DTF Three-Round Mock Draft: Philadelphia Eagles Draft Picks

Over the past couple of weeks, the Defiant Takes Football writing staff completed a team mock draft where a collection of writers acted as each team’s GM, managing picks, trades, and the lot. This practice gave a much more realistic take on mock drafts, with multiple minds balancing the interests of their own teams to dictate the futures of their franchises. Today, we look at what I, Kyle Starrett, put together for the Philadelphia Eagles draft.

The Eagles currently hold four picks in the first two days of the draft, but as it goes with Howie Roseman, no one knows how many that will turn into. If anyone has a knack for moving throughout the draft board, it’s the Eagles’ GM. With that, we’ll take a closer look at who was picked, what trades were made, and some alternative selections that I couldn’t get myself to make.

Philadelphia Eagles Draft Picks

Former Georgia EDGE Nolan Smith (4) – Brett Davis/AP Photo

Round One, Pick 10: Nolan Smith (EDGE/Georgia)

To start the draft, the Philadelphia Eagles draft the athletically freakish Smith out of Georgia. Although an argument can be made that this doesn’t fill a need, everyone knows how much the Eagles value guys in the trenches, and you can’t get much better than the Georgia standout. Smith is a tall, long pass rusher with a ton of speed and bend, as well as a great ability to translate speed to power. In a defense that likes to rotate linemen, he gives the Eagles a backup to Haason Reddick and could eventually supplant the Pro Bowl edge rusher.

I settled on Smith because he felt like the best value left on the board at the pick. However, truthfully, this isn’t the guy I wanted. If you know me, you know how much I love running back Bijan Robinson, the generational talent out of Texas, but here, I just couldn’t get myself to take him at 10. Ideally, a trade back would have happened, allowing the Eagles to grab some more picks as well as who I think is the best player in the draft, but alas, that’s just not how the board fell.

Former Pittsburgh Defensive Tackle Calijah Kancey (8) – Pittsburgh Athletics

Round One, Pick 30: Calijah Kancey (DT/Pittsburgh)

Speaking of guys I love, Kancey is truly a game-changer. Sure, Jalen Carter is a force along the defensive line and deserves the hype he is getting, but for my money, I would rather have the more refined, higher-motor pass rusher that is Kancey. At 30, this is (in my opinion) the best value pick in the draft, with a potential top-ten player in the class going at the back end of day one.

Kancey is an elite NFL pass rusher. I don’t care that he hasn’t played a snap in the league. There are guys a half decade-plus into their careers who don’t have the arsenal of pass rush moves this guy does. Combine this technical savvy with his full-body strength, and you’ve got a guy destined for a solid career. Pair this skillset with the massive, powerful Jordan Davis, and you’ve got a truly unstoppable interior pass rush.

TRADE: Philadelphia Receives Picks 70 and 109, Las Vegas Receives Pick 62

Searching for a deal to grab a few more day two picks, this one completely fits the bill. In this scenario, Vegas jumped up to draft their successor to Jimmy Garoppolo in Hendon Hooker, a massive steal for them, while Philadelphia settled to add some capital. This draft doesn’t have as much top talent as many over the past few years, but it’s filled with intriguing day two and three picks, meaning the more of those you have, the better off you are. This was a win-win for both sides.

TRADE: Philadelphia Receives Picks 80 and 96, Pittsburgh Receives Pick 70

Yes, a second trade back in a row. This one came due to the same reason as the first–a lot of talent was sliding, and I felt there were players that would fall to me later in the third round. The Steelers traded up to select DJ Turner out of Michigan, a good pick in its own right, but given the bulk of talent remaining, it was a good move for Philadelphia.

Former Clemson Linebacker Trenton Simpson (22) – Jamie Rhodes/USA TODAY Sports

Round Three, Pick 80: Trenton Simpson (LB/Clemson)

This was by no means the plan, mostly due to the fact that Simpson should have never fallen this far, to begin with. Sure, he’s incredibly unrefined and doesn’t flash many of the technical skills you’d want out of a top pick, but what coach wouldn’t want the chance to coach this athletic freak? At pick 80, he’s an absolute steal and just shouldn’t have been available.

The Eagles do not have a true need at linebacker. Nakobe Dean is going to be the long-term starter–he is just so talented–and Nicholas Morrow fills in to replace TJ Edwards in the defense. However, getting a guy in the building to develop (which he desperately needs) and eventually replace Morrow is not a bad plan, especially if that guy has elite athletic traits like Simpson.

TRADE: Philadelphia Receives Pick 84, Miami Receives Picks 96 and 109

There’s a player that I couldn’t risk losing here. If you think about the Eagles’ needs, safety is one of the biggest, and at this point in the draft, there was a player left with the ball skills to replace the impact CJ Gardner-Johnson had on the defense. Miami gets a nice haul for a late third, and the Eagles get an instant-impact player who provides great third-round value.

Former Illinois Cornerback Jartavius Martin (21) – Illinois Athletics

Round Three, Pick 84: Jartavius Martin (DB/Illinois)

Ball skills, ball skills, ball skills. That’s what Martin brings to the table no matter where he lines up on the field. Martin seems to be lacking the hype of other rising defensive backs, partially because he’s not the typical outside corner. This is why I drafted him as a “DB” rather than a “CB”–his position versatility is another quality that separates him from the pack.

No matter where he plays, this pick just makes sense for Philly. Despite being 5′ 11, he can easily slide in as an elite coverage safety, and if the Eagles need a guy to slide down to the nickel in a couple of years, he can do that too. He fills multiple needs for the Philadelphia defense and is just a monster pick in the late third round.

Former Texas Defensive Tackle Moro Ojomo (98) – Jay Biggerstaff/USA TODAY Sports

Round Three, Pick 94: Moro Ojomo (DT/Texas)

After picking Kancey in the first, why double-dip at defensive tackle? Well, there are two reasons for that, the first being the need for depth on the Eagles’ defensive front. Fletcher Cox is on the backend of his career, and as good as Jordan Davis, Milton Williams, and the projected Calijah Kancey are, the future prospects of adding Ojomo to that group are very strong.

Although not as athletic, Ojomo is essentially the run-stopping Kancey. His hand use is exactly what you want out of an NFL defensive lineman, and he is strong enough inside to control the line of scrimmage. He’s a work-in-progress when it comes to his pass rush, but with Kancey and Williams on the roster (according to this draft), he can be used in a similar role to Davis while he develops.

Full DTF Three-Round Mock Draft

1. 1. 1. CAR: CJ Stroud, QB Ohio State (Film Breakdown)
    2. HOU: Bryce Young, QB Alabama (Film Breakdown)
    3. ARI: Will Anderson Jr., ED Alabama (Film Breakdown)
    4. IND: Anthony Richardson, QB Florida (Film Breakdown)
    5. SEA: Jalen Carter, IDL Georgia (Film Breakdown)
    6. DET: Tyree Wilson, ED Texas Tech (Film Breakdown)
    7. LV: Christian Gonzalez, CB Oregon (Film Breakdown)
    8. ATL: Devon Witherspoon, CB Illinois
    9. CHI: Peter Skoronski, OT Northwestern
    10. PHI: Nolan Smith, ED Georgia (Film Breakdown)
    11. TEN: Broderick Jones, OT Georgia (Film Breakdown)
    12. HOU: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR Ohio State (Film Breakdown)
    13. LAC: Jordan Addison, WR USC (Film Breakdown)
    14. NE: Paris Johnson Jr., OT Ohio State (Film Breakdown)
    15. NYJ: Darnell Wright, OT Tennessee (Film Breakdown)
    16. WAS: Brian Branch, DB Alabama
    17. PIT: Dawand Jones, OT Ohio State (Film Breakdown)
    18. DET: Quentin Johnston, WR TCU (Film Breakdown)
    19. TB: O’Cyrus Torrence, G, Florida
    20. SEA: Michael Mayer, TE Notre Dame (Film Breakdown)
    21. GB: Myles Murphy, ED Clemson (Film Breakdown)
    22. BAL: Joey Porter Jr., CB Penn State
    23. MIN: Will Levis, QB, Kentucky (Film Breakdown)
    24. JAC: Kelee Ringo, CB Georgia
    25. NYG: Bijan Robinson, RB Texas (Film Breakdown)
    26. DAL: Steve Avila, G TCU
    27. BUF: Jack Campbell, LB Iowa (Film Breakdown)
    28. CIN: Dalton Kincaid, TE Utah
    29. NO: Lukas Van Ness, ED Iowa (Film Breakdown)
    30. PHI: Calijah Kancey, IDL Pitt
    31. KC: Anton Harrison, OT Oklahoma
    32. PIT: Mazi Smith, IDL Michigan
    33. HOU: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB Alabama
    34. ARI: Deonte Banks, CB Maryland
    35. IND: Cam Smith, CB South Carolina
    36. LAR: Emmanuel Forbes, CB Mississippi State
    37. SEA: Daiyan Henley, LB Washington State
    38. LV: Bryan Bresee, IDL Clemson (Film Breakdown)
    39. CAR: Darnell Washington, TE Georgia (Film Breakdown)
    40. NO: Zay Flowers, WR Boston College (Film Breakdown)
    41. TEN: Josh Downs, WR North Carolina (Film Breakdown)
    42. GB: Cedric Tillman, WR Tennessee
    43. CHI: Jalin Hyatt, WR Tennessee (Film Breakdown)
    44. ATL: Adetomiwa Adebawore, ED Northwestern
    45. GB: Cody Mauch, G North Dakota State
    46. NE: Tuli Tuipulotu, ED USC
    47. WAS: John Michael Schmitz, C Minnesota
    48. NYJ: Joe Tippmann, C Wisconsin
    49. ARI: Matthew Bergeron, OT Syracuse
    50. TB: Jaelyn Duncan, OT Maryland
    51. MIA: Sam LaPorta, TE Iowa
    52. SEA: Luke Wypler, C Ohio State
    53. DET: Julius Brents, CB Kansas State
    54. SF: Wanya Morris, OT Oklahoma
    55. DET: Keanu Benton, IDL Wisconsin
    56. JAC: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, ED Kansas State
    57. NYG: Andrew Vorhees, G USC
    58. DAL: Will McDonald, ED Iowa State
    59. BUF: Luke Musgrave, TE Oregon State
    60. CIN: Clark Phillips III, CB Utah
    61. CHI: Siaki Ika, IDL Baylor
    62. LV: Hendon Hooker, QB Tennessee
    63. KC: Marvin Mims Jr., WR Oklahoma
    64. CHI: BJ Ojulari, ED LSU (Film Breakdown)
    65. HOU: Derick Hall, ED Auburn
    66. ARI: Keion White, ED Georgia Tech
    67. DEN: Tyrique Stevenson, CB Miami
    68. CLE: Tyler Scott, WR Cincinnati
    69. LAR: Tyler Steen, OT Alabama
    70. PIT: DJ Turner, CB Michigan
    71. NO: Drew Sanders, LB Arkansas
    72. TEN: Michael Wilson, WR Stanford
    73. HOU: Jammie Robinson, S Florida State
    74. DEN: Jordan Battle, S Alabama
    75. ATL: Tank Dell, WR Houston
    76. ATL: Isaiah Foskey, ED Notre Dame
    77. LAR: Eli Ricks, CB Alabama
    78. GB: JL Skinner, S Boise State
    79. IND: Isaiah McGuire, ED Missouri
    80. PHI: Trenton Simpson, LB Clemson (Film Breakdown)
    81. DET: Dorian Williams, LB Tulane
    82. TB: Tank Bigsby, RB Auburn
    83. DEN: Rashee Rice, WR SMU
    84. PHI: Jartavius Martin, CB Illinois
    85. GB: Luke Schoonmaker, TE Michigan
    86. DEN: Zach Charbonnet, RB UCLA (Film Breakdown)
    87. MIN: Gervon Dexter, IDL Florida
    88. JAC: Chandler Zavala, G NC State
    89. DEN: Byron Young, ED Tennessee
    90. DAL: Tyjae Spears, RB Tulane
    91. BUF: Colby Wooden, ED Missouri
    92. CIN: Antonio Johnson, S Texas A&M
    93. CAR: Devon Achane, RB Texas A&M
    94. PHI: Moro Ojomo, IDL Texas
    95. KC: Blake Freelund, OT BYU
    96. Nick Herbig, ED Wisconsin
    97. WAS: Zach Harrison, ED Ohio State
    98. DEN: Kayshon Boutte, WR LSU
    99. LAC: DeWayne McBride, RB UAB
    100. LV: Zach Kuntz, TE Old Dominion
    101. SF: KJ Henry, ED Clemson
    102. SF: Ji’Ayir Brown, S Penn State