Eagles reach with two first-round choices in recent NFL mock draft

As the final days of March trickle away, one of pro football’s biggest events of the offseason approaches. They say April showers bring May flowers, but the final days of April always bring the NFL Draft as well. With it comes another opportunity for the Philadelphia Eagles to improve their roster and eventually field a better team.

Everyone has their theories about what might happen or what should happen (or both), and it feels like, every 15 minutes, another mock draft is being released. Recently, a former Jacksonville Jaguars star and NFL Network mainstay dropped another.

Maurice Jones-Drew reaches with at least two of the Eagles’ three first-round draft choices.

Maurice Jones-Drew enjoyed a nine-year NFL career from 2006 to 2014, eight seasons with the Jags and another 12-game stretch in Oakland with the Raiders. During that time, he tallied 8,215 yards on 1,861 career carries, another 3,036 yards on 353 receptions, and 81 touchdowns. Those numbers include what he did in two playoff games.

These days MJD can be seen on NFL Network and contributing to NFL.com. His recent mock draft is intriguing as it doesn’t follow the script of any other that you’ve seen so far this offseason. Some might say he went rogue.

With the Eagles’ three draft choices in Round 1 (15,16, and 19), he has them selecting Purdue EDGE star George Karlaftis, Georgia Bulldogs defensive tackle Devonte Wyatt, and Alabama wide receiver Jameson Williams.

Here’s his theory on why each of those decisions makes sense. We begin with the Karlaftis selection.

"The Eagles had a measly 29 sacks in 2021, the second-lowest mark in the league. So, after signing Haason Reddick in free agency, they also add a reliable power rusher who can create havoc in the backfield like he did at Purdue."

Here’s the skinny on the Wyatt selection.

"Even with Fletcher Cox’s return, the Eagles need a long-term answer on the interior. Wyatt will have the privilege to learn from the six-time Pro Bowler and develop into a big-time pass rusher — an area in which he has a ton of potential."

MJD sees Williams as the logical choice for Philly at 19 for the following reason.

"No linebackers in the first round for Philadelphia. Sorry, Gio. Instead, the Eagles add a wide receiver with a high ceiling. Philly fans might have to wait a bit to see Williams get on the field, as he’s recovering from an ACL tear, but he’s electric."

At the risk of sounding disrespectful, here’s how you should feel about all of that. At least two of those picks are reaches.

We’ve bounced around theories about whether or not Karlaftis is an option. Now that David Ojabo is injured, this year’s best players at the position are, more than likely, Aidan Hutchinson, Kayvon Thibodeaux, Travon Walker, Karlaftis, and Jermaine Johnson in that order.

Ojabo was, perhaps, this draft class’s third-best EDGE star. There have been theories that each of those guys would have shots at being taken off of draft boards quickly, but you can make arguments for why Karlaftis would be taken earlier, later, or around the time that the Eagles are on the clock with the 15th-overall selection.

Taking Karlaftis wouldn’t be a bad move if that’s how things worked out, but taking Wyatt at 16 and Williams at 19 are head-scratchers. Let’s begin with the Wyatt theory.

While he is talented and while any NFL team would be lucky to have him, some view him as a second-rounder. You never know how things might play out once we reach draft time though.

Wyatt should be ranked behind his Bulldogs teammate Jordan Davis and Texas A&M’s DeMarvin Leal as he’s this class’s third-best defensive tackle. Davis and Leal figure to be first-rounders, but some mock drafts have had Davis go as low as 14 when the Baltimore Ravens are on the clock.

That’s been said to say this. Wyatt is phenomenal, but taking him at 16 is too high, especially when Philadelphia doesn’t have an immediate need for a defensive tackle. In terms of MJD’s choice for the Eagles at 19, wideout, that’s also too early to make that type of investment.

As far as this year’s class is concerned, Drake London, Garrett Wilson, Treylon Burks, and Chris Olave are the top four wideouts on the board, and London and Olave have both been mocked to Philadelphia at 15 or 16 in weeks past.

As is the case with Wyatt, Williams is a future star at football’s highest level. He might be the fifth-best receiver on everyone’s board, but taking him at 19 is too high, especially for a team that has to fill a lot of holes. A better assumption might be that he’s taken towards the end of Round 1 or, as a worst-case scenario, immediately when the draft opens on day two.