Eagles add can’t-miss interior lineman, cornerback in 1st-round NFL mock

Maybe we overthink things from time to time. Football is a simple game if you stick with what works. For most of us, that’s all we want to see the Philadelphia Eagles do, and that’s why we get so irritated with them. All they have to do is follow the roadmap of what’s worked for so many championship teams and the NFL’s perennial contenders.

Teams can only go as far as their quarterback can take them. You have to find your franchise signal-caller. Okay, maybe we’re making this sound too easy now. If it was that easy, everyone would do it, right?

It is a quarterback’s league though. You have to have your guy. Then you need five guys in front of him so you don’t get him killed. You’d also be wise to find some guys on the other side of the ball to harass the opposing team’s quarterback.

If you do that, everything else will take care of itself. That’s why you see a lot of Eagles mock drafts that are emphasizing finding that next EDGE star, especially seeing as how this team has three draft picks in the first round, but a recent mock, one done by Keith Sanchez of The Draft Network, proves that there are other options. Let’s dig into this one a little.

The Eagles add a can’t-miss IOL, corner, and wideout in The Draft Network’s mock.

If you’re sick of mock drafts already, we don’t know what to tell you. You’re only going to see more of them as we move through February and March and into April. Sanchez sends wide receiver Drake London, interior offensive lineman Tyler Linderbaum, and cornerback Ahmad Gardner to the Eagles at picks 15,16, and 19 respectively.

Here are a few thoughts on each selection as well as some of Sanchez’s theories for making those selections.

Drake London, USC Trojans

It’s hard to determine if this is a realistic possibility or if people keep attaching London’s name to the Eagles because so many other mock drafts have done the same thing. Many Birds fans have eschewed the idea of taking this guy because Nelson Agholor played at USC, but one prospect’s success has nothing to do with the success of another.

London is solid, but you can also argue that the Eagles should address other needs earlier and find a wideout in a later round (especially if they find a good now in free agency).

Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa Hawkeyes

In 2021, the Birds took Landon Dickerson in Round 2 of the draft, and it was widely believed that, if he could get healthy, Philadelphia had nabbed the best interior lineman that was available. If they take a flier on Tyler Linderbaum, they would have gotten the best interior lineman in the 2022 NFL Draft as well.

Here’s the thing though. If they wait until Round 2, Linderbaum won’t be available. Pay very close attention. This could be the heir to Jason Kelce’s throne if the Eagles are interested. It’s sometimes premature to throw phrases around like ‘sure thing’, but Tyler Linderbaum is a sure thing.

Ahmad ‘Sauce’ Gardner, Cincinnati Bearcats

Drafting Ahamad Gardner would be a home run for the Philadelphia Eagles, but he won’t be available at the 19th-overall selection. Heck, he may not be available when the Birds are on the clock at 15. He might be the second corner off of the board behind Derek Stingley of the LSU Tigers.