A very early mock draft for the city of brotherly love

By: Jacob Keppen

The draft landscape has changed a bit for the Philadelphia Eagles over the past month. Once thought to possibly have three top ten picks in their possession, the Eagles draft picks are slowly starting to move down the board and space out. With Miami starting to win games, Indianapolis being competitive, and the Eagles being a massive question mark week to week, the Eagles still have three top 15 selections. With 11 total picks, here is the Eagles mock draft heading into December.

8th Overall (Round 1): Kyle Hamilton, S Notre Dame

Safety might be the sneakiest need for Philadelphia moving forward. Anthony Harris is only here on a one year deal and is 30, while Rodney McLeod will be 32 next year and is coming off a major injury this year. There isn’t really a replacement plan in place at the position, and Kyle Hamilton is one of the best players in the draft regardless of position. A 6’4 athletic unicorn, Hamilton has the range and tackling of a potential All Pro safety in the NFL.

9th Overall (Round 1): Andrew Booth Jr, CB Clemson

The Eagles are not done at cornerback yet, not by a long shot. While Darius Slay is playing some of the best football of his career, he is 30. Hopefully the Eagles get a few more productive years out of their star corner, but eventually his replacement must be found. With Steve Nelson on a one year deal the bandaid over the 2nd corner position will almost surely be ripped off come next season. Andrew Booth is an extremely talented and athletic corner who can be the second in command across from Darius Slay, eventually taking over Slay’s role as the team’s lockdown corner. 

14th Overall (Round 1): Garrett Wilson, WR Ohio State

Yes, it disgusts me as well to select a receiver this high once again for Philadelphia. Since 2019 the Eagles have taken three receivers in the top two rounds, twice in the first round the past two years. The Eagles also took a receiving threat in Dallas Goedert early in the second in 2018. If last game against the Giants made anything clear, it’s that the Eagles weapons simply are not good enough. Bringing in one veteran receiver in the offseason won’t fix that either, teams needing multiple weapons to really get an edge in today’s NFL. Garrett Wilson can really do it all, his technique winning him most reps at the line of scrimmage and his ability with the ball in his hands making him a dynamic threat next to Devonta Smith.

42nd Overall (Round 2): Arnold Ebiketie, EDGE Penn State

This edge rusher class is really good, like really good. Even in the second round teams will have a bevy of fine pass rushers to choose from, and Arnold Ebiketie is one of the best. Since transferring to Penn State this year, Ebiketie has been on an absolute tear making the 2021 All Big Ten First Team Defense. Ebiketie has great bend and athleticism, combined with some very educated hands. With a big week in Mobile at the Senior Bowl, he might not even be available at 42.

73rd Overall (Round 3): Brandon Smith, LB Penn State

Double dipping once again in the vast pool of defensive talent at Happy Valley, Brandon Smith could be the finishing piece to an Eagles linebacker corps that is starting to figure it out. Once the biggest hole on the team, the additions of T.J. Edwards and Davion Taylor to the starting lineup have been very solid this season. In Smith the eagles take another swing on an extremely athletic linebacker.

110th Overall (Round 4): Isaiah Likely, TE Coastal Carolina

That’s right, another receiving weapon. If the Eagles truly want to see if Jalen Hurts is the guy they can’t give him bargain bin weapons. No more excuses, get him help and see what happens. The backup tight end spot is one I think the Eagles should look at. While Tyree Jackson has shown a ton of potential, Isaiah Likely has been a force for Coastal Carolina the past two years. An athletic threat up the seam Likely can be a good complementary threat next to Dallas Goedert.

151st Overall (Round 5): Jalen Pitre, LB/S Baylor

Jalen Pitre is one of my favorite later-round guys in the draft, and he fits a mold of players that Philadelphia tends to like. It’s almost a running joke at this point how the Eagles don’t take linebackers, they just take safeties and put them at linebacker. Pitre plays that hybrid linebacker/safety role, utilized best blowing up plays around the line of scrimmage. Opposing teams rarely can barely get screens off cleanly when playing against Baylor.

160th Overall (Round 5): Max Mitchell, OT Louisiana

It is never a bad idea to take backup linemen with upside later in the draft. Philadelphia has been doing this routinely during Roseman’s reign as GM, and it usually has worked out. Multiple times we’ve seen later round linemen thrust into starting roles due to an injury in Philadelphia. For the Eagles Lane Johnson has been the man at right tackle for the past decade, but it’s time to start thinking about some reassurance behind him. He’s getting older and has dealt with some injuries. Max Mitchell is an aggressive lineman who flashes on film and could make for a good option behind Lane.

173rd Overall (Round 5): Tyler Allgeier, RB BYU

The Eagles running back situation is a very interesting one. It seems as though the team really isn’t sold on Miles Sanders being the guy, the former second-round pick never really receiving a heavy workload. Jordan Howard has at times been featured as the power back this year, and it’s worked pretty well. Of course, you do still have Kenny Gainwell, last year’s 5th round selection, who adds as a receiving threat. I don’t think Miles Sanders is going to be the guy in Philadelphia after his contracts up, and Tyler Allgeier’s an interesting option to add to the mix in Philly. Possibly the most underrated back in college football over the past two years, Allgeier is a speedy back who slashes through defenses.

193rd Overall (Round 6): Dylan Parham, IOL Memphis

It is never a bad idea to take backup linemen with upside later in the draft. Philadelphia has been doing this routinely during Roseman’s reign as GM, and it usually has worked out (Hey, where have I seen that intro before?) Dylan Parham has impressed this year at guard and there have been talks of trying him out at center at the Senior Bowl. A superb athlete for the position, Parham could be a sneaky good player if he bulks up a bit more.

206th Overall (Round 6): Brad Hawkins, S Michigan

Why not end the mock by sending a local player back home! Playing high school football at Camden High (You want the High, you got the High!) right across the bridge from Philadelphia, it would be a full circle for the Eagles to draft him. A fifth-year player with tons of Big 10 experience, Hawkins can fill a variety of roles as a backup including special teams.