ESPN's Field Yates came out with his second mock draft since August. While many think the Eagles make a push for an offensive weapon to help Jalen Hurts, Yates believes Philly sticks with a defensive player, specifically a cornerback.
While Quinyon Mitchell has been at an All-Pro level consistently, the Eagles have struggled with finding a suitable running mate across the field from him. The trio of Kelee Ringo, Adoree' Jackson, and Jakorian Bennett has produced mixed results, leaving a gaping hole in the secondary. Another concern is that the Eagles' fifth-round pick, Mac McWilliams, has yet to make an impact, despite the team's dealing with so many injuries and ineffective play at the cornerback position.
Yates believes that the Eagles will take a chance on Tennessee Volunteers cornerback Jermod McCoy.
"The Eagles need to add to their cornerback depth opposite Quinyon Mitchell, and we know Philly is a team that always finds value. This would be a calculated risk, as McCoy did not play at all this season after an ACL tear in January. Some scouts believe he is a top-10 prospect, while others are dubious he will even go in the first round without any tape this season. But his elite skill set was obvious with the Volunteers last season, resulting in four interceptions and nine pass breakups. And the Eagles have taken a chance on injured prospects before, drafting linebackerJihaad Campbell in April despite some concern over a left shoulder injury."
How McCoy would fit into Vic Fangio's defense in Philly
McCoy earned All-SEC honors in 2024 after transferring from Oregon State his freshman year. McCoy possesses elite-ball skills, a natural transition in his hips, and the ability to play both man and zone in a Vic Fangio-led scheme.
It is also worth noting that last season, the Eagles took a chance on Jihaad Campbell in the first round of the 2025 NFL draft. Campbell also dealt with a left shoulder injury coming out of college.
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With the recent array of injuries, poor play, and falling short of expectations, the Eagles are now in a position to draft high-impact players in the first several rounds of the draft. Coupled with the possibility of not retaining talent due to the cap, if the Eagles "hit" on McCoy as they have with young secondary players recently, like Cooper DeJean, Mitchell, and Andrew Mukuba, Philadelphia should be able to have high-impact playmakers at a low dollar cost for the foreseeable future.