Predicting the Eagles’ First Round Picks
Source: PFF.com
The Philadelphia Eagles’ last game didn’t go exactly how they wanted to (a 35-15 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers), but they still blew everyone’s expectations out of the water. Many didn’t predict the Eagles making the playoffs, even having a winning season for that matter. Many saw the combination of a new head coach and basically a rookie quarterback at the helm as a recipe for disaster, but Nick Sirianni and Jalen Hurts had other plans. Despite starting the season at 2-5, the Eagles flipped the switch and proceeded to win 7 out of their last 10 games, end 9-8, and clinch a playoff spot. This is a great sign for the future, and hopefully this success continues. But before we can even talk about contending for a Super Bowl, they need to have a stellar draft.
Thanks to the Indianapolis Colts and the Miami Dolphins, the Eagles have 3 first-round picks in the upcoming 2022 NFL Draft. The Eagles currently have the 15th, 16th, and the 19th overall picks. While it would be fun for the Eagles to make a blockbuster trade with these picks, I believe that the smart move would be to use this opportunity to invest in our defense. The Eagles have drafted just three defensive players in the first round in the past 10 years, those being Fletcher Cox, Marcus Smith, and Derek Barnett (no need to mention the one they hit on). So, here are my predictions on who the Eagles will pick in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft.
Pick 15 – Nakobe Dean, LB, Georgia
With their first pick, the Eagles select Nakobe Dean, linebacker from Georgia. Dean has been a dynamic playmaker for the Bulldogs all season, being second on the team in tackles (72) and sacks (6) as well as recording two interceptions. The Butkus Award winner’s best attribute is his speed, allowing him to get sideline-to-sideline in a blink of an eye, beat blockers to the spot, and cover RBs with ease. Coming from a program as esteemed as the National Champion Georgia Bulldogs, he also brings the solid fundamentals and IQ needed to succeed in the NFL. While TJ Edwards and Alex Singleton were effective, the Eagles’ second level needs a stud, and Nakobe Dean is that stud.
Pick 16 – Andrew Booth Jr., CB, Clemson
The Eagles follow up their pick with an addition to the secondary. Andrew Booth Jr. recorded 35 total tackles, three interceptions, and five passes deflected this past season. Booth Jr. is a versatile player that can defend any player in front of him. He’s been praised for his fluidity, anticipation, and ability to stick with any receiver. The one thing that stands out on the tape is his competitive toughness. He plays with such physicality and aggressiveness on the field, it is impossible to ignore (I highly recommend watching any highlight reel of his). The fire that he plays with will fit right in with a city like Philadelphia. While Booth Jr. doesn’t have the most experience compared to other prospects (just four starts in two years), having Darius Slay as a mentor is one of the best situations you could ever ask for.
Pick 19 – David Ojabo, Edge, Michigan
The Philadelphia Eagles add to the last level of the defense with an exciting prospect in David Ojabo. Standing at 6’5”, 250 pounds, combined with insane raw talent and freakish athleticism, Ojabo is one of those players that GMs and coaches drool over. You may be wondering how a man of this stature isn’t at the top of people’s boards, and that is because of his lack of experience. Ojabo didn’t play organized football until his junior year of high school, and before this past season, he only had one tackle in college. But don’t let his experience fool you, Ojabo ended the season with 35 total tackles, 11 sacks, and five forced fumbles. He has the tools to succeed in his league, he just needs a team to help develop him into the player that he can be. While this is a gamble, considering Brandon Graham is coming off a season-ending Achilles injury and Derek Barnett leaving in free agency, if Eagles develop him correctly, he can be a force in this league.
With all that being said… you never know what Howie Roseman has up his sleeves.