After an eventful first night of the NFL draft, the Eagles are back at it again tonight. They’ll be picking twice tonight- once in Round 2 (37th overall) and once in Round 3 (70th overall).
There are still plenty of quality players who slipped through the first round that should be available. Let’s go over the ones who should be catching the Birds’ attention:
Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, LB, Notre Dame
It’s a shock that Owusu-Koramoah has fallen this far. JOK was projected to be one of the top linebackers taken (maybe even before Parsons). Instead, he’s now available at the start of the second round.
The Eagles’ linebacker needs are obvious, even after signing Eric Wilson in free agency. NFL.com has some nice things to say about JOK:
He has the athletic ability to handle man-cover duties on a variety of positions and his rush potential as a wild-card blitzer bolsters his value. There is still a need to harness and control his energetic playing style and his field discipline is still a work in progress. However, his athletic traits, versatility and playmaking demeanor give him a chance to become the most impactful defender in this draft.”
While I’ve seen some people comment on him being undersized, his speed, range, and ability to cover all kinds of offensive positions makes him an extremely intriguing player, and one you’d be hard-pressed to pass over if he fell to you.
I don’t think the Eagles would move up for him, especially after trading up last night, but if they love him that much, who knows. The Birds showed us last night if they love a player, they’re willing to make the extra effort to get him.
Trevon Moehrig, S, TCU
Moehrig could be an interesting choice. The 21-year-old TCU product has good height (6’2″, 205 pounds) and has positive ball hawking abilities.
Moehrig also has great speed (he posted a 4.5 40-time) and has enough power to break up catches by receivers. Moehrig can also play in multiple coverages and boosts impressive instincts.
The need for safety shouldn’t be undersold- both Anthony Harris and Rodney McLeod are both getting older, and the position doesn’t have the greatest depth. Moehrig would have the added benefit of not being counted on to start right away, but could still give Philadelphia great production in his first year.
Asante Samuel Jr., CB, Florida State
Cornerback is probably the most glaring need for Philadelphia after taking DeVonta Smith in the first round. Asante Samuel Jr. would no doubt help fix that issue. Although he’s small like his dad (both Sr. and Jr. are 5’10” and in the 180-pound area), that shouldn’t stop him from being productive in the NFL.
His speed is impressive- Samuel Jr. posted a 40-time in the 4.4 range. Samuel can also play physically, can tackle quickly, and is good on his feet.
One minor negative that NFL.com notes is that Samuel has a history of taking unnessecary pass interference penalties, which is something he can hopefully work out in the coming years.
Christian Barmore, DL, Alabama
I wouldn’t hate a defensive lineman here as much as I would’ve hated one in the first round, although I would still put other needs over the trenches. However, the Bama product has plenty of strengths that would peak interest in fans.
Barmore, a Philadelphia native, has impressive size at 6’5″ and 311 pounds. Barmore brings with him explosiveness, “violent hands,” and lots of power when he’s rushing the quarterback.
This draft has been noted to be lacking top-tier defensive linemen, so after Barmore we could see a significant drop in talent. If the Eagles feel they really need to address the D-line, then taking Barmore in the second might be the sensible thing to do in their eyes.
Apparently one criticism of Barmore was his maturity level and his willingness to be coached, although that was disputed by Alabama head coach Nick Saban.
