Philadelphia Eagles Draft: 4 Names to Watch in First Round

Montez Sweat, Edge, Mississippi State

Montez Sweat is a freak. There aren’t many other ways to say it. He’s big, he’s strong, he’s fast, he’s explosive, and the list goes on and on. Sweat was a favorite pick for the Eagles early on, and after a stellar combine performance he has been steadily moving up draft boards, even sliding into the top 10. Sweat put up great numbers at Mississippi State with 22.5 sacks, 30 tackles for loss, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. He is a long athlete that would fit perfectly in Jim Schwartz‘s scheme, which has the defensive ends attacking upfield and getting after the quarterback.

On paper, the Eagles look pretty set at defensive end for 2019, but the draft is all about planning for the future. Chris Long is still unsure as to whether he will play in 2019 and Vinny Curry signed a one-year deal. That would leave Brandon Graham and Derek Barnett as your key defensive ends for 2020 and beyond.

With the Eagles using a heavy rotation along the defensive line, you need three to four quality defensive ends that can contribute. The team still isn’t sure about what it has in Josh Sweat, so adding someone like Montez Sweat would put them in a great spot. Graham also just turned 31, so having a clear succession plan creates an ideal scenario at a key position, four to five years down the line.