Whom will the Eagles take in the first-round of the 2019 NFL Draft?
We likely won’t know for sure until late Thursday night, but there seems to be a consensus that the Eagles will address their defense with the No. 25 pick (if they don’t trade up or out of the first round).
Former Eagles scout Daniel Jeremiah, who will assume the lead spot on the NFL Network’s coverage of the draft now that Mike Mayock is with the Oakland Raiders, thinks the Eagles will select Clemson defensive end Clelin Ferrell (which is pronounced CLEE-lihn, by the way).
But both ESPN’s resident draft expert Mel Kiper Jr. and NBC Sports’ Peter King think the Eagles will be thinking about their offense, and will draft Oklahoma wide receiver Marquise Brown. Here’s what my colleague Paul Domowitch wrote about Brown:
Brown is a DeSean Jackson clone who averaged 18.3 yards per catch with 17 touchdown receptions in two seasons at Oklahoma. He had Lisfranc surgery in February and didn’t work out before the draft, but there are no questions about his speed. He can take the top off a defense. There are some concerns about his size, but Jackson has managed to survive 12 NFL seasons.
Eagles beat writers Domowitch, Zach Berman, and Les Bowen all think the Eagles will select Clemson defensive lineman Dexter Lawrence with tonight’s No. 25 pick. Jeff McLane is the odd man out, but he’s also sticking with defense, predicting the Birds will take Mississippi State defensive lineman Jeffery Simmons, despite his ACL injury.
Last year, Berman correctly predicted that the Eagles would trade out of the first round. And in 2017, Berman nailed the Eagles’ selection of Tennessee defensive end Derek Barnett with the No. 14 pick. Barnett went on to recover Tom Brady’s fumble late in Super Bowl LII, essentially sealing the Eagles’ first Super Bowl title.
Here is a round-up of the players national media pundits think the Eagles could end up selecting in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft:
Mel Kiper, ESPN: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
If you’re keeping count, Brown would be the first wide receiver picked. I can see a few 75-yard catch-and-runs in his future with Carson Wentz throwing him the ball. He’d be a teammate of his closest pro comp, Desean Jackson.
Todd McShay, ESPN: Byron Murphy, CB, Washington
Injuries hit the Philly secondary last season -- not a single cornerback started at least nine games. Murphy has the ball skills and instincts to really excel in the Eagles’ zone coverage scheme.
Daniel Jeremiah, NFL.com: Clelin Ferrell, DE, Clemson
I could see the Eagles trading back, but in this scenario, they take the best player available in the trenches and one of the cleaner players in the draft.
Peter King, NBC: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
Some love him. Some think he’s too wispy at 166, and they’re worried that he enters the NFL nursing a foot injury, and he might be prone to injury in the big-boy league. But he is one big threat. Instinctive and fearless too. Could be that DeSean Jackson gives the Eagles one last season, and then Brown steps in as the deep threat Carson Wentz can grow with into middle-age. Two cautions: GM Howie Roseman struck out on the free-agent he wanted, running back Tevin Coleman, and he could steal his RB1, Josh Jacobs, from the Raiders and Colts in trade. And Roseman is not fearful of drafting a guy (Sidney Jones, round two, 2017) who has to sit most or all of his rookie year with an injury. So I’d watch Jeffery Simmons here too.
Charlie Casserly, NFL.com: Dexter Lawrence, DT, Clemson
Lawrence is a big run-stopper who should team well with Malik Jackson and Fletcher Cox to fortify the middle of the Eagles’ defensive front.
Albert Breer, Sports Illustrated: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State
Philly is in an awesome spot. The roster is in good shape, they don’t have to press needs, and they can take a risk on a falling player who’s outrageously athletic and a good schematic fit for their defense.
Charles Davis, NFL.com: Johnathan Abram, S, Mississippi State
The Eagles are thinking about the future at safety with Rodney McLeod coming off injury and due to hit free agency in 2020. Abram will be a hard-hitting tone-setter in the secondary.
Will Brinson, CBS Sports: Jeffery Simmons, DL, Mississippi State
Feels like the type of team willing to take a redshirt risk on a potential top-10 player who got hurt during the offseason, for a reduced cost.
John Clayton, Washington Post: Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
The Eagles have needs along their offensive and defensive lines, but they always seem to be looking for cornerbacks. Baker is a good one.
Danny Kelly, The Ringer: Cody Ford, T, Oklahoma
Built like a refrigerator but moves with surprising ease; has the versatility to play guard or tackle at the next level.
Cris Collinsworth, Pro Football Focus: Devin Bush, LB, Michigan
The Eagles catch a break with Bush falling to this position as he possesses 4.43 speed, an explosive 40-inch vertical and is the reigning Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year. He does have a squatty body who can get swallowed up by big OL sometimes, but his speed flashes and gives the Eagles new blitz and coverage possibilities. At just 5-foot-11, covering big TEs may be a concern, but quickness to cover backs will be a huge asset. He may keep the Eagles out of dime defenses.
Walter Cherepinsky, WalterFootball.com: Marquise Brown, WR, Oklahoma
The Eagles have a major dilemma with Nelson Agholor. It was reported today that the Eagles are looking to trade Agholor, but why? Well, he's due $10 million this year, which is way too much for him. The Eagles have approached him about a contract extension, but Agholor has reportedly made unreasonable demands. Thus, Philadelphia is looking to deal him.
With that in mind, there's a very good chance the Eagles use their first-round pick on Marquise Brown. The Oklahoma product is very much like DeSean Jackson, who happened to sign with Philadelphia this offseason. However, Jackson is just a 1- or 2-year rental, and Philadelphia needs a long-term deep threat for Carson Wentz. Brown is a small receiver (5-11, 162), but he can bolt for the end zone any time he gets his hands on the ball.
Inquirer writers’ mock drafts
• Eagles add 342-pound defensive tackle at No. 25 | Zach Berman
• Eagles won’t trade up, but might trade down | Les Bowen
• Eagles get stronger on defense | Paul Domowitch
• Eagles opt for pro potential despite injury concerns | Jeff McLane
More NFL draft coverage
• If the Eagles trade up in the draft, it will likely be for a top-tier defensive tackle
• NFL draft prospect Marquise Brown, who grew up an Eagles fan, isn’t really the ‘Hollywood’ guy his nickname suggests
• The Eagles’ priority in the NFL draft should be protection for Carson Wentz | Bob Ford
• You can bet on the NFL draft, and some of the props are wild
• Five thoughts about the Eagles’ coming draft | Early Birds
• NFL draft analyst Ben Fennell’s top prospects at each position
• Howie Roseman has a type in the NFL draft. What does that mean for Thursday?