Eagles seven-round mock draft as Philly enjoys its own season of March Madness
Wow! What a month! In some ways, it flew by. Can you believe spring is here and April is around the corner? Here's the good news. We've been able to stop and smell the roses. In some ways, it feels like time is dragging along. Why does it feel like the NFL Combine was three months ago? Oh well... There's been no shortage of discussion as our Philadelphia Eagles have certainly kept us busy.
Since March 1st, the Birds have released Kevin Byard and Avonte Maddox. They've also said goodbye to some other familiar faces. Fear not, they also added everyone from Saquon Barkley, Bryce Huff, C.J. Gardner-Johnson, Kenny Pickett, and Devin White to Oren Burks, Tyler Hall, P.J. Mustipher, Parris Campbell, and Will Grier.
Oh, they've been busier than that, but you get the idea. Howie Roseman and his staff have been grinding.
The focus now shifts to the 2024 NFL Draft, one in Brandon Graham's hometown (Detroit). What the heck? How about a few guesses?
Worth checking out: Eagles free-agency tracker
March Madness isn't just limited to NCAA basketball. We've gone 'mad' with yet another mock draft.
If you're like us, your NCAA bracket is in shambles. Who cares, right? None of us expected to nail the thing anyway.
Who are we kidding? This is football country. The 76ers prepare for the postseason. The Phillies are ready for another MLB season. We're more concerned with what Philly will do with those eight picks.
Something tells us Howie Roseman will use a couple as collateral to maneuver his way around the draft board. Buckle up. Here's some unsolicited advice.
Round 1, Pick 22 - Chop Robinson, EDGE, Penn State
Yep! We want an edge rusher, and they don't come much better than this guy. Chop Robinson put in work at Penn State.
We're assuming Dallas Turner, Jared Verse, and Laiatu Latu are all off the board by the time Philly is on the clock. That would make Chop the best option, one Philly would be satisfied with.
Round 2, Pick 50 (from New Orleans) - Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Yep! Another UGA star... But, if they play cornerback, and they're as good as Kamari Lassiter, why not? He'll hear his name called early on Day 2 of the NFL Draft.
He's a good player with great instincts. he stands at five-foot-eleven and tips the scales at 186 pounds. Might that make him a slot guy? Philly could certainly use one.
Round 2, Pick 53 - Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
We double-dip in the edge rusher pool here with the selection of Bralen Trice. He stands at six-foot-three and tips the scales at 245 pounds. He stacked 49 tackles, seven sacks and one pass breakup in his final season with the Huskies.
Round 4 - Pick 120 (from Pittsburgh) - Mason McCormick, guard, South Dakota State
Some give Mason McCormick sixth-round grades. Some say he's more of a fourth-round guy. We subscribe to the former theory. We're fans.
He comes from Dallas Goedert's old stomping grounds, South Dakota State. Who knows? Maybe Philly's star tight end is making his pitch for him.
Round 5, Pick 161 (from Tampa Bay) - Jaylin Simpson, defensive back, Auburn
Jaylin Simpson is one of the better do-it-all guys you can get on Day 3. He can play as a free safety or assist in the slot. This one makes sense as a guy Phily can use on special teams while coaching him up to be a contributor.
Round 5, Pick 171 (compensatory pick) - JD Bertrand, linebacker, Notre Dame
J.D. Bertrand has been very dependable for the Irish despite being overshadowed by fellow Notre Dame linebacker Marist Liufau. J.D. should begin his career as a backup and special teamer, but having Nakobe Dean and Devin White buys Philly some time.
Round 5, Pick 172 (comp) - Luke McCaffrey, wide receiver, Rice
We all know the love jones Eagles management had for Christian McCaffrey, but the Carolina Panthers had a higher draft pick, so with the NFL Draft in Philly in 2017, they ruined the fantasy.
Luke McCaffrey isn't as talented as his brother. He doesn't have the size of his father. Luke can ball though, and if we're figuring out what to do with a comp pick, we're cool with the gamble. He's a six-foot-two, 198-pounder who racked First-team All-AAC honors in 2023.
Round 6, Pick 210 (comp) - Brevyn Spann-Ford, tight end, Minnesota
We wrap this one with the selection of a tight end, but a good one. Brevyn Spann-Ford, at six-foot-seven and 268 pounds, would be impossible to miss in the red zone or in short-yardage situations. He'd also give the Eagles another backup option for Dallas Goedert.
We aren't too pumped about the prospects with Albert Okwuegbunam or Grant Calcaterra.