Philadelphia Eagles: 10 early candidates for No. 21 pick in 2020 NFL Draft

3. Alabama Safety Xavier McKinney

Sooner or later, the Eagles will need to prepare for life without Malcolm Jenkins on the defensive side of the football since the veteran safety isn’t getting any younger, although it has been amazing to see him continue to play on a high level.

Even if Jenkins recently indicated his desire for a new contract before 2020 since he’s clearly being underpaid when compared to his production, Philadelphia may want to look to this year’s draft to get a jump start on his successor.

Once again, it only seems fair to mention that Alabama has seen plenty of great defenders over the years get selected in the first round of drafts, and it seems like only a matter of time before the same happens with Xavier McKinney.

Talent wise, McKinney can be used in multiple ways on defense to make him that much more of a threat, and spending three years in the SEC should help the safety make a smooth transition to the NFL with ease.

Some rookies tend to go through learning experiences during their first NFL season, but McKinney seems ready to make a splash right away once he lands on a team, which could very well be the Eagles if they draw interest.

Plus, since Jenkins still appears to have some gas left in the old tank, McKinney would be in great position to learn a ton from the veteran as a rookie.