The Philadelphia Eagles lost their Super Bowl winning quarterback but may still be the favorites to win the NFC East as we look forward to the 2019 NFL Draft.
How many teams can say they lost a Super Bowl winning quarterback this offseason and likely won’t skip a beat? That is where the Philadelphia Eagles currently stand. With the NFL Draft less than a month away, the Eagles are fully committed to Carson Wentz long term. His back-up and the quarterback who took the team to the Super Bowl, Nick Foles, is now in Jacksonville. That was just one of the many moves that is shaping the 2019 Eagles roster.
The other include trading for their former receiver DeSean Jackson to add a speed element the team lacked. Defensively the loss of Tim Jernigan will be softened by the acquisition of Jaguars cast-off Malik Jackson. The team also brought back Vinny Curry to add to their exceptional defensive end rotation. This is a team that knows what it was missing last season and went out and addressed it.
As the draft nears the holes on the roster are clear. Jay Ajayi is still a free agent with Darren Sproles, leaving a hole at running back. Safety is a need as well with Malcolm Jenkins aging, Andrew Sendejo on a one year deal and no real options on the roster. Even wide receiver can be considered a need with a lack of depth behind their top three options.
This mock draft was done using The Draft Network’s mock draft machine and the site’s predictive big board. There are no trades in this mock draft, only the teams picking in their selective spots.
Round 1 – Pick 25
Nasir Adderley, S, Delaware
It is common place to see the Philadelphia Eagles draft Alabama running back Josh Jacobs with this selection. Jacobs is the best running back in the draft and the Eagles have a glaring hole in their backfield. Unfortunately the Oakland Raiders snagged Jacobs one pick before Philadelphia selected so he was off the board. Instead the Eagles would be wise to dip into the draft’s top end talent in the secondary. The back-end of round one is where a lot of talented defensive backs are going to be selected and Philadelphia should be one of the teams that takes one.
They would not even have to go far to grab the draft’s top safety. A short trip south would lead them to the University of Delaware and safety Nasir Adderley. A do-it-all safety, Adderley projects as a true difference maker on the back-end of a defense in the NFL. He did what small school prospects have to do to get round one consideration; dominate the competition. Adderley was impressive during his final season and throughout the post-season process.
Philadelphia would be an ideal place for him to land. He could start his career as a rotational safety who doubles as a nickle defender. That would allow Andrew Sendejo and Malcolm Jenkins to be the “starters” with Adderley playing to his strengths without being overextended. The NFL is a defensive back game and no team can ever have enough. Adderley is the best safety prospect in this draft and gives Philadelphia another building block in their secondary.