the clear-cut top quarterback in any other class and the Eagles would be lucky to land him at No. 6.
Pick 38: Asante Samuel Junior, Cornerback, Florida State
Wouldn’t this be fun? The Eagles desperately need another cornerback to play across Darius Slay and Asante Samuel Jr. would be a great answer to that problem. Samuel is a pure cover corner whose athleticism and ball skills make him a defensive asset. While his size and mediocre tackling ability will cause him to fall in the draft, the Eagles pass defense will be the benefactor.
Pick 70: Tylan Wallace, Wide Receiver, Oklahoma State
Getting offensive weapons is a priority no matter who is starting at quarterback. Tylan Wallace had first-round hype at one point but a production dip has hurt his stock. Wallace is still talented, however, and would bring his ability as a deep threat to boost the Eagles passing game.
Pick 149: Richard LeCounte III, Safety, Georgia
Richard LeCounte III makes a ton of sense for the Eagles. The Georgia safety is a tangy, athletic playmaker in the secondary whose aggressive style produced a ton of turnovers for the Georgia defense. While his big-play seeking is a double-edged sword, pairing his skillset with Jonathan Gannon feels like a perfect match.
Pick 153: Trey Sermon, Running Back, Ohio State
Trey Sermon is probably the best value pick at running back in the draft. The Sooner turned Buckeye doesn’t have a lot of tread on his tires and would bring a hard-running style to the Eagles backfield. Having him to spell Miles Sanders would give the Eagles a constant stream of playmakers in their backfield.
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Pick 187: Cade Johnson, Wide Receiver, South Dakota State
Cade Johnson is turning into a big draft crush. After a strong Senior Bowl week, I wonder if the SDSU deep threat will be valued much higher than the NFL. Facing FBS cornerbacks didn’t stop him from making plays in Mobile and there’s no reason to think he couldn’t become a valuable role player in the NFL.
Pick 221: Erroll Thompson, Linebacker, Mississippi State
Linebacker remains a need for the Eagles but, unfortunately, this is not the draft to need one. While there are some intriguing top prospects, the depth is mediocre at best. Erroll Thompson made a lot of plays down in Starkville but is an unspectacular player and athlete. However, his smarts and physicality could be valued on an Eagles defense that needs youth at linebacker.
Pick 230: DJ Daniel, Cornerback, Georgia
With Tyson Campbell, Eric Stokes, and Richard LeCounte III getting all the hype, DJ Daniel is being underrated as a contributor in the Georgia secondary. Daniel enjoyed a productive 2019 season but an ankle injury slowed him down last year and caused his draft stock to fall. After a strong week at the Senior Bowl, the Eagles should capitalize on his fall by drafting the technically skilled and physical cornerback.
Pick 256: Tarron Jackson, Edge, Coastal Carolina
Another late-round favorite, it’s hard not to think Tarron Jackson could end up as a defensive contributor early in his career. What Jackson lacks in length, he makes up for in motor, strength, and skill. The Eagles would be drafting a guy who plays 100 miles an hour at all times and could eventually play his way into the defensive line rotation.