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The Eagles draft should look like ...

The 2020 NFL Draft is just a day away, and this year’s draft will undoubtedly be different from any other in NFL history. Draft prep has been challenging, with no college pro days, and no in-person meetings or workouts.

On draft day, war rooms will be empty; instead teams’ draft personnel will be doing all their maneuvering from the comfort of their own homes, depending on their information technology departments to help the picks run smoothly.

The NFL Draft will be different, but it couldn’t have come at a better time as sports fans all across the globe are craving not only something sports-related to take their minds off the COVID-19 crisis, but even more importantly, something current.

The 2020 draft is important for all 32 teams, but this draft is perhaps the most important in the Howie Roseman era for the Philadelphia Eagles. The Eagles have one of the most talented rosters in the NFL with a quarterback coming into his prime. But there are a few keyholes (WR, LB) that need to be filled. Some solid contributors out of this draft, and the Eagles would become an instant contender to represent the NFC in Tampa for Super Bowl LV.

The Eagles have eight picks in this year’s draft, and below are my thoughts on who they will pick in Rounds 1 through 6 (no seventh-round pick). I will not project trades for my picks, but my picks will be a short segment on scenarios where I believe the Eagles could target a possible trade.

ROUND 1 (Pick 21)

Justin Jefferson (WR, LSU)

NOTES ... If Jefferson is there, he has to be the pick for the Eagles. Currently, the Eagles have DeSean Jackson and Alshon Jeffery coming off serious injuries, along with second-year player JJ Arcega-Whiteside, who had a disappointing rookie season, as the projected starters. Greg Ward Jr. also returns after playing well at the end of the season after spending much of the regular season on the practice squad. Most of, if not all, mock drafts throughout the country have top tier receivers CeeDee Lamb, Jerry Jeudy and Henry Ruggs III selected before pick 21. Jefferson showed great speed at the combine with a 4.43 40, and has nice size at 6-1 202 pounds. He catches everything, and had a great 2019 season with 111 receptions for 1,540 yards and 18 touchdowns. Jefferson would be a star in the Eagles offense.

ROUND 2 (Pick 53)

Jordyn Brooks (LB, Texas Tech)

NOTES ... Brooks has been blowing up over the past week on teams’ draft boards, so he might not even be here, but I think the Eagles really like him and if he is, I think he’ll be the pick. The Eagles need a middle linebacker, and Brooks would be a nice fit at 6-0 240 pounds with 4.54 speed. He had 108 tackles, 20 for loss, and three sacks in 2019. Second-year player, undrafted free agent T.J. Edwards, is currently slotted to start at middle linebacker.

ROUND 3 (Pick 103)

Jonathan Greenard (DE, Florida)

NOTES ... Roseman loves drafting edge rushers, and Greenard had a productive 2019 for the Gators, with 15.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks. The Eagles are aging a bit on their defensive front and need an injection of young talent, especially on the edge.

ROUND 4 (Pick 127)

Gabriel Davis (WR, UCF)

NOTES ... The Eagles are going to come away from this draft with more than one young receiver for Wentz, and here they grab the talented Davis. Davis is a big target at 6-2, 216 pounds and possesses nice speed for his size, running a 4.54 at the combine. Davis had 72 receptions for 1,241 yards and 12 touchdowns in 2019.

ROUND 4 (Pick 145)

AJ Dillon (RB, Boston College)

NOTES ... Dillon would be the perfect complement to game-breaking running back Miles Sanders and pass-catching back Boston Scott. The Eagles need a smasher in between the tackles, and that’s what Dillon provides at 6-0, 247 pounds. He rushed for 1,685 yards and 14 TDs last season at Boston College.

ROUND 4 (Pick 146)

Ben Bredeson (G, Michigan)

NOTES ... The Eagles need depth on the offensive line after losing Halapoulivaati Vaitai to free agency and parting ways with future Hall of Famer Jason Peters. Bredeson was a four-year starter at Michigan, and garnered first-team BIG 10 honors in 2019.

ROUND 5 (Pick 168)

Javaris Davis (CB, Auburn)

NOTES ... The only sure thing at cornerback for the Eagles is newly acquired Darius Slay Sr. Other than Slay, there are a myriad question marks with the Eagles cornerbacks. Who will be starting in the slot and on the other side is anyone’s guess. Davis is undersized at 5-8, 183 pounds, but he’s a competitor and comes from good bloodlines, being the cousin of brothers Vernon and Vontae Davis.

ROUND 6 (Pick 190)

John Hightower (WR, Boise State)

NOTES ... Why not get the Eagles another burner? This is the deepest wide receiver draft in recent memory, so I expect the Eagles to load up here at a position of serious need. Hightower is all about speed, running a 4.43 40 and standing at 6-1, 185 pounds. He could also help in the return game.

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Trade Scenarios

ESPN Football Insider Adam Schefter reported on Monday that the San Francisco 49ers are open to trading both their first round picks (13,31). The 49ers do not have another pick until the fifth round, so acquiring some draft capital is high on general manager John Lynch’s list.

The Eagles could look to trade up to 13 if CeeDee Lamb or Henry Ruggs III falls to that pick. Also, the Eagles could look to trade back into Round 1 at 31 for Michigan center Cesar Ruiz, who they’ve been linked to as they search for an eventual replacement for Jason Kelce. Remember, a player selected in the first round has a fifth-year option, which is highly coveted by NFL teams.

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Eagles 1st Round Picks Since 2010

Year Eagles took I wanted

2010 Brandon Graham Earl Thomas

2011 Danny Watkins Jimmy Smith

2012 Fletcher Cox Fletcher Cox

2013 Lane Johnson Lane Johnson

2014 Marcus Smith Ha Ha Clinton Dix

2015 Nelson Agholor Landon Collins

2016 Carson Wentz Carson Wentz

2017 Derek Barnett Jonathan Allen

2018 Dallas Goedert Mike Gesicki

2019 Andre Dillard Josh Jacobs

2010 - We took: Brandon Graham (13)

I wanted: Earl Thomas (14)

2011 - We took: Danny Watkins (23)

I wanted: Jimmy Smith (27)

2012 - We took: Fletcher Cox (12)

I wanted: Fletcher Cox (12)

2013 - We took: Lane Johnson (4)

I wanted: Lane Johnson (4)

2014 - We took: Marcus Smith (26)

I wanted: Ha Ha Clinton Dix (21)

2015 - We took: Nelson Agholor (20)

I wanted: Landon Collins (33)

2016 - We took: Carson Wentz (2)

I wanted: Carson Wentz (2)

2017 - We took: Derek Barnett (14)

I wanted: Jonathan Allen (17)

2018 - We took: Traded out - Dallas Goedert (49)

I wanted: Mike Gesicki (42)

2019 - We took: Andre Dillard (22)

I wanted: Josh Jacobs (24)