When the Eagles won Super Bowl LII, they followed it up with an incredibly great performance in the 2018 NFL Draft. Dallas Goedert, Josh Sweat, Jordan Mailata, and Avonte Maddox all had key roles to play since they joined the Eagles and those guys certainly were huge parts of the recent Super Bowl LIX victory.
Which, is all to say, this draft cannot be slacked on even if the team is currently at the mountaintop.
NFL Combine testing will be going all weekend and the Eagles will have a close eye on players on both sides of the ball. Here is who I will be watching closely.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge Defender, Boston College: The Eagles will be looking to reload on their defensive line this offseason. Josh Sweat is most likely hitting fee agency and the team will need an impact player across from Nolan Smith. Ezeiruaku is coming off a dominant 16.5 season for the Golden Eagles and is looking to prove himself in Indianapolis. Ezeiruaku has questions to answer about his size and athleticism. Though undeniably smaller for an NFL edge defender, he can assuage concerns by testing really well at the combine. For the Eagles, who are no stranger to smaller, more athletic players coming off the edge, these tests will be key.
Benjamin Morrison, Cornerback, Notre Dame: A year ago, Benjamin Morrison was considered a top prospect. A season-ending injury later and it’s possible he slides down to the end of the first round. The Eagles are going to possibly be in the cornerback market to find someone to succeed Darius Slay. With strong testing, Morrison could be an attractive choice for a ballhawk opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Nick Emmanwori, Safety, South Carolina: It’s to be seen if Reed Blankenship returns to Philadelphia, but it is possible the Eagles turn to the draft to find some safety help. Nick Emmanwori is more of a true strong safety and nickel linebacker type of player who could be an interesting fit in the Vic Fangio defense. He’s actually bigger than Nakobe Dean.
Walter Nolen, Interior Defensive Lineman, Ole Miss: With Milton Williams set up for a big pay day elsewhere, the Eagles will need to find another twitchy interior defender to rotate in with Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter. Walter Nolen’s upside is obvious and he has this weekend to prove how undeniable his athletic talent is.
Mason Taylor, Tight End, LSU: In three straight seasons, Dallas Goedert has been plagued by injuries. Though excellent when on the field, the Eagles famously drafted Goedert when Zach Ertz was still one of the best tight ends in the country. Mason Taylor is young and has a ton of upside. It would be no surprise if Philly targeted him in the late first round. A strong weekend in Indy could be a deciding factor.
