Upon the writing of this article, the 2020 NFL draft is just 13 days away. With time running out, NFL general managers and scouts must quickly finish compiling their draft boards. For us fans, however, we’ve got 13 more exciting days of draft speculation.
Philadelphia has potentially the most interesting draft selection of the year. At 21, the Eagles’ have plenty of options, including the option to trade up, trade back, or take the best available player. With this multitude of possibilities, the Eagles have plenty of prospects to choose from. Today, I’ll be going over my top 5 draft prospects for Philly to select come draft night.
Ceedee Lamb, WR, Oklahoma
As most fans have probably heard by now, reports say Howie Roseman and co. aren’t looking to trade up in the first round. However, it’s hard to see why they wouldn’t with a prospect like Ceedee Lamb available.
Lamb is perhaps the best playmaker in the draft. With many comparing him to Cardinals’ receiver Deandre Hopkins, Lamb is seen by many as the best receiver in this years draft. The Oklahoma product has strong hands and great size, yet is surprisingly quick and great after the catch. Although he won’t take the top off a defense, he makes up for it by winning jump balls, running crisp routes, and getting yards after the catch. He’s the best all-around receiver in the draft and would give Wentz a target that is unlike many others in the league.
The biggest issue with taking Lamb is that it’d be very difficult for Philly to draft him. Howie would more than likely have to trade up into the top ten to get him. That may not be a price he’s willing to pay. This pick is an absolute dream selection for Philadelphia, but whether or not Howie will pull the trigger to make it happen is yet to be seen.
Justin Jefferson, WR, LSU
So if what’s expected to happen happens and Howie sticks with the 21st pick, Jefferson is the guy the Eagles’ are reportedly most interested in. And how couldn’t they be? Like Lamb, Jefferson is a great all-around receiver with plenty of upside after playing for the national champion LSU Tigers.
Although initially touted as a slot receiver, Jefferson is incredibly versatile, being able to play outside as well. He’s got some of the best hands in the country and has a knack for finding openings during scramble drills. He’s incredibly quick while also having good size and being a solid jump-ball receiver. Overall, Jefferson’s no Ceedee Lamb, but it’s not settling if Philly decides to take this guy at 21. His talent speaks for itself, and his skills should translate well to the next level.
Logan Wilson, LB, Wyoming
This is the part where I’ll start to delve into some later round picks, with Wilson being an excellent third-round prospect. With linebacker being the Eagles’ second-biggest need outside of wide receiver, don’t be surprised if Howie pulls the trigger on this guy day two.
Logan Wilson’s a guy who’s been flying up draft boards and for a good reason. He’s incredibly smart, has great instincts, and, despite not being the most athletic, flies to the ball. He’s an excellent tackler and, although he can get a bit over-aggressive and overrun tackles occasionally, doesn’t let go once contact is made. Coverage skills are his biggest weakness, but his intelligence can easily make up for any holes in his game.
Wilson reminds me a lot of Luke Kuechly. He’s smart, instinctive, and a sure tackler. Wilson’s a lock to be picked if he falls to pick 103, but honestly, don’t be surprised if Philly takes him in the second round. He’s that good.
AJ Dillon, RB, Boston College
I’m going to say this now so it’s known right off the bat: AJ Dillon is my favorite player in the draft. He’s the perfect complement to Miles Sanders and fills a huge need for Philly. If you haven’t watched his highlight tape before, I suggest you do that now, because honestly, this guy is fun to watch.
To start, he’s built nearly identically to Derrick Henry. The guys massive, yet despite being as big as he is, runs with deceptive quickness and burst. However, his speeds not what Philly would be drafting him for. Dillon runs like a truck and is nearly impossible to bring down once he gets going. In short down and goal-line situations, he’s not going to be denied his yards and runs angry. As I said before, Dillon is the perfect compliment to Sanders’ quickness and would make for a formidable one-two punch in the Eagles’ backfield.
At the moment, it’s hard to tell which round is best to take Dillon. I’ve seen mocks having him go as early as the second and late as the sixth. Because of this, I view Dillon is an ideal fourth-round pick for Philly, but honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Howie took him in the third. Dillon is an excellent player and would be fun to watch in midnight green.
K’Von Wallace, S, Clemson
And last but not least, I’ve got to talk about a guy from my hometown of Richmond, Virginia. K’Von Wallace is a prospect who’s been flying under the radar for most of this offseason. However, watch his tape, and you’ll see the Clemson product shine during his four years there.
As I’ve been giving player comparisons for most of these players, I’ll give one here that should make lots of Eagles’ fans happy: Malcolm Jenkins. Like Jenkins, Wallace is excellent up at the line of scrimmage. He’s an excellent blitzer and a hard hitter. Despite playing at the safety spot, he finished fourth in tackles for Clemson last season behind three linebackers, one being top ten draft prospect Isaiah Simmons. He also shows very good instincts in zone coverage, although his man coverage skills are a bit lacking. However, all in all, Wallace is a great player who could easily battle for the open safety job next season.
Wallace is another guy who is difficult to judge in terms of which round he’ll be drafted. He could be a fourth-round guy, which is great for Philly as they’ve got three picks then. Late fourth round to early fifth round is probably the best time to draft this guy–any later, and he’s an absolute steal. Wallace would fit right into the Eagles’ defense and could be a significant special teams contributor. Overall, this is a can’t-miss selection for Philly.
