Eagles Mock Draft: 5 first-round targets for Philadelphia

Eagles 2022 draft prospect Tariq Castro-Fields

Here we are again in some rather familiar territory. It seems like an annual tradition, discussing the Philadelphia Eagles and what in the world it is that they intend to do at the cornerback position, and that figures to be a topic again during the 2022 offseason.

If the plan is to invest some early draft capital into a cover guy, Tariq Castro-Fields is one of the better options at the position. Keep Derek Stingley’s name in mind as well. He’ll probably be viewed as the best in this draft class at that position.

If the Eagles do go with a cornerback first, Stingley could very well be the guy, but if the Birds address another need or two with those first two picks, Stingley won’t be around when they make their third.

That’s what makes Castro-Fields so intriguing. He’s six-foot-tall and 197 pounds, and he might be the second most talented corner in the draft. There are whispers that he’s being compared to Marlon Humprey.

His selection by the Eagles makes sense because not only does he do so many things well but the Birds have a few questions about the position he plays. Steven Nelson only signed a one-year deal. 2021’s fourth-round draft choice, Zech McPhearson, who also spent some time in the Penn State Nittany Lions program, hasn’t quite earned the confidence of his coaches. Who knows what the long-term plans are for Avonte Maddox.

Some say Philly waited too long to address the cornerback position a year ago. The addition of Castro-Fields in 2021 could help lock down one side of the Eagles’ secondary for years to come and make people forget about McPhearson entirely.