Eagles mock draft: Philadelphia strikes a deal with Detroit Lions
By Ryan Loftus
The Eagles add solid depth pieces with their final three selections.
The latter portion of Howie’s drafts are often better than what we see him do early. Expect more of the same in 2022.
Round 5, Pick 162: Isaiah Thomas, EDGE rusher, Oklahoma
While the Eagles picked David Ojabo in the second round, they still could use a rotational pass rusher that will be healthy at the start of the season. Isaiah Thomas out of Oklahoma can come in and perform at an NFL level, despite being a fifth-round pick.
As a rotational player during his time at Oklahoma, he was quick to shed blocks and get to the quarterback. He’s also played multiple positions on the defense, and if that translates he gives the Birds the versatility to play him wherever they see fit.
Round 5, Pick 166: Mykael Wright, Cornerback, Oregon
The Eagles picked Kaiir Elam at 32 but look to double up on cornerback here with the selection of Mykael Wright out of Oregon. Wright brings speed to the Eagles’ secondary, and while he is only five-foot-eleven, he has impressive ball skills and is not afraid to get physical, making him a good depth piece to have in the secondary.
Round 7, Pick 237: Ben Brown, Offensive guard, Mississippi
After committing so many resources to improve the defense, the Eagles finally select an offensive lineman in the seventh round with guard/center Ben Brown. The Birds don’t have an immediate need for O-line depth at the moment. Their starting five should enter the season healthy. Nate Herbig, Jack Driscoll, and Andre Dillard are decent reserves.
Hot. 3 draft errors Philly has to stop repeating. light
Still, with so many key players aging and with Jason Kelce nearing retirement, an extra piece couldn’t hurt. Brown protected Matt Corral in half of the 2021 campaign before injuring his bicep, and his draft stock fell due to this injury. Getting him in Round 7 is a good value pick for the Eagles organization.
Notably, no quarterbacks are selected, but the Eagles have stockpiled more picks for 2023, and they could very well find a signal-caller post-draft in the pool of rookie free agents.