The offseason is upon us, Eagles fans, and that can only mean one thing: “the Houston Texans are on the clock.”
If you’re not familiar with that phrase, then let me be the first to introduce you to the NFL Draft. Starting on May 8 and ending on May 10, the NFL Draft allows teams to choose college football stars for their teams through seven rounds of selections. One of the biggest and most anticipated annual events of the year, the NFL Draft has become a spectacle of sorts, taking place each and every year at the Radio City Music Hall in New York.
This year, after finishing their season with a 10-6 record and a loss in the playoffs, the Phiadelphia Eagles will have the 22nd selection in the draft. Though they played phenomenally down the stretch, the Eagles most certainly still have major holes to fill via the draft.
The question, then, is who do the Eagles choose?
There is no guarantee as to who will be available once the Eagles are on the clock, but there are certainly more than a handful of prospects that Philadelphia would love to select to help make this deadly team even more dangerous. With the recent success they have had in the NFL Draft, Philadelphia will hope to keep their lucky streak going.
Out of all the positions the Eagles have to fill, the most notable, according to fans and analysts alike, seems to be the safety position. Luckily for Philadelphia, there are two stud safeties in this draft that could make this defense a force to be reckoned with.
The first safety that many are talking about as a fit for the Eagles is Alabama’s HaHa Clinton-Dix. Clinton-Dix is an animal on the field, helping make Alabama’s defense one of the best in all of college football.
In his final season playing for Alabama, Clinton-Dix finished with 52 tackles, two picks, and six pass breakups. Clinton-Dix is expected to be chosen quite early in the draft, maybe not even escaping the first half of the first round, but if the Eagles are able to get their hands on him, whether it be through trade or Clinton-Dix miraculously falling, Philadelphia will be all over this safety.
Over in Louisville resides Calvin Pryor, the other star safety coming into this NFL Draft who has made quite the impression as of late. Pryor might not be as big a name as Clinton-Dix is, but make no mistake about it: this kid can play.
Pryor finished his past season with 75 tackles, three interceptions, four pass deflections, and two forced fumbles. Known for his hard-hitting style, Pryor comes at his opponents with a fury that is unmatched. Not only can Pryor hit, though, but he is also able to play coverage extremely well.
Pryor has been shooting up draft boards as of late, maybe more so than any other player in college football, so the Eagles might have to work on trading up to get him. Still, it would most likely be worth it for either one of these players. Safety is a glaring need for this team, and both Clinton-Dix and Pryor can set this position for years to come.
On the offensive side of the ball, the biggest need for the Eagles would have to be wide receiver. DeSean Jackson might be a great player, but he needs a wide receiver on the opposite side of the field to keep the defenses guessing. Lucky for Jackson, this draft class is stocked with talented receiving play-makers.
The best receiver in this draft, Sammy Watkins, is a lock for the first five-to-eight picks in the draft, so unless they make an absurd trade, Philadelphia will not be landing him. However, one name that stands out is Mike Evans.
Hailing from Texas A&M, this 6’5” receiver is one of the bigger targets in the draft, making him a hot commodity. With Nick Foles making strides at quarterback, Evans could be a perfect receiver to take Foles to the next level. Usually, the Eagles have smaller receivers on their team, such as Jackson, Jeremy Maclin, or Jason Avant. Evans would be a nice change-of-pace and a true playmaker for this offense.
Another wide receiver rising up the ranks is LSU’s Odell Beckham Jr. Beckham finished his season with a solid line of 57 receptions, 1117 yards and eight touchdowns for the Tigers. If that was not enough, Beckham just proved his speed by running a 40-yard dash in 4.31 seconds, one of the fastest times in recent memory.
Beckham’s blazing speed and reliable hands are reminiscent of Jackson, and Beckham could be another dangerous vertical threat that the Eagles cherish. With Jackson, LeSean McCoy, and Beckham all on the field together at once, the Philadelphia offense would give opposing defenses nightmares for years to come.
The last wide receiver prospect to keep an eye on is USC’s Marquise Lee. The recipient of many accolades for his stellar career as a Trojan, Lee posted 791 yards off of 57 catches, as well as scoring four times. However, it is the season prior to this most recent one that catches much attention: in 2012, Lee caught 118 passes for 1721 yards and 14 touchdowns. It was one of the best seasons a wide receiver in college has had in recent memory.
Lee could be the best fit in the Eagles offense. Gifted with precise route-running skills, and praised for his off-the-field demeanor, Lee would give Foles a target to work over the middle of the field and keep defensive coordinators stumped as to how one can beat Philadelphia. With the Eagles picking 22nd overall, Lee will most likely still be on the board, and might be of too much value for the Eagles to pass up.
If Philadelphia can land any of the prospects mentioned, fans will surely be ecstatic with the pick. All of these young men possess the skills to bring Philadelphia even farther into the playoffs than they got this season. Whether it be on offense, or on defense, the Eagles will surely look to land one of these individuals.
In recent years, the Eagles have had much success in the NFL Draft. Players such as Foles, Brandon Boykin, and Mychal Kendricks have joined this team through the draft, and have gone on to become some of the Eagles best players. The draft may be a few months away still, but the Eagles are already on the prowl for their next playmaker.
Oliver Suskin-Santarelli is a fourth-year student majoring in communication studies. He can be reached at OS753461@wcupa.edu.