I can confidently say without exaggeration that this is the most important blog post you will ever read in your life. the 2022 nfl draft starts tonight and that means it’s time to reveal my first and only 7-round philadelphia eagles mock draft.
To keep in mind, the preliminary network simulator was used for this exercise. I also discussed my picks (and alternatives) further with Jimmy Kempski, who also revealed his latest drill, in the latest episode of the BGN Radio Podcast, which you can listen to below or [by clicking here] :
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1st round (15th overall) – jameson williams, wr, alabama
there’s a lot of noise connecting williams with philly. it makes sense. With a 19.9 receiving yards mark at Alabama last year, Williams is an explosive stretcher. The Eagles struck out several times while trying to improve their wide receiving corps this offseason. His best bet to improve that group now is to add Williams to the mix.
Concerns about Williams’ ACL recovery are overblown. video clips of him jogging and moving well have recently circulated. He could be back on the field sooner than people think, not unlike Landon Dickerson’s track last year.
jamo would be a safe pick in the top 10 if he didn’t get hurt. Heck, it could still make the top 10 with Atlanta (#8) and NYJ (#10) threatening to take it. if it falls to no. 15, is an obvious pick.
1st round (18th overall) – george karlaftis, from, purdue
Let me start by saying that I think the eagles prefer to switch lower from this pick. and I also. But Philly may not be able to find a partner to deal with.
opinions on karlaftis vary to the point where there is talk that he could be out of the first round. He doesn’t have the sexiest pass-rusher profile in terms of being super edgy and/or extremely productive in terms of sacks. But the pressure metrics indicate that Karlaftis is very disruptive as a fullback, not unlike Brandon Graham.
karlaftis just turned 21 earlier this month, so I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet. there is untapped potential here. With Graham out the door in the near future and Derek Barnett out after this season, the Eagles could afford to add more top talent. Karlaftis will be part of the rotation in Year 1 before taking on a larger role in Year 2 and beyond.
Round 2 (#51 overall): Chad Muma, lb, Wyoming
como señaló jimmy en el podcast, los aficionados de los eagles pueden gritar “¡muuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuupuuuuuuuuuuupuuuuuuuuuuuuupuuuuuuuuuuupupupidiosssssssssssss! (como el canto duuuuuuuuuuuuuce en el pasado) en el linc después de que hace una gran jugada es razón suficiente para reclutar a este tipo.
Seriously though, muma is a very athletic linebacker with good size. with three interceptions and two defensive touchdowns last year, he has a history of making plays. Atletico’s Dane Brugler described him as a “high-energy tackling machine with excellent game speed.”
with kyzir white on a one year deal and t.j. Edwards will become a free agent after this season, the Eagles must think about the present and the future as a linebacker. muma is a plug-and-play contributor that projects as a long-term piece.
Round 3 (#83 overall) – Cam Jurgens, C, Nebraska
there’s a rumor going around that jurgens won’t get past the eagles’ second-round pick. then maybe it won’t be close to no. 83. but hey he did it in my sim so take it with tdn.
Although small, jurgens has long arms (78th percentile) and large hands (62nd percentile). Furthermore, he is very athletic.
Jurgens’ wording gives the Eagles a possible successor to Jason Kelce and allows Landon Dickerson to remain on guard. It was long thought Isaac Seumalo would move to center after Kelce left… but Ike is a free agent after this season and has only been available for 12 of a possible 38 games the past two seasons. seumalo might be an underrated trade candidate considering the birds could make $5.65 million from a post-June 1 trade.
3rd round (#101) – marcus jones, cb/kr/pr, houston
the eagles invited jones for a pre-draft visit. He’s tiny at just 5’8″, 174lbs. But how can you not be intrigued by his ball production? The guy intercepted nine passes and had 31 passes defensed in college. Not to mention he’s an elite returner with six touchdowns. kick return touchdowns and three kick return touchdowns. houston even used him occasionally as an offensive weapon. the eagles might be tempted to do the same after seeing nick sirianni find a way to bring darius slay (as a decoy) into the offense last year.
Jones isn’t shaping up to be the outside corner the Eagles could afford to add, but they shouldn’t be too caught up in the fit. If Jones is around this pick, it’s fine to draft a backup nickel who can provide serious value to special teams and can earn some offensive touches. just look for talent and discover the fit later.
fourth round (#124) – deangelo malone, delaware, western kentucky
malone is on the older side for a prospect considering he turns 23 in July. but he was very productive in five years (super senior!) at wku. the guy had 349 total tackles (59 for loss), 32.5 sacks, eight forced fumbles, seven pass breakups, two blocked kicks and one interception. Malone fits the undersized defensive end/Sam linebacker role that the Eagles apparently value under Jonathan Gannon. they could afford more bodies there because what currently happens if haason reddick gets hurt? did the eagles just remove that type of player from their defense? After adding a more traditional 4-3 defensive end in Karlaftis earlier, the Eagles can go for a 3-4 edge rusher here.
5th round (#154) – hassan haskins, rb, michigan
haskins is a bigger, powerful back. He is 6’2″, 228 pounds, and benched 27 reps at the NFL combine (94th percentile). Haskins recorded 20 touchdowns last year, which is a testament to his value in the red zone and in yards. The Eagles’ offense benefited from the resurgence of Jordan Howard last year and Haskins may be a Joho replacement.
Even if they’re not haskins, eagles should target a power at some point in this draft. especially if they’re going back to a team with a lot of running, which they probably will.
5th round (#162) – daniel bellinger, te, san diego state
bellinger didn’t have much of a production in college, but he’s only 21, has size and tested well with the second-best relative athletic score at his position. bellinger fits as a run-blocking te2 with more upside than jack stoll, who filled that role after last year’s zach ertz trade.
Lap 5 (#166) – Smoke Monday, s, brown
smoke monday clearly has the best name in this year’s draft. need I say more?
If so, I’ll mention that he was pretty productive in the second with 171 tackles (17 tackles for loss), 6 sacks, 5 inside, 8 rpg, 3 rpg and 1 ss.
smoke is known to be a great hitter who really loves the ball. perhaps the Eagles can move him to linebacker if coverage limitations prove to be problematic. looks like at least he would be a good special teams guy.
7th round (no. 237) – charleston rambo, wr, miami
Rambo is an underrated player. I remember him popping up when I watched Jalen Hurts’ Oklahoma highlights after the 2020 NFL draft. With a college average of 15.2 and 79 receptions for 1,172 yards and seven touchdowns last year, he’s worth a try this late in the game. why not match wounds with a familiar face?
reviews/notes
- I really loved jordan davis. he went off the board to the Ravens at no. 14, however.
- Not enough help on the inside defensive line. If the Eagles don’t get Davis, they have some interesting consolation prize options in trading from No. 18 or changing from no. 51. Perrion Winfrey and Travis Jones are names to watch.
- haskins and bellinger may have been hit if the eagles can feel they can fill those holes later on day 3 or udfa.
- Not enough secondary help for a team with serious question marks in the last seven.
- even after the saints deal, the eagles really should trade in this draft to get at least one more future pick in 2023 or 2024. with five teams (including the eagles) owning multiple first round picks next year , there is going to be an arms race for available qbs. the birds still need more ammo.