Finishing with a 9-7 record and losing to the Seattle Seahawks in the first Wildcard playoff game leaves the Eagles with a lot to improve on. One way to do that is through the upcoming NFL draft.
The Eagles currently own the 21st overall first round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, however they could trade up.
The Eagles should use this pick to address some of their biggest off-season needs to either draft a cornerback or a wide receiver.
One prospect that is projected to be available is a cornerback from the Texas Christian University Horned Frogs Jeff Gladney.
According to Pro Football Network, he has risen through the ranks in the past couple
months.
His athleticism, ball skills, coverage and the ability to create turnovers are why he’s considered to be the second best cornerback in the draft.
“[Gladney] then displays good closing quickness and ball skills to get his hands on the football. In coverage he does a good job mirroring the wide receiver, putting himself in a good position to finish the play with the ball in his hands,” coming from The Draft Network.
Last season he finished with a total of 31 tackles, 1.5 for a loss, 14 passes defended and one interception in 12 games played.
The Eagles could also look to draft a wide receiver in the first round. One name that comes to mind is Henry Ruggs III who is a junior for the Alabama Crimson Tide.
According to The Draft Network, he was impressive back when he was senior in high school, finishing with 38 receptions for 639 yards with nine touchdowns. Along with 446 rushing yards with three touchdowns.
He was also a star track athlete who broke the class 7A state record for the 100-meter dash, running it in 10.58 seconds.
This speed helped him run a 4.27 in the 40 yard dash at the NFL combine, just shy of the NFL record that was set by current Bengals and former Washington Huskies wide receiver John Ross who ran a 4.22.
Last season in 12 games he had 40 receptions for 746 yards with seven touchdowns.
According to NFL Lead Draft writer and writer for Bleacher Report Matt Miller, one way Ruggs could be used in the NFL is like the Kansas City Chiefs wide receiver, Tyreek Hill.
“But Ruggs is a more developed route-runner than Hill was when he came into the league in 2016. Ruggs will be used on vertical routes like Hill was early on,” Miller said. “But he’s also talented enough to excel on breaking routes where he can explode for yards in the open field.”
He would bring some much needed speed to the team that the Eagles lost last season due to their multiple injuries.
“He’ll bring the dynamic presence the Eagles sorely lacked last year when DeSean Jackson, who is 33, missed most of last season with an injury,” CBS Sports writer R.J. White wrote.
If Henry Ruggs III isn’t available, the Eagles should take wide receiver Tee Higgins who is a junior from the Clemson Tigers.
According to The Draft Network, he has good size and effort and he will give up the body to catch a football.
“[Higgins] Does a good job of dropping his weight and creating separation at the top of the route. Very good in contested catch situations due to his good length and competitiveness and will high point the football,” The Draft Network says.
Last season in 15 games, Higgins had 59 receptions for 1,167 yards for 13 touchdowns, averaging around 19.8 yards per catch.
All of these players would be suitable first round picks for the Philadelphia Eagles because they would bring in top talent to help fill some much needed positions.