IT’S MOCK DRAFT MONDAY!
The road to the 2022 NFL Draft is chugging along. The Senior Bowl has come and gone. The Combine begins in a few weeks.
The NFL Draft is almost three months away and for front offices across the league, media outlets and fans, the opinions and evaluation on different prospects will fluctuate and shift considerably.
With that in mind, we present the second Eagles 7-Round Mock Draft on The Philly Blitz, by Pierrot Baptiste Jr.
Round 1 – Pick 15: George Karlaftis (DE) – Purdue
The Eagles select George Karlaftis who, in my opinion, is the best pure power pass rusher in this draft. He plays with high energy and effort. Karlaftis primarily wins as a power based pass rusher and is a legitimate mover of people. His hand power is undoubtedly his top trait and he combines that same trait with a bevy of counters and pass rush moves. You wanna talk about a game wrecker? Karlaftis is that.
The Eagles will draft an EDGE rusher with one of their three 1st-round picks (that’s if they keep all three), the only question is when. Karlaftis is a top ten player in this draft and if he slides to 15 there should be no questions asked in regards to selecting him.
He can line up as an every down DE with inside versatility. He’d give Philadelphia a franchise anchor for the next 10 years.
Round 1 – Pick 16: Andrew Booth Jr. (CB) – Clemson
The former five star recruit is an energetic competitor. Booth is an athletic specimen of sorts who plays with a ton of confidence both in coverage and as a tackler. Booth plays a physical brand of football as a tackler. He possesses enough long speed along with short area quickness and route anticipation to excel in man or zone coverage.
Booth Jr. is a perfect match for Jonathan Gannon’s zone heavy scheme.
Round 1 – Pick 19: Nakobe Dean (LB) – Georgia
The Eagles haven’t drafted a linebacker in the first round in 42 years. If there’s any draft in which that trend will change, it’s this draft where the Eagles have three selections in the opening round.
Linebacker is the Eagles’ barest from a pure talent perspective. And in Jonathan Gannon’s zone heavy scheme, it’s imperative that there is a linebacker with some playmaking capability on the roster.
Dean provides just that. He’s a true sideline-to-sideline linebacker who flies around the field like a mad man. The 2021 winner of the Butkus Award can impact both the passing game and run game with his quick and instinctive play. He led the Georgia defense in tackles for loss.
Dean slots in as a three down WILL linebacker who’s decisiveness and quick twitch ability make him too enticing for Philadelphia to pass up.
Round 2 – Pick 51: David Bell (WR) – Purdue
Every draft cycle, there is a wide receiver who is drafted in the 2nd round and NFL teams are left kicking themselves and wondering how they let the player drop past their grasp. For me, that player will be David Bell this year. I mocked Bell to the Eagles in my first mock draft and I am doing the same in my second mock draft.
Bell’s impressive body control at the catch point, route running prowess, and understanding of spatial leverage make him a perfect fit next to DeVonta Smith.
Round 3 – Pick 83: Cole Strange (IOL) – Chattanooga
After passing up on the opportunity to select Tyler Linderbaum in the first round, Philadelphia opts to select the versatile Senior Bowl standout, who they reportedly met with down in Mobile.
Strange is an aggressive and athletic blocker who’s played left guard, left tackle, and center during his collegiate career. He’s a mauler who’s intelligence gives him a leg up in pass and run blocking. Strange plays with a bit of a mean streak too.
With the ever-present element of a potential Jason Kelce departure, the Eagles stay true to their foundation and make sure they’re prepared for what ever is thrown at them.
Round 4 – Pick 122: Cole Turner (TE) – Nevada
The 6-foot-6 tight end brings his combination of size, versatility, and physicality to Philadelphia. He gives Nick Sirianni an added weapon in his arsenal that can impact matchups and personnel groupings. Turner has played both in-line as a traditional tight end and he’s been flexed out as a receiver.
Turner racked up over 1300 yards and 20 touchdowns in four years at Nevada.
Round 5 – Pick 153: Tyler Allgeier (RB) – BYU
Allgeier is a patient and powerful runner. He runs with deceptively quick feet for his size (220 pounds). Allgeier is a see hole-hit hole style back who has a second gear when he hits the open field. Allgeier also is a willing blocker. In this area of his game his strength is evident. He’s also sufficient as a pass catcher out of the backfield (28 catches for 199 yards in 2021).
The Eagles running back room will likely be in the market for a power back with Jordan Howard’s impending free agency.
Round 5 – Pick 161: Thomas Booker (DT) – Stanford
The Eagles add a very raw defensive tackle in Booker, who’s played up and down the defensive line. He’s lined up as a 0-tech DT all the way out to a 9-tech DE. His first step along with his versatility are likely his top traits. He could use a bit more development.
The big selling point with Booker is the player he can become with the proper development.
Round 5 – Pick 165: Nick Cross (S) – Maryland
The Eagles will likely address safety in free agency, but the team needs to add bodies at the position. Rodney McLeod and Anthony Harris are both free agents, that leaves K’Von Wallace, Marcus Epps, and Andre Chachre as the team’s current safeties.
Nick Cross is a high ceiling player who was used in a bevy of ways at Maryland. He’s played down in the box, in the slot, and as a split safety. Cross is a tone setter of sorts.
Round 6 – Pick 192: Tre Turner (WR) – Virginia Tech
The Eagles double dip and add some depth at receiver with the selection of Tre Turner. The 6-foot-2 wideout is a sure handed big-play receiver. He also adds a 2-way element of being used out of the backfield. Over four years at Virginia Tech, Turner accumulated 2,292 receiving yards and 14 receiving touchdowns. He also amassed 53 carries for 456 yards and 4 touchdowns.
Turner may be the steal of the draft, as he can be effective in so many areas (out-wide, in the slot, out of the backfield).
Round 6 – Pick 204: Zander Horvath (FB) – Purdue
FULL BACK ALERT!
The Eagles add Zander Horvath with their last selection in the 2022 draft. Horvath is a bruiser of a ball carrier who is also effective as a pass catcher. Horvath accumulated 1,773 yards from scrimmage and nine touchdowns over four seasons.
Adding a fullback gives Nick Sirianni and Jeff Stoutland an interesting chess piece to move around the offensive formation. A dynamic full back can add a ton to both the run and passing game, look no further than the San Francisco 49ers offense.
The Philly Blitz 