Mocks have been done to death so I won’t put you through another. Instead, here is what would make my draft weekend.
Eagles trade one spot ahead of Dallas to take TE Darnell Washington
(And bonus for David Akers coming out again to announce the pick)
Dallas is absolutely going to look for a top tight end in this draft, I think likely with their pick in the 1st. Darnell has been one of “my guys” all along and I don’t want the Eagles to take him to spite Dallas, but because it is a brilliant pick.
Howie has prided himself on staying ahead of trends and no prospect – not a top receiver, not a running back, nobody – could as uniquely impact the offense as much as Darnell. Here’s why:
A real, two pass-catcher 12 personnel could be the biggest advantage that teams use against today’s two-high defenses:
- After years of declining 12 personnel usage, innovative teams like the Chiefs and Eagles are increasing use of 12 personnel as a response to light boxes
- 12 personnel forces modern defenses into a bad decision, dramatically raising heavy box rates from 19% to 72% of snaps as they have both an extra gap and receiver to cover
- Passing against heavy boxes is 60% more efficient, generating an EPA/pass of 0.19 vs. 0.12 against light boxes
- Passing out of 12 is dramatically more efficient, generating 0.15 EPA/play vs. 0.03 from 11 personnel league-wide
David and I have been (half) joking about #superoffense mock drafts for weeks where the Eagles strengthen the offense this year – and this does this more than just what a single player could do.
Some will say why use a high pick on a player that will rarely get on the field, but the Eagles secondary TEs have averaged slightly more snaps than their WR3 over the past 5 years. And a WR3 won’t force the defense to change structurally. @TheHonestNFL posted on this value:
If we aren’t taking Gonzalez, give me the best mid-round, finger-wagging, physical corner
Howie is likely not in the market for Gonzalez or Devon at 10 and after signing both Slay and Bradberry, most have moved on from corner as a need. But nobody has drafted or signed more corners the past several years than Howie and there is still room on this roster for somebody that does what Desai wants.
And Oregon State’s Rejzohn Wright is my guy.
Desai wants more physical corners that will disrupt routes? Check. A good zone corner that showed he can smother top receivers? Check. The unteachable finger-wagging confidence? Check.
- Long and good athlete at 6’2″, 200 lbs
- Physical and disruptive that frustrates receivers – Jordan Addison had his worst game of the year against Rejzohn where he allowed 1 catch on 2 targets for 4 yards
- Excels in zone coverage where he has the play in front of him
I love corners and love how cocky they can be – it is the toughest position to play (besides QB) and you have to play that way. Eric Crocker, former NFL and AFL CB that played for the Jets, said Rejzohn may talk more trash than he did.
Howie, you don’t have to take Gonzalez or Devon, but bring me Rejzohn.
I’m not asking for much, just pick up a punter
I will go to my grave saying it is worth a pick to take a punter but like a top corner, I know that Howie won’t do it. But he can still bring a punter in and has to.
The Eagles ultimately lost the Super Bowl because they couldn’t stop Mahomes and the Chiefs offense, but there are a handful of plays that if they went a different way, could have still tilted the game their way. Siposs’ punt is one of them.
At least two of the top three punters – Michael Turk, Bryce Baringer, and Brad Robbins – will be drafted meaning there are still going to be good options as UDFAs. Howie, bring in somebody:
- If Brad Robbins somehow doesn’t get drafted, he needs to be the first call made in the UDFA period
- Ethan Evans, the DII diamond-in-the-rough with a big leg
- Issac Power, who had a really down year in 2022 but if that was largely due to the Vapor Elite balls, Power could be the steal of the draft
- Adam Korsak I was not high on as he doesn’t have a pro hangtime, but if the Eagles continue to largely punt from short-fields, he would be a fit
And finally, just give me somebody from my “my guys” list
I haven’t formally done a “my guys” list so will do it here. Last year I had to watch as Baltimore took three guys from my list and hope Howie throws me a bone this year:
- QB – nobody, I hate watching and scouting QBs
- WR – Marvin Mims
- TE – Darnell Washington
- OL – O’Cyrus Torrence, Darnell Wright, Kadeem Telfort
- RB – Tank Bigsby
- DT – Keeanu Benton, Gervon Dexter
- EDGE – Nolan Smith, Felix Anudike-Uzomah
- LB – Dorian Williams, SirVocea Dennis
- SAF – Chris Smith
- CB – Gonzalez (my impractical one), Rejzohn Wright
- P – Michael Turk
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