The Philadelphia Eagles picked Cam Jurgens 51st overall and Nakobe Dean (!) 83rd overall in the 2022 NFL Draft. Now, let’s get down to some grades.
CAM JURGEN
First let’s look at how Eagles fans here at Bleeding Green Nation rated the choice.
My class: C (no pun intended).
Some things I like about choosing Jurgens:
- Jason Kelce really likes him. That’s not nothing.
- Jurgens gives the Eagles more depth down the middle if Kelce is injured this year. He could potentially replace Kelce as the Eagles’ starting center in 2023 after being mentored by his predecessor.
- Jurgens is very athletic and his long arms/big hands help compensate for his undersize.
- Investing on offense is usually a good approach.
Some things I do NOT like about choosing Jurgens:
- Was he really the best available player on the board? Maybe so for the Eagles. But he was unlikely to look at consensus BPA from the outside in
- The Eagles do more of where they draft a player who doesn’t even intend to make a Year 1 contribution. And what if Kelce decides he doesn’t want to retire after 2022? Could the Eagles be in danger of burning Jurgens’ two-year rookie contract?
- Jürgens has no experience as a security guard.
- The Eagles usually get more out of less with offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland on the team. They might be better served by using premium resources for positions where they are struggling to find lower value solutions.
NAKOBE DEAN
First let’s look at how Eagles fans here at Bleeding Green Nation rated the choice.
My grade: A
Some things I like about the Dean selection:
- It’s Nakobe Dean. Some would have agreed that the Eagles took him in the first round. No problem giving him a chance in 83rd place.
- Instinctive linebacker that really flies across the field. Plays as Blitzer.
- The Eagles clearly needed more linebacker talent. Especially since TJ Edwards and Kyzir White are slated to become free agents after this season.
- Why not charge players from national championship defenses? It’s fun getting Davis and Dean together in Philly.
- Leadership skills.
Some things I do NOT like about the Dean selection:
- There’s a reason Dean dropped to 83rd place. Both he and the team have suggested he will not miss time. But if it’s so easy, why did he fall so far?
- Dean is too small and there are some concerns about long-term durability.
Now for more hot takes and sheet music drafts from “experts” around the web.
As fans were reassured by the center god himself, all worries about the prospect vanished. Heck, the Eagles may have stumbled upon a new draft day strategy to win over fans. Just have a legend at the prospect’s position stamp approval, and any instant backlash is gone. Security? Call Brian Dawkins. linebacker? Bring Jeremiah Trotter to NovaCare, Stats! (I’m mostly joking here. I believe Kelce when he praises Jurgens for rightfully loving him as a player, and not just because the Eagles picked him.) The Kelce copy has its potential pitfalls. It took Jason Kelce years to become the legendary Jason Kelce we know today, and along the way there were tough years with a decent number of fans wanting Kelce to replace him. Designing a prospect who is most like Kelce will no doubt create an expectation that he should be the next Jason Kelce, and fast. If he’s not great right away, there could be unfair criticism of this boy that wouldn’t come nearly as often in other cities. After all, if there’s a smooth, seamless transition from Kelce and Jurgens is a great player very quickly, then the above sophistry will undoubtedly seem silly in hindsight. And if Jurgens can play guard right away and possibly even replace Seumalo in the line-up, then forget everything I said above. Anything but that, and it really isn’t a great use of resources. Grade: C+.
Dean is a three-down linebacker who can bring juice to the Eagles’ defense in midfield, which incidentally is where they were destroyed in 2021. He was considered by many to be a first-round talent, but injury concerns, particularly a chest injury, saw him unexpectedly drop into the third round. How debilitating will this chest muscle injury be? “He has a pectoral muscle injury that does not require surgery by our doctor,” Howie Roseman said Friday night. “He will be on the field this weekend. We’re not counting on wasted time now. He’s going to come in here and get a physical, and we’re going to double-check all of these things. “Look, I think I called our doctors three or four times to see if I was wrong. We brought him in. Am I missing something? Because obviously this guy is way higher up on our board and we thought about taking him – we spoke to him before today because he was a candidate (in Round 2) and that’s what we got. Dean undoubtedly fell because of the injury, but also because he’s short. Class: A
Jurgens (6-foot-3, 303) started his collegiate career at the end before moving to center, where he started 31 games over the past three seasons. In this year’s class, Jürgens proved to be the best indoor offensive lineman. And according to SIS, he only gave up one sack in his entire college career. Jürgens is a great prospect. The question is whether this is a sensible use of resources. Jason Kelce was an All-Pro last year and is back in 2022. That means Jurgens won’t see the field unless Kelce suffers an injury. And it’s not like the Eagles lacked a long-term plan at center. You just used a second-round pick on Landon Dickerson last year. This choice would be more justified if Jurgens had guard/center versatility. And maybe the Eagles believe that will be the case. But he only played at College Center. I really like the player but I don’t like the use of resources here. Grade: C+
Dean (5-foot-11, 229) captained the best defense in the country last year. He had 72 tackles (10.5 for losses), six sacks, two forced fumbles, eight passes defended and two interceptions. Dean is too small. He did not participate in any pre-draft athletic tests. And in the past 24 hours, reports have surfaced that he was dealing with a chest injury. It’s always risky to call such a pick a steal considering how many teams have passed Dean. Despite this, he was Brugler’s 29th player. And Dean’s best qualities are his tackles, leadership and football IQ. He goes to an Eagles team that desperately needs linebacker help. We’ll have more information on why Dean slipped so far, but at No. 83, it’s hard not to like this choice. Grade: A-
Analysis: After an active and productive first round, the Eagles selected Jurgens and Dean with their assigned second- and third-round picks. It will be interesting to see if Jurgens tries out the guard while longtime starter Jason Kelce is still on the team, or if the former cornhusker is just the apparent heir at the pivot. Dean’s value in the third round was fantastic as he finds the ball and attacks wherever he lines up, fighting his goals safely. Adding a cornerback with either of their two picks on Day 3 should be a priority. Class: A
A tremendous pick even if he will be Jason Kelce’s backup in 2022. Jürgens is an explosive, well-balanced Mauler inside. Activates the length field. With more power, he can be an All-Pro guy in Philadelphia. Grade: A-
Finally! Dean is a rock star on the field. Does everything you would expect from a modern LB. instincts. Speed. Pull out. brilliance of the cover. Injuries caused him to fall. Awesome value if he can stay sane. Class: A
The Eagles are addressing a need with the retirement of Brandon Brooks and aging Jason Kelce with a potential future inside starter, but Jurgens is backup material first. He’s a compact, well-rounded blocker, but with his athletics needing to develop further, he was just a more comfortable choice for Day 3. Class: C
Despite some medical concerns, the Eagles had to stop Dean’s fall as it suited their defense well. The Bulldogs national championship unit active game leader can play anywhere he wants with his speed, quickness and coverage ability. His impact could materialize in 2023 as he’ll alternate as a substitute behind TJ Edwards, Kyzir White and newcomer pass rusher Haason Reddick. Rating: A+