It's about half past eight on a Thursday night in Delaware and I've received the alert that the Philadelphia Eagles have traded a 2020 sixth-round pick, with the potential to be a fifth-round pick, to the Chicago Bears in exchange for Jordan Howard. It's the one running back that made the most sense to me this entire off-season for the Eagles to acquire. As a team that is so ready to be a running back by committee front, the Eagles now have a well-rounded option at the running back position after Darren Sproles has moved on. The depth chart currently reads Howard, Boston Scott, Wendell Smallwood, Josh Adams, and Corey Clement. There are five running backs that have showed their hand in the past two years for the Eagles, with mixed success.
The big picture is that we are just under a month removed from the 2019 National Football League draft. The real question we have to ask ourselves is just how the acquisition of Howard changes the draft picks in question. On my ride home from Havertown, Pennsylvania this evening to Wilmington, Delaware, I conducted my own research to provide you my first display of a 2019 NFL mock draft for the Eagles. The Eagles have seven picks in the 2019 NFL draft. These opinions are my own, so I look forward to the discussion! (Continued in the pages below)
Round 1: Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss
In the first round, I am going for the offensive tackle of the future. Yes, the Philadelphia Eagles just signed Jason Peters back this season, which is exactly the reason I think it is time to pull the trigger on a good prospect like Greg Little. With the defensive linemen he has been exposed to in the SEC, film shows that Little has held his own in such a strong conference. He has never missed a game while at Ole Miss, was a freshman All-American, and named All-SEC in his sophomore and junior years. That is the mark of a tough, talented, reliable, can't miss first round pick who is a top fifty prospect in the 2019 NFL draft. That's at any position in the game of football!
Round 2: Elgton Jenkins, C/G, Mississippi State
Versatility is key and so is the protection of Carson Wentz. At Mississippi State, Jenkins has played just about every position on the offensive line at a high level. Most of the time, he has played in the center position. Since the 2017-2018 season, murmurs of Jason Kelce retiring have been a common occurrence. If that is the case, the Philadelphia Eagles should be keen on drafting Jenkins, who primarily is a center.
The other reason why Jenkins should be drafted is because the health of Brandon Brooks is still up in the air after his injury in the 2018-2019 playoffs. Jenkins is also a powerhouse with explosive, quick hand movement. He can posture up to protect the quarterback and hold blocks to create running room. The Eagles have did not have a reliable running game in the 2018-2019 season, so strengthening the offensive line early this draft provides young depth to learn under All-Pro veterans as well as the opportunity for these players to rotate in their position.
Round 2: Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
The next few picks are where I get defensive for the Philadelphia Eagles, starting with Vosean Joseph at linebacker. Jordan Hicks leaving creates room for improvement at this position. Paul Worrilow is still on the Eagles roster, but this leaves Kamau Grugier-Hill, Nigel Bradham, and Nate Gerry to cover the linebacker duties.
The addition of LJ Fort and BJ Bello's 2018 production don't answer the questions of how stable the linebacker position is. The Eagles have the best defensive line in football, which I don't think is a biased judgment. However, to be as dominant at stopping the run as the Eagles have been, the linebackers are just as important.
I believe Worrilow, Bradham, and Grugier-Hill will be the starting three linebackers, but with the addition of Vosean Joseph, the linebacker position gets an immediate upgrade. This also extends into special teams coverage. In Joseph's junior year at Florida, he had 93 tackles and 4 sacks. The production in college only increased as he received more playing time, which is always a pleasant sight for a draft prospect. In addition to his strength, which is playing the run, he is also productive in blitz scheming. The Eagles are a team that love to bring the blitz. It seems like a great fit.
Round 4: Joejuan Williams, CB, Vanderbilt
Out of the gate, I want to give an absurd amount of credit to the defensive backs that found a way to step up when they were needed on the road to the playoffs in the 2018-2019 NFL season.
Avonte Maddox, Cre'Von LeBlanc, and Rasul Douglas played just about as well as you could ask for. I would argue that at times, some of those cornerbacks played better than our number one on the depth chart, Jalen Mills. The Eagles did sign Ronald Darby to another deal and he has been a cornerback who is there to convert interceptions at key moments, but he became injury prone in the 2018-2019 season. By far, the best tackler at the cornerback position is Douglas. The Eagles need to focus on that being a vital trait for cornerbacks drafted this year.
Joejuan Williams was ranked fourth in passes defended and fifth in solo tackles by a cornerback in the SEC in his sophomore year. I will take a cornerback with good position skills and strong tackling in the fourth round for sure!
Round 4: Jaquan Johnson, S, Miami
The man is an absolute "ball hawk." I think it is accurate to look at Jaquan Johnson's size and say that he may be undersized, but he has the opportunity to break open a game for a defense early and often. In open space, he is the first one to lay out for the football to convert interceptions. He has a high motor on blitz packages too, so if you are a quarterback, imagine not seeing the sack coming.
One of the greatest traits to contribute to Darren Sproles' success was his ability to get lost behind the offensive line and then next thing you know, he was ten yards downfield. It works the same with Johnson at safety. Just as the quarterback thinks he has a read, he's lost Johnson in the defensive line blitz gap. Sack recorded and that is a win for the defense. The Miami Hurricanes have a "turnover chain" they pass around to defenders who create turnovers. Johnson is known to be the "turnover chain" leader.
Round 5: David Sills V, WR, West Virginia
The story of David Sills V is a crazy journey. He was a highly recruited quarterback that was offered to originally play at the University of Southern California, but after coach Lane Kiffin left, he uncommitted from USC to West Virginia as a quarterback. However, he wouldn't be a quarterback, he would be a wide receiver. Sills started a promising career at West Virginia as a wide receiver but wanted to be a quarterback, which was his primary position, so he transferred to El Camino Junior College. However, West Virginia ended up showing interest in Sills and head coach Dana Holgorsen gave him another chance…at wide receiver.
In Sills junior year at West Virginia, he was a finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, received by the best wide receiver in college football annually. The Philadelphia Eagles have a nice receiving group and a high profile offense in general. Sills is a wide receiver that could be a true red zone threat for years to come. Also, his versatility allows the Eagles to open up the offensive playbook and work with other formations to optimize scoring. DeSean Jackson is an Eagle, but hasn't been healthy a full season in quite some time. Agholor is in his final year of his contract, so Sills is worth the look in round five.
Round 6: Easton Stick, QB, North Dakota State
This selection is the most natural fit. Right now, the Philadelphia Eagles have Carson Wentz and Nate Sudfeld on the roster at quarterback. I think this selection will ultimately feature Easton Stick because of a few reasons of familiarity: Carson Wentz was his teammate at North Dakota State and because of this, Doug Pederson has had his eyes set on the quarterback. Pederson comes from the Andy Reid coaching philosophy in the ways that he would want to keep bringing in quarterbacks sooner rather than later for development and depth. Stick meshes well with Wentz given their history with each other, but Sudfeld is still a good number two on the depth chart. I think this is ultimately a smart pick at quarterback and one that should be a lock.
So, how does this all relate to the acquisition of Jordan Howard? Notice how not one running back was included in this mock draft. The Philadelphia Eagles can finally begin the transition away from the luxury positions such as running back and look towards replenishing the offensive line, linebackers, defensive secondary, quarterback, and the addition of a potential wide receiver that offers a new refreshing wrinkle in the Eagles offense. In my opinion, this sets up the Eagles for long term success starting in 2019, because if at all in Philadelphia, we believe in a winning future. To win a Superbowl in the 2017-2018 season and just rest on laurels would be a shame. The only way to keep competitive is to evaluate what team needs are required today to be developed for tomorrow. Fleecing the Chicago Bears for Howard alleviates a lot in ways that can only be understood after not being forced to draft a running back in the 2019 NFL draft.
Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
