Eagles Seven-round Mock Draft: What if the Birds trade back?

The sixth pick in the draft. You could do a lot of damage with that pick. No, I'm not talking about picking a player there. The total value, according to Rich Hill, is 446 on the traditional Draft chart. Teams in the lower half of the draft would need to give up some serious capital to move up to the sixth pick, and that's something that the Eagles should definitely explore.

You could argue at least three teams in the lower half (Washington, Chicago, New York Jets [if they don't draft a QB at 2]) need answers at the QB position in 2021. Could the Eagles swindle a trade with one of them to set themselves up for present and future success?

I don't foresee the Eagles allowing Washington to find their franchise QB at six, no matter the compensation. The Jets will most likely find their answer at QB with the second pick.

Eagles trade with the Bears?

No Trubisky. Foles has two years left on his deal but can be cut after 2021 and $7 million can be saved on the 2022 cap. With Tyler Bray as the only other QB on the roster, they need an answer for the future.

Ryan Pace needs to make a splash at the position. After the team passed on Watson and Mahomes, they need to hit on a drafted QB badly.

The Eagles, knowing that their cap-strapped situation will limit them in the immediate future, call them up to propose a deal that gets Chicago their QB and allows the Eagles to still get an offensive weapon and prepare themselves for the 2022 season. (No, I'm not totally giving up on 2021... yet).

The Trade

Eagles send #6 (446 value), 2022 third-round pick

Bears send #20, #52, #83 (430 value) and 2022 first round pick (valued 1000-184).

Why the Bears do this

As stated above, the Bears need to hit on a QB. In this scenario and Justin Fields is available at 6. With Carolina lurking at 8 to select a QB, Chicago jumps at the opportunity. It may seem like an overpay for them to move to #6 and lose all 1st-3rd round picks, but when you have a shot at getting your guy, you take it.

The Jets traded the sixth overall pick, two seconds that year and one from the next in 2018 to move up #3 to draft Sam Darnold.

In 2012, the Redskins traded three first-round picks and a second to move up from 6 to 2. While the Eagles could certainly make the case for more picks from the Bears, this should be enough to get it done.

Why the Eagles do this

Can you imagine the pitchforks lining up outside the NovaCare if this is announced? The opportunity to draft a major playmaker in Kyle Pitts, DeVonta Smith, or Jaylen Waddle is RIGHT THERE (Chase is gone in this scenario) and they trade down?!

This team is nowhere close to competing for a division crown in 2021 in my opinion and have major needs at WR, DB, OL, EDGE, LB.. should I keep going? In order to shorten the "rebuild" timeline, they need to make drastic moves.

This move gives them at the very least, two firsts and two seconds in 2022 (Colts trade). If/when Wentz hits the requirements for the conversion from second to first-round pick, the Eagles then have three picks in the first round of the 2022 draft. Expedite that rebuild.

With players like Derek Stingley, Justyn Ross, and Kayvon Thibodeaux in the mix for top picks in the 2022 draft, the Eagles could position themselves to get a couple of those names in midnight green in 2022.

Trading back to 20, and also adding another second and third-round pick, still allows them to stay in the area of a major playmaker for Jalen Hurts and the Eagles offense.

Let's take a look at this mock, shall we? (Save your yelling for after)

Continued on the page below.

Round 1: Pick 20 (via Chicago) - Rashod Bateman - Minnesota - WR

A year after missing out on Justin Jefferson, why not grab the next best thing?

Scouts have questioned Bateman's speed, but he silenced those critics by running a 4.39 laser-timed 40-yard dash at the EXOS combine. The turf is different than the Lucas Oil Stadium turf (where the actual combine is held) so you'd have to add around .03-.05 to that time but that leaves him at a 4.42-4.44 40. Still very fast.

Bateman excels at routes and his catch radius is one that would be very welcomed by Jalen Hurts:

Sirianni loves for his wide receivers to be able to block, and Bateman is excellent in that regard. Running Miles Sanders to Bateman's side could lead to big plays.

As the tweet stated above, there will always be that one receiver left out of the "top WR" discussion that excels in year one. With all the hype around Chase, Smith, and Waddle, Bateman could make a strong case for WR1 among them in Philly.

Round 2 Pick 37: - Levi Onwuzurike - Washington - DT

Malik Jackson is a cut candidate (his contract restructure makes it a near certainty) while Fletcher Cox is entering his age-31 season and can actually be cut post-June 1st to save $16 million in 2021 or cut post-June 1 in 2022 to save $17 million (no, I do not think he'll be cut).

Javon Hargrave will look to build off his strong finish to 2020, Raequan Williams and T.Y. McGill will look to get more playing time, and Hassan Ridgeway is a free agent.

Widely viewed as DT2 behind Christian Barmore, Onwuzurike has a chance to put himself into first-round consideration with a strong Pro Day.

The Eagles suffered greatly in the run defense department in 2020, an area that Onwuzurike can help in.

It won't take long in watching tape of the young DT for you to be impressed:

He has great ability with his hands and has enough agility to move across the line and plug up the holes.

Even without Jim Schwartz, the Eagles would be wise to keep their DL rotations to keep the players fresh. A rotation of Cox, Hargrave, McGill, Williams, and Onwuzurike would terrorize opposing offensive lines.

Round 2 Pick 52 (via Chicago): - Jabril Cox - LSU - LB

Have ya seen the linebacker play in 2020? Yeah...

The Eagles may have to reach a bit to get their guy, although after Pro Days are done, this may be just the right spot.

While many fans may want a traditional MIKE here, the Eagles have one in T.J. Edwards. Even Alex Singleton can provide some MIKE value although he's better suited at SAM or WILL.

Jabril Cox provides the athleticism the Eagles haven't had in a linebacker since Mychal Kendricks. He's possibly the best coverage linebacker in the draft and provides an immediate boost to tight end and running back coverage, something #47 was very bad at.

Tired of seeing opposing tight ends have career days against your defense? Draft Jabril Cox.

Round 3 Pick 70: - Ifeatu Melifonwu - Syracuse - CB

6'2" 212 lbs. Quickness. Fluid hips - Everything the Eagles need in a boundary corner. That's Ifeatu Melifonwu.

After not having much press on him throughout the season (because who really pays attention to Upstate NY [I went to school in upstate NY so back off]), Melifonwu made sure people knew who he was after the Senior Bowl.

He's physical. He can tackle. He can cover. What more do you want?

Round 3 Pick 83 (via Chicago): - Cameron McGrone - Michigan - LB

Two years in a row of picking two linebackers in the same draft? Who are these Eagles?

Yeah, I know, I mentioned TJ Edwards before, but the value of McGrone at this spot is too good to pass up.

At 6'1" 230 lbs, the guy has some serious size to provide some pop and still has the athleticism to sit back in coverage and perform well.

He's a hell of a blitzer and if you have a LB group of Singleton, McGrone, and Cox, there will be a lot of bumps and bruises on opposing offenses.

Round 3 Pick 84: (via Indianapolis) - Deonte Brown - Alabama - IOL

Have you seen this guy? He's a monster.

6'3" 364 lbs. WOW.

He's a guard-only prospect, but that's ok since the Eagles need some depth there. With Brandon Brooks and Isaac Seumalo coming off injury, and almost all ineptitude behind them, the team desperately needs adequate depth.

With a guy that size, there will be some questions regarding mobility. But I doubt Jeff Stoutland will complain about getting a guy like Brown to coach up.

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Round 4 Pick 151: - Jermar Jefferson - Oregon St. - RB

Miles Sanders had some explosive plays in 2020, why not add a complementary back who could do the same?

Jermar Jefferson is as compact as they come at 5'9" 215 lbs, but that doesn't keep him from making play after play after play. He may never be a bell cow, but the Eagles don't need him to be.

While not the fastest guy out there, his ability to make crisp cuts on a dime allows him to rack up the yardage in bunches. The Eagles need a capable running back behind Sanders, and while Scott is a nice guy.. he's not it...unless it's against the Giants.

Jefferson could be the "Nyheim Hines" to Sanders' "Marlon Mack/Jonathan Taylor" for Coach Sirianni. That would be deadly for opposing defenses.

Round 5 Pick 157: (via Dallas) - Jaelon Darden - North Texas - WR

If you don't know who Darden is, you better get quickly acquainted.

The Eagles' kick returning game was putrid in 2020. Boston Scott was fifth in the league with 28 returns, but averaged 21.1 yards per return (11th out of 13 players with 20 or more returns).

Darden is the human version of a joystick. His ability to change direction and leave defenders in the dust is something the Eagles desperately need.

Tired of seeing Greg Ward on screens? Enter Darden.

Tired of seeing end-arounds end up for a loss? Enter Darden.

While his routes need work, his determination and work ethic will allow him to improve in that area very quickly.

An offense featuring Bateman, Reagor, Sanders, and Darden is fast.

Round 6 Pick 191: - Drake Jackson - Kentucky - IOL

It's entirely possible (and likely) that Jackson isn't available at this point. But you know what? It's my mock. I do what I want.

Jackson is one of the top center prospects in this class, but he's just that: a center. This is a huge reason why his stock isn't as high as other interior linemen.

Despite the limitation to one position, Jackson does that position very well. He's not the strongest linemen out there, but his low base and his ability to anchor allows him to block the toughest of defensive tackles.

With Jason Kelce (another sixth-round Eagles center) set to retire any day now, the Eagles would be wise to draft his eventual replacement. While Seumalo or Driscoll may slide into that spot immediately, Jackson could be the center for the next ten years.

Round 6 Pick 220: - Chris Rumph II - Duke - EDGE

BG, Barnett (maybe), and Josh Sweat. Those are your top edge rushers on the roster.

Joe Ostman has promise, if given the opportunity, and the team also has Matt Leo on the roster ("who?"). The Eagles have moved Genard Avery to his more natural position at linebacker, so they need some more edge rushers.

Chris Rumph II is built like a basketball player at 6'3" 225 lb, so he'll need to bulk up some to be a true force on the DL but the man has so much raw ability it's insane.

His mobility and his speed allowed him to beat some of the best OL prospects in the country routinely.

If the Eagles could unlock his true potential, they'll have themselves an absolute gem of a defensive end.

(Yeah I know that's a Bills' tweet)

Round 7 Pick 228: Christian Uphoff - Illinois State - S

Many prospects go unnoticed throughout the season due to the league they play in, which is the case for some of the top FCS products.

Illinois State's Christian Uphoff may be a stranger to many Eagles fans, but if you watched the Senior Bowl you know plenty about him.

Named the SB's top safety on the National team by the team's QB and WR groups, Uphoff has the skills to be a productive safety in the NFL.

While those skills need to be honed in, I have no doubt he can be a real contributor for the Eagles. He'll be regulated to special teams duty at first, but don't be surprised if he plays his way to a fourth safety role behind K'Von Wallace, Grayland Arnold, and Rodney McLeod (when he returns).

As a kick returner, he averaged 27.1 yards per return on 34 kick returns.

Are you still yelling at me? Yes? Oh... sorry. I tried.

Note: All players drafted were available at time of selection on The Draft Network's mock draft simulator. So save your "LoLz He WoN't Be ThErE"

Photo by James Black/Icon Sportswire