The NFL scouting combine kicks off this week in Indianapolis and for the Eagles brass, it presents the opportunity to get eyes on some of the best prospects on both sides of the ball in April’s draft.
Understanding that, here are seven prospects who should be on Howie Roseman and company’s radar.
Honorable Mentions
- WR Malachi Corley – Western Michigan
- WR Ricky Pearsall – Florida
- RB MarShawn Lloyd – USC
- S Tykee Smith – Georgia
- EDGE Bralen Trice – Washington
- S Cole Bishop – Utah
- TE Ja’Tavion Sanders -Texas
- WR Xavier Worthy – Texas
- CB Mike Sainsristil – Michigan
- WR Devontez Walker – North Carolina
- S Calen Bullock – USC
- LB Junior Colson – Michigan
- LB Cedric Gray – North Carolina
- EDGE Marshawn Kneeland – Western Michigan
- LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr. – Clemson
- IOL Jackson Powers-Johnson – Oregon
- OT Amarius Mims – Georgia
- IOL Troy Fautanu – Washington
- RB Jonathan Brooks – Texas
- CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr. – Missouri
- CB Kool Aid Mckinstry – Alabama
7) WR Roman Wilson – Michigan
Speed Kills. You want a productive wide receiver who is an explosive and twitchy athlete? Roman Wilson is your guy. The six-foot, 192-pound wideout is a dynamic weapon.
Wilson is a turbocharged athlete who can be effective at all three levels of the field. For the Eagles who desperately need production out of the number three wide receiver position, Wilson may be just what the doctor ordered.
6) OT Tyler Guyton – Oklahoma
Lane Johnson isn’t getting any younger and the Eagles could have his potential replacement in another Oklahoma alum. The six-foot-seven Guyton is an absolute mauler in the run game, who has all the tools needed to succeed as a pass blocker. For his size, Guyton is an effective mover in the pass protection and has shown he’s more than comfortable coming downhill in the run game.
For what it’s worth, Guyton has just 14 career starts, which leaves a ton of room for improvement to an already high-level player.
5) CB Quinyon Mitchell – Toledo
It felt like at times during the 2023 season, the Eagles lacked a true (for lack of a better term) dog on the defense. Mitchell and his aggressive play style would make up for that in a major way. The six-foot, 195-pound Mitchell is adept at playing either man or zone and he plays with a swagger and confidence that is almost unmatched in this draft class.
Through three seasons at Toldeo, Mitchell amassed 45 pass breakups and six interceptions. With the Eagles, Mitchell would be a hand-in-glove fit for the zone-heavy scheme the team is about to implore with Vic Fangio at the helm.
4) SAF Javon Bullard – Georgia
High IQ safety play is one of the most important pieces of a Vic Fangio-led defense. Javon Bullard brings that in bulk. The versatile Bullard has lined up virtually everywhere on the football field with 144 snaps in the nickel, 80 snaps in the box, and 362 snaps as the deep safety in 2023, which was his first year as a full-time safety.
A Swiss army knife of sorts, Bullard can operate wherever you ask him to line up and be effective. Bullard is a physical football player who plays with a high effort and a ton of aggressiveness. Bullard is a bit undersized, but so was another former Vic Fangio safety, in Kareem Jackson, who Fangio called one of his all-time favorite players.
3) SAF Kamren Kinchens – Miami
The Eagles have neglected to invest premium draft capital at the safety positions in recent years. Kamren Kinchens could change that. The five-foot-eleven, 206-pound safety is a physical football player, who operates like a heat-seeking missile at times. Kinchens pops off the screen, whether it be snagging interceptions or coming downhill and making eye-popping hits.
Kinchens combination of instincts and range make him a very intriguing prospect who can play at all three levels of the defense and be extremely effective.
2) LB Edgerrin Cooper – Texas A&M
Good linebacker play is desperately needed in Philadelphia. Thank makes Edgerinn Cooper a prime target for the Eagles. The six-foot-two Cooper is the standout inside linebacker of this draft class in my opinion. Everything needed to excel at the position, Cooper has it. Length, range, speed, physicality, and instincts. He’s smooth in his coverage drops and decisive against the run.
Cooper’s aggressiveness does work against him at times though, as he over-pursues ball carriers at times. With Vic Fangio now in the fold and the responsibility he places on his linebackers from a coverage standpoint, Cooper may be a perfect fit.
1) EDGE Laiatu Latu – UCLA
Laiatu Latu is one of my favorite players in this entire draft class. Latu is a powerful pass rusher at the point of attack. The repertoire of pass-rush moves he possesses is uncanny. The guy simply always seems to have a plan of attack. He plays with immense effort and an absolutely relentless motor that is always running. The six-foot-five, 260-pound Latu is an explosive and twitched-up pass rusher who has a keen sense of leverage and hand placement.
With the Hasson Reddick situation still up in the air and Josh Sweat entering the final year of his contract, the Eagles would be wise to consider selecting a pass rusher in the upcoming draft. Latu, who has experience both as a stand-up rusher and with his hand in the dirt can rush the passer among the best (if not THE best) in the class. I’d be remiss to not mention the injury concerns with Latu, who had to medically retire from 2020 – 2021 due to a neck injury. Latu was told he’d be at risk of paralysis if he ever played the game of football again. Fast forward a few years, and Latu racked up 10.5 sacks, in 2022 and 13 in 2023.
Cover Image Credit: Stacy Revere/Getty Images
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