Bleeding Green Nation
The defending Super Bowl champions will have to reload at certain positions. Let’s take a look at each one!
While I have watched highlights from the Super Bowl every day since it happened, apparently a NEW season of football is still going to start in September. Before that can happen however, each team gets to select a number of former college standouts in the annual NFL Draft (April 24-April 26) which takes place in Green Bay, Wis. this year.
The Philadelphia Eagles will have the last pick in the first round, due to being the defending Super Bowl champs of course, and six picks in rounds two through five, although Executive VP/GM/Wizard Howie Roseman has been known to make a deal or two on draft weekend.
1st round (PHI), No. 32
2nd round (PHI), No. 64
3rd round (PHI), No. 96
4th round (DET), No. 133
5th round (HOU), No. 162
5th round (WAS), No. 166
5th round (PHI), No. 169
1st round (PHI)
2nd round (PHI)
3rd round (PHI)
3rd round (NYJ)
4th round (PHI)
5th round (PHI)
6th round (PHI)
7th round (PHI)
EDGE (Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham)
LB (Zack Baun, Oren Burks, Ben VanSumeren; Nakobe Dean FA in 26)
OG (Mekhi Becton, Fred Johnson)
OT (Jack Driscoll; Darian Kinnard, Brett Toth FAs in 26)
TE (C.J. Uzomah FA; Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcatarra, E.J. Jenkins FA in 26)
CB (Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox FA; Darius Slay, Tristin McCollum, Eli Ricks, James Bradberry FAs in 26)
RB (Kenneth Gainwell)
IDL (Milton Williams; Jordan Davis, Thomas Booker IV FAs in 26)
While we don’t have any answers on who the Birds will be able to retain and who they will lose in free agency, let’s do a little educated guessing!
Let’s pretend the Eagles LOSE: Sweat, Graham, Becton, Rodgers, Maddox, Gainwell, Williams, Uzomah
Let’s pretend the Eagles RETAIN: Baun, Burks, Johnson, VanSumeren, Driscoll
If this (Baun staying in Philly) happens, linebacker becomes way less of a “need” in the draft for Philadelphia and interior defensive line probably moves up to the “immediate needs” section. The Birds will probably still draft a linebacker, although this has never been a top priority for them as an organization in the past. However, it IS a priority of mine, uh, right now!
So let’s take a look at four potential linebackers the Eagles could draft in April. (Age listed is “age on first day of the season.” Height and weight is as listed on NFL.com draft profile.)
