On the eve of the 2022 NFL Draft, there are still many questions about how the first round will play out.
Even NFL Network’s top draft analyst, Daniel Jeremiah, has no way of knowing how things will play out. But Jeremiah was a guest at the final takeoff with John Clark and was asked about his gut feeling.
What will the eagles do?
“I’ll stick that they probably won’t get stuck in the same two places,” Jeremiah said. “It’s just the way they do business, so it’s going to be hard to predict.”
The Eagles will enter the draft with the #15 and #18 picks for a first-round pick from 2023 after a trade with the Saints in March. When the Eagles had three first-round picks, Jeremiah (a former scout in the NFL and with the Eagles) said there was no way they would call three players in the first round. He was right about that.
But now we need to figure out what the Eagles are going to do with those remaining two first rounds. It seems very likely that GM Howie Roseman will be willing to take some draft day trades. It’s not out of the question that Roseman could trade up from 15 to target a particular player, and then trade down from 18 to regain some value and put a player in a range where they’re more comfortable. In this scenario, of course, he needs to find teams willing to trade on both sides of the spectrum.
For what it’s worth, Jeremiah thinks the Eagles are more likely to trade up than down.
One of the better known names associated with the Eagles was Alabama Receiver Jamesson Williams, who is having a great 2021 season but is also rehabilitating an ACL injury. But staying at 15 probably won’t make it.
Jeremiah said Williams will be “long gone” by the time the Eagles hit the clock at 3 p.m. So… would a trade-up for Williams be involved?
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“I wouldn’t rule it out,” Jeremiah said. “I think you have certain guys that you target and they have the ability to be aggressive with all those picks. So if you feel like that’s the guy and after that there’s a big drop. They don’t hesitate to be aggressive and get a guy.
“I’m looking at her looking for potentially Jameson Williams, I’m looking at her if maybe (dragon) London or Garret Wilson would drop a little, I could see them moving up for each of these receivers. I might see them too if Kayvon Thibodeaux starts to slip a little, be aggressive and get it.
According to Jeremiah, if the Eagles stay in 15th place, the most likely position would be cornerback. That would probably mean Trent McDuffie from Washington, which is a decent choice in this area. Jeremiah also mentioned Ohio State WR Chris Olav and Purdue edge Georg Karlaftis.
Another name Jeremiah mentioned? It’s a stretch to think he’d reach 15, and the Eagles have never — never — taken a first-round safety. But if Kyle Hamilton somehow made it to the Eagles, Jeremiah wouldn’t think twice.
“I would boot up the map,” Jeremiah said. “Notre Dame security would fill a need for them and he’s a top-notch player.”
As a reminder, not even the best draft analyst in the country knows exactly what the Eagles will do Thursday night. This is going to be so much fun.