Philadelphia Eagles: Regrading 2018’s draft class after three seasons
By Ben Swanger
Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Jordan Mailata. player. 54. OL. Australia. 7
Jordan Mailata’s ceiling continues to rise as a Philadelphia Eagle.
The former rugby star, Jordan Mailata, logged several impressive starts in 2020 for the Philadelphia Eagles. The 2018 seventh-round pick has now emerged as the possible future starting left tackle in Philadelphia, but would have to supplant 2019 first-round selection Andre Dillard to earn that title.
In what was a whirlwind season for Mailata, the third year project comes out of 2020 with a sky-high ceiling and an impressive tape reel. Mailata was first inserted into the starting lineup against the San Francisco 49ers in a Week 4 Eagles victory and certainly held his own. However, he was then in and out of the lineup as veteran Jason Peters took much-needed snaps from the young man.
Mailata logged a 70.3 PFF grade, which was the second-highest grade among Eagle offensive linemen who started at least ten games (Nate Herbig was first with a 71.2 grade). Mailata proved he is a force to be reckoned with in both pass protection and the run game. When Mailata gets into the open field as a blocker on a screen or stretch run, he turns into a man mover. He has tremendous speed and power that makes him such a rare breed as a six-foot-eight, 350-pound human.
In pass protection, according to PFF, Mailata only gave up seven sacks in 732 snaps. Mailata is the type of physical specimen that quarterbacks love and defensive ends hate. And as a former seventh-round rugby player, nobody would have guessed he’d be the player he is now.
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Mailata has one of the highest ceilings on the team. At only 23-years-old Mailata has plenty of years of football left ahead of him. In his contract year coming up in 2021, Mailata has a chance to solidify himself as a franchise left tackle and Pro Bowl-caliber player.
Verdict: Roseman’s 2018 draft began with one budding star and ended with another. The final grade on this pick of Mailata is an A+. For the value, 2020 play, and potential, Mailata has blossomed into one of the better steals of the entire 2018 draft.