Seven-round Eagles Mock Draft: Don't get seduced by the board

With free agency still a few weeks away, it's probably a little premature to dive into mock drafts, but it's a lot of fun. Last year, my first Mock Draft had the Eagles taking Andre Dillard in round 1, so maybe that luck will carry over into this year. The Birds are projected to have ten selections this Draft but for the sake of simplicity, we won't be orchestrating trades just yet.

Be sure to scold me tell me who you would draft in the comments!

Round 1 pick 21: Yetur Gross-Matos, DE, Penn State

It's not a wide receiver, I know. But the truth is that even if the Eagles part ways with Alshon, they have a near-identically built wideout in JJAW and still have a speedster in DeSean Jackson. Sure, an instant star would be amazing, but this is an insanely deep class and the Eagles can use that to their advantage.

At defensive end, Derek Barnett is entering a crucial year while Brandon Graham isn't getting any younger. It's not clear if Vinny Curry will return and the names behind that trio all have question marks.

When I was watching tape on Shareef Miller last year, it was really hard to focus because on the other side of the field, this man was wreaking havoc. That dominance continued into 2019, where the stunningly sized 6'5, 264 lbs, DE rallied to 9.5 sacks.

What I love most about his play is patience. While his overall reading of the play could use some improvement Gross-Matos eyes the ball well and his instinct to slow down and follow the play that makes him so dangerous. He's like a Bowling ball sized magnet. This can work against him at times, but when he's right to wait, it shows.

With quickfire hands, an array of pass-rushing moves at his disposal, this is a DE who could easily be groomed to replace one of the Eagles starters in the next two years, possessing a ridiculous first step, a strong tackling foundation, and a lot of speed on stunts and bullrushes.

The Eagles love their defensive linemen, and I love this pick.

Round 2 pick 53: Ashtyn Davis, S, Cal

Rodney McLeod is a free agent and Malcolm Jenkins rightly wants a new deal. Whatever happens, it makes sense to groom an eventual replacement and Ashtyn Davis would be a snug fit here. Here's what I wrote on him after breaking down tape ahead of the Senior Bowl:

His positioning is excellent and he can manipulate his zone to keep the QB hesitant just long enough for the pass-rush to get home. There’s clearly a great schematic understanding and it’s backed up by a thunderous hitter (that can miss and take bad angles), and someone that can act on those instincts around the ball, making some eye-catching plays in 2019.Davis isn’t going to be an ideal run-defender due to his tackling, but as a nickel corner or a single-high safety, there’s definitely room for this 6’1, 207 lbs, DB to grow.

Davis may be the prototypical safety to play over the top, bringing some fairly consistent ball-production to the table (to a team lacking turnovers in the secondary) while Malcolm Jenkins cleans up underneath.

Round 3, pick 85: Kamal Martin, LB, Minnesota

There are some really intriguing linebackers in this class, but finding the right fit for Schwartz is hard. Martin projects to be a 4-3 OLB which would give them an insurance policy behind Bradham if the team opt to part ways in free agency.

Martin is more of a technician than a ruthless tackling machine - a Kurt Angle over a Brock Lesnar, if you will. His football IQ can be a little worrisome at times and like Shaq Quarterman (remember the name), he can get dragged down in play-action looks. But if he's given a man-to-man assignment, he carries well vertically and is a very secure tackler. If he's asked to blitz, good luck defending him. Martin crashes into lanes and can block-shed with ease due to those long arms.

At 6'3, 245 lbs, he's got great range and a stirdy frame that make him a menace when closing downhill. He's not a finished product by any means and isn't a freak athlete with super sideline-to-sideline speed. But he's consistent, rangy, and hard-hitting...and that's exactly what the Eagles need.

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Round 3 (compensatory pick): Quartney Davis, WR, Texas A&M

See, I told you it'd work out. Davis has a really high upside. Yes, he had an ACL tear in 2016, and yes, he suffered from poor QB play leading to some slightly disappointing stats in 2019 (616 yards, 4 touchdowns). But Davis is a player that can start in the slot from year one and eventually branch outside.

As far as route-runners go, you won't find many more polished than Davis. His happy-feet and hand movement are mesmerizing and he bursts out of his cuts with ease. He's not the strongest wideout and does have a smaller catch-radius, but he'll do most of his damage in open space, which is exactly what the Eagles need from him.

If the Eagles want someone to step into the slot, look no further than this 6'2, 200 lbs, wideout who finally ticks the 'big slot' box they've been toying with for a few years now.

Round 4, pick 117: Troy Pride Jr, CB, Notre Dame

I was intrigued by Pride going into the Senior Bowl, and was left with a Draft crush by the end of the week. Here's what I wrote on him ahead of the All-star game in Mobile.

Pride is absolutely rapid as a cornerback and can go toe-to-toe with some of the best in this class. His read-and-react ability is mesmerizing and is dazzling those down at Mobile, but it’s a two-sided coin. It’s rare to see him in press coverage without already assuming he’s going to have to recover after losing the release. He doesn’t use his hands, relying on his hips and burst to keep him in contention, and lacking the ideal length means he can get a big snaggy at the catch point.He’s got all the makings of a future CB1/2 and the show he’s putting on this week will give teams the confidence he can hit that ceiling

Pride is the prototypical Jim Schwartz corner. A little shorter at 5'11, without much in the way of ball-production. He's a breakfast corner that feasts on what's in front of him, making him the perfect replacement for Jalen Mills if the Eagles let him walk.

Round 4 (compensatory pick): Devin Duvernay, WR, Texas

#DoubleDippinSZN. If the plan is to find a speedster, then taking Duvernay or Davis and moving them outside after a year or two really isn't a bad idea. Two players, that bring different elements to the table could be the perfect blend of thunder and lightning, while this scenario lends itself to the idea of someone like Robby Anderson signing in Free Agency. Here's what I wrote about Duvernay ahead of the Senior Bowl:

If we’re talking slot receivers, Devin Duvernay has my heart. If you could imagine Greg Ward Jr. (similar size at 5’11, 210 lbs) but zippier, that’s Duvernay. The man is just electric as a route-runner, but projects to be a day-two pick due to some rawness in his game. His hips are a little tight and every cut seems to be like a jagged stab as opposed to fluid motion.However, his lightning speed, ability to pick up YAC, and nasty mentality to defeat tacklers more than make up for that. He’s not quite there yet as someone ready to start day one, but if you want a secret weapon, his 1,386-yard season speaks for itself.

Round 4 (compensatory pick): Lamical Perine, RB

If the Eagles are going to let Jordan Howard, they need a bruiser. Perine is 5'11, 211 lbs and brings a very one-dimensional skillset to the table, but it's one that's perfect for this role.

Perine is a physical downhill runner with plenty of burst and a nice ability to change speeds at will. He hits the hole with assertion and does a great job of cutting back upfield when a hole appears. He averaged over 5 yards per carry in each of his last two seasons and has shown potential in the receiving game.

Perine isn't a flashy pick, nor is he a flashy runner...but the Eagles have a glistening star in Miles Sanders. Perine is the back who can turn a 1st-and-10 into a 2nd-and-3 behind this offensive line, allowing Sanders to prey on the wounded.

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Round 5, pick 148: Shaq Quarterman, LB, Miami

Keeping up the trend of double-dipping, the Eagles add a very raw linebacker in round 5 who has a lot of upside. Finding a replacement MIKE has to be a priority after seeing the Eagles struggle without Jordan Hicks. Quarterman isn't the coverage ace that Hicks was, but he is an interesting prospect. Here's my writeup from....you get the drill.

Quarterman looks every bit of his 6’1, 241 lbs frame and is a scary young man. He earned All-ACC honors for the second year in a row, garnering a 77.8 PFF grade and leading the defense in snaps. He’s also set the school record for consecutive starts, so he ticks the durability box.Quarterman against the run is just salivating to watch. He’s like a sniffer-dog and will come barrelling down into phase the second he reads where the ball is going, wrapping up in a smothering fashion. He’s hard to wash out of plays and defines the term ‘having a nose for the football’. The downside is, zone coverage is worrying. There were a few too many times where he’d ‘Nate Gerry’ his way down to the line only to see the ball tossed over his head for a big gain.

Round 5, pick 150: Davon Hamilton, DT, Ohio State

I don't like the idea of leaving defensive tackle unticked this late, but needs must and there's a lot to like about this 6'4, 310 lbs, who commanded double teams frequently as a Buckeye.

With Malik Jackson healthy, Hamilton would likely command the same attention as a DT4 alongside Hassan Ridgeway (if brought back) and with 9.5 TFL and 6 sacks last season, a lot of damage.

Hamilton is impressively agile for his size and knows how to leverage his position off the snap to help his teammates. An intelligent DT who can clog lanes with ease, and pressure the passer with some sneaky athleticism, he's got violent hands and a lot of upper-body power than can sometimes be unbalanced.

The Eagles get themselves a developmental talent to grow alongside the behemoth Anthony Rush for a steal here.

Round 6, pick 170: Harrison Bryant, TE, FAU

The Eagles love running 12-personnel, but they've been chained ever since losing Trey Burton. Richard Rodgers has struggled to stay healthy and Joshua Perkins is more like a massive-slot receiver.

Bryant is a one-dimensional receiving tight end, but that's what they need here with two established blockers in Ertz & Goedert. At 6'5, 242 lbs, Bryant could be another red-zone weapon for the Eagles.

He's not the cleanest route-runner, but he uses his body well and does a great job driving through contact at the catch-point and beyond. There's some impressive speed to his game, making him lethal down the seam, but some sloppy footwork may haunt him in more complex routes.

It's a late pick that screams project. But the fact that Bryant led FAU in receiving yards with 1,004, as well as in touchdowns with 15, left me purring.