10 prospects besides Brian Branch Eagles can draft to replace Gardner-Johnson

Cameron Mitchell and Jartavius Martin top the list of the best Eagles safety prospects who are not named Brian Branch.

Some list Jartavius ‘Quan’ Johnson as a corner. Some call him a safety. We think it would be wise to call him a football player and use him all over your defensive formation.

Look at it this way, If Quan doesn’t fit your scheme as a defensive coordinator, you may want to alter it and find a way to include him. He’s six-foot tall. He tips the scales at 195 pounds. He can play safety, and he can play both slot and outside corner if there are any injuries.

Pro Football Focus ranks Antonio Johnson as the 2023 class’s second-best safety and as their 64th-ranked player overall. We agree. This safety/slot cornerback hybrid stands at six-foot-two and tips the scales at 198 pounds. He also honed his skills in the mighty SEC West.

25 games in three seasons produced 164 tackles, two sacks, an interception, and four forced fumbles. He missed a portion of his final season because of injuries, but he played well toward the end of the campaign. His skill set will translate nicely to the next level.

Final thoughts

Who are we kidding? Though we often criticize the Philadelphia Eagles for devaluing the safety position, through the years we have gotten spoiled by the talent.

Brian Dawkins is in his own class. Malcolm Jenkins became a legend. We have even seen some of the most underrated Birds ever flourish and play well (Michael Lewis and Quintin Mikell).

There’s a chance that there’s no one in this class that can play at those levels. There’s also a chance that there’s a future Hall of Famer in the bunch. You never know.

For now, we’ll stick with our theory that Brian Branch is a star in waiting, and the rest of this list contains some surprises. With that being said, we await the draft patiently. Might one of these guys join the Eagles’ nest? We won’t have to wait much longer to be given our answer.

Former Eagles that still owe Philadelphia a refund years later

Do you ever think about some of the players that the Philadelphia Eagles have signed in the past and thought, "Man, that was a strange or weird addition