Chris Infante
Dan Graziano of ESPN has predicted that the Eagles are likely to trade up in the 2019 NFL Draft. That hasn't happened since the 2016 draft, when the Eagles traded five picks to the Cleveland Browns for the number two selection to draft some guy named Carson Wentz.
The Eagles are currently looking at pick number 25 in the 2019 draft and have plenty of ammunition to trade up if they felt as though they needed to grab an impact player that otherwise wouldn't be available at pick 25.
The first couple rounds of this draft have been mocked so differently than many previous years. There are some mock drafts that have some players going in the top ten that other drafts have going in the bottom half of the first round.
ProFootballFocus just released one that has some players in the second round that have been widely mocked into the first round. Simply put, there's a lot of variety in this draft.
But there are a few players that can be had for the Eagles if they wanted to trade up in the draft, it's just
who they need to trade with to ensure they get their guy.
Continued on the pages below.
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Trade Value Chart
Trading draft picks isn't as simple as one may think. Each pick is assigned a value, and teams attempt to match values through trades of multiple picks. Here's a look at the values for the draft:
| Round 1 |
Round 2 |
Round 3 |
Round 4 |
Round 5 |
Round 6 |
Round 7 |
| 1 |
3,000 |
33 |
580 |
65 |
265 |
97 |
112 |
129 |
43 |
161 |
27 |
193 |
14.2 |
| 2 |
2,600 |
34 |
560 |
66 |
260 |
98 |
108 |
130 |
42 |
162 |
26.6 |
194 |
13.8 |
| 3 |
2,200 |
35 |
550 |
67 |
255 |
99 |
104 |
131 |
41 |
163 |
26.2 |
195 |
13.4 |
| 4 |
1,800 |
36 |
540 |
68 |
250 |
100 |
100 |
132 |
40 |
164 |
25.8 |
196 |
13 |
| 5 |
1,700 |
37 |
530 |
69 |
245 |
101 |
96 |
133 |
39.5 |
165 |
25.4 |
197 |
12.6 |
| 6 |
1,600 |
38 |
520 |
70 |
240 |
102 |
92 |
134 |
39 |
166 |
25 |
198 |
12.2 |
| 7 |
1,500 |
39 |
510 |
71 |
235 |
103 |
88 |
135 |
38.5 |
167 |
24.6 |
199 |
11.8 |
| 8 |
1,400 |
40 |
500 |
72 |
230 |
104 |
86 |
136 |
38 |
168 |
24.2 |
200 |
11.4 |
| 9 |
1,350 |
41 |
490 |
73 |
225 |
105 |
84 |
137 |
37.5 |
169 |
23.8 |
201 |
11 |
| 10 |
1,300 |
42 |
480 |
74 |
220 |
106 |
82 |
138 |
37 |
170 |
23.4 |
202 |
10.6 |
| 11 |
1,250 |
43 |
470 |
75 |
215 |
107 |
80 |
139 |
36.5 |
171 |
23 |
203 |
10.2 |
| 12 |
1,200 |
44 |
460 |
76 |
210 |
108 |
78 |
140 |
36 |
172 |
22.6 |
204 |
9.8 |
| 13 |
1,150 |
45 |
450 |
77 |
205 |
109 |
76 |
141 |
35.5 |
173 |
22.2 |
205 |
9.4 |
| 14 |
1,100 |
46 |
440 |
78 |
200 |
110 |
74 |
142 |
35 |
174 |
21.8 |
206 |
9 |
| 15 |
1,050 |
47 |
430 |
79 |
195 |
111 |
72 |
143 |
34.5 |
175 |
21.4 |
207 |
8.6 |
| 16 |
1,000 |
48 |
420 |
80 |
190 |
112 |
70 |
144 |
34 |
176 |
21 |
208 |
8.2 |
| 17 |
950 |
49 |
410 |
81 |
185 |
113 |
68 |
145 |
33.5 |
177 |
20.6 |
209 |
7.8 |
| 18 |
900 |
50 |
400 |
82 |
180 |
114 |
66 |
146 |
33 |
178 |
20.2 |
210 |
7.4 |
| 19 |
875 |
51 |
390 |
83 |
175 |
115 |
64 |
147 |
32.6 |
179 |
19.8 |
211 |
7 |
| 20 |
850 |
52 |
380 |
84 |
170 |
116 |
62 |
148 |
32.2 |
180 |
19.4 |
212 |
6.6 |
| 21 |
800 |
53 |
370 |
85 |
165 |
117 |
60 |
149 |
31.8 |
181 |
19 |
213 |
6.2 |
| 22 |
780 |
54 |
360 |
86 |
160 |
118 |
58 |
150 |
31.4 |
182 |
18.6 |
214 |
5.8 |
| 23 |
760 |
55 |
350 |
87 |
155 |
119 |
56 |
151 |
31 |
183 |
18.2 |
215 |
5.4 |
| 24 |
740 |
56 |
340 |
88 |
150 |
120 |
54 |
152 |
30.6 |
184 |
17.8 |
216 |
5 |
| 25 |
720 |
57 |
330 |
89 |
145 |
121 |
52 |
153 |
30.2 |
185 |
17.4 |
217 |
4.6 |
| 26 |
700 |
58 |
320 |
90 |
140 |
122 |
50 |
154 |
29.8 |
186 |
17 |
218 |
4.2 |
| 27 |
680 |
59 |
310 |
91 |
136 |
123 |
49 |
155 |
29.4 |
187 |
16.6 |
219 |
3.8 |
| 28 |
660 |
60 |
300 |
92 |
132 |
124 |
48 |
156 |
29 |
188 |
16.2 |
220 |
3.4 |
| 29 |
640 |
61 |
292 |
93 |
128 |
125 |
47 |
157 |
28.6 |
189 |
15.8 |
221 |
3 |
| 30 |
620 |
62 |
284 |
94 |
124 |
126 |
46 |
158 |
28.2 |
190 |
15.4 |
222 |
2.6 |
| 31 |
600 |
63 |
276 |
95 |
120 |
127 |
45 |
159 |
27.8 |
191 |
15 |
223 |
2.3 |
| 32 |
590 |
64 |
270 |
96 |
116 |
128 |
44 |
160 |
27.4 |
192 |
14.6 |
224 |
2 |
courtesy of Walterfootball.com (
note: draft pick numbers may be different in actual draft due to compensatory picks)
The Eagles' first round pick is valued at 720 points. For them to move to picks 10-15 would require one of their second round picks (53 or 57) to make the values work. Anything lower than that would just require a later round pick, and maybe a later round in 2020 to make the numbers work.
There are a few players that would be worth packaging one of their second rounders with their first rounder to move up for.
Ed Oliver
Ed Oliver has been mocked as high as five to the Buccaneers and as low as in the 20s to a few different teams.
Oliver's talent is elite and worthy of a top-five selection. Watch the way he makes the Texas Tech tackle look silly:
https://twitter.com/FB_FilmAnalysis/status/1093620521567105024
However, there are some questions about his size and strength, though his 32 reps of the bench press at the combine helped alleviate some of those strength concerns.
Despite those strong numbers, there's potential for Oliver to drop out of the top ten, although his Combine numbers mirror Aaron Donald. If Oliver does reach the 11th pick, the Eagles should jump at the opportunity to get in front of the Green Bay Packers and get their guy.
If the Eagles do indeed want Oliver, getting in front of the Packers would ensure they draft him. The Packers need an edge rusher, and would play Oliver at that position. A pairing of Fletcher Cox and Ed Oliver for the next half-decade or so would be a beautiful thing to behold.
However, if there's also a quarterback available at 11, it might be difficult to persuade the Cincinnati Bengals to trade out. New head coach Zac Taylor may want his own draftee to come in and sit behind incumbent starter Andy Dalton. But if the deal is too good to pass up, the Bengals may feel as though they can still get their signal caller of the future in the later part of the first round.
Potential trade
Eagles send 2019 first round pick (25th overall - 720 value), 2019 second round pick (53rd overall - 370 value), 2020 third round pick (value ranges from 265 - 116)
Bengals send 2019 first round pick (11th overall - 1,250 value), 2019 6th round pick (198th overall - 12.2 value). The sixth round pick is originally from Dallas, wouldn't it be fun for the Eagles to select a player for their team using one of Dallas' original picks?
Ed Oliver (Again)
It is certainly possible that if Ed Oliver and Montez Sweat are available for the Packers at 12 that they will take the natural defensive end in Sweat. Making Oliver still available at 13 for the Dolphins.
If this is the case, then there's no question that the Eagles should jump up to grab him. Take a look at how ProFootballFocus graded him for 2018:
https://twitter.com/PFF/status/1115906267653070850
The second best defensive tackle with the third best run-defense grade. Those quarterback pressures would surely rise next to the All-Pro Fletcher Cox.
For the Dolphins, they also need an edge rusher for new head coach Brian Flores. If they were to see top rushers Sweat and Rashan Gary get drafted before their pick, they may be enticed to trade down, get more draft capital, and target another edge rusher at pick 25.
Potential trade
Eagles send 2019 first round pick (25th overall - 720 value), 2019 second round pick (53rd overall - 370 value), 2019 fourth round pick (127th overall - 45 value)
Dolphins send 2019 first round pick (13th overall - 1,150 value), 2019 seventh round pick (234th overall - negligible value)
Devin Bush Jr.
Another candidate to slip in the draft due to size concerns is linebacker Devin Bush Jr. Despite a great college career, the concerns over his tackling style and inability to shed off blocks may give teams pause in drafting him in the top half of the draft.
However, if you check out the clip below, you'll see that he has the speed and agility necessary to beat out those blockers trying to get to him in the second level:
https://twitter.com/FB_FilmAnalysis/status/1114962735232471040
Unlike Oliver, there's a legitimate chance that Bush is available in the late teens of the first round. A team they could target to swap picks with is the Tennessee Titans at 19. The Titans need to bolster their defensive line and can still do that at pick 25. This move would allow the Eagles to move in front of their in-state rivals, the Steelers, and snag Bush to bolster their linebacker corps.
The need for linebacker depth isn't crucial to some people, looking at you Eliot Shorr-Parks, but it is a need. Nigel Bradham was by far the king of the defensive snaps last year with 88% of the total snaps. Next up was Jordan Hicks with 68% and he's gone. Kamu Grugier-Hill had 34% and Nate Gerry had 13%. Paul Worrilow will be back and the team did sign L.J. Fort, but the team still needs someone like Bush to help cover running backs and/or tight ends. Adding an instant impact player like Bush, and allowing Grugier Hill, Gerry, Worrilow, and Fort to be high-quality reserves can take this defense to new levels.
Potential trade
Eagles send 2019 first round pick (25th overall - 720 value) and 2019 second round pick (57th overall - 330 value)
Titans send 2019 first round pick (19th overall - 875 value) and 2019 third round pick (82nd overall - 180 value)
Josh Jacobs
The Eagles just acquired former Chicago Bears running back Jordan Howard but they are not done addressing the position. ESPN's Adam Schefter went on 97.5 The Fanatic last week to talk about this acquisition:
I don’t think that the Eagles are done at the running back position. I still think that they’ll add another back or two. And I think this was part of the puzzle. I think the Eagles are excellent at playing guys when they’re supposed to play in spots they’re supposed to play.
With that being said, I did speak about a possible pairing of Howard and Cleveland's Duke Johnson. But if that trade doesn't happen, grabbing Josh Jacobs could make an equally dynamic pair for the Eagles.
NFL Analyst Lance Zierlein compares Jacobs to Patriots running back Sony Michel, who had a fantastic rookie campaign in 2018. Getting a player of that caliber in the backfield with Carson Wentz would be explosive.
However, NBC Sports' Peter King hears that the Oakland Raiders, sitting at the 24th pick, love Josh Jacobs. So to get Jacobs, the Eagles will have to move two spots up to grab him. Enter the Houston Texans.
The Texans need help on both lines, offensive and defensive, but they can probably address either position at pick 25. Teams always love getting more draft picks, so why not trade back two spots, draft the player you still want, and grab an extra pick?
Potential trade
Eagles send 2019 first round pick (25th overall - 720 value) and 2019 fifth round pick (163rd overall - 26.2 value)
Texans send 2019 first round pick (23rd overall - 760 value)
Other possibilities
It's quite possible that the Eagles do trade up for a player not mentioned previously. If an offensive tackle Jonah Williams or Andre Dillard slip towards the late teens, the Eagles could pull the trigger on a deal to move up. Jason Peters is probably in his last year in the NFL and, despite the high praise for Jordan Mailata, they may look to get a replacement for him in this draft.
It's also quite possible they stay at 25. If they do stay at 25 and the aforementioned players are unavailable, I fully expect them to draft safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson.
Never rule out the trade down, which the Eagles did last year. If the possibility is there for Howie to trade their 25th pick to move down and grab a third-round pick, I'm sure he'll take that deal.
What are your thoughts, Eagles fans? Anyone, in particular, you'd like to see the team trade up for?
Mandatory Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
