Who will the Philadelphia Eagles take with its bounty of high draft picks?

October 12, 2021
NFL Draft News
Jake Rigdon
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The great Jimmy Kempski of PhillyVoice.com recently fielded a question about the Philadelphia Eagles’ biggest draft needs. You can read the column here. He came up with pass rushers, cornerback, linebacker, offensive tackle and safety as the Eagles’ biggest needs. (Note: This went on the presumption that Jalen Hurts sticks around for at least another year at quarterback.)

But Kepmski did not list any potential players at those positions. Keep in mind, the Eagles are absolutely loaded in the 2022 NFL draft, with as many as four of the top 50 picks.

But that won’t stop us from taking a stab at it.

Want to know who the Eagles might draft? We’ve got you covered, going by Kempski’s list of needs. Here’s a sneak peek at potential draft picks in rounds 1 through 4:

Round 1: Notre Dame Safety Kyle Hamilton

What can we tell you about Hamilton that you don’t already know? Sure, it’s not often you see a safety get drafted this high. In fact, no safety has been drafted as high as No. 5 overall since Sean Taylor in 2004 and Eric Berry in 2010. But Hamilton has a chance to set the record, as the 6-foot-4, 220-pound junior is consistently ranked by evaluators as a top-10 pick. Not only is Hamilton the best safety to come out since Jamal Adams of LSU was drafted No. 6 overall in 2017, but he’s also one of the best athletes in his draft class. (He was ranked No. 3 overall in Bruce Feldman’s annual “Freaks List.”) So how good is Hamilton? FanNation called Hamilton the “best safety prospect ever” back in August. From FanNation: “It is hard to find a safety prospect who can compare to him in recent memory, if ever.”

Round 1: Michigan Edge Aidan Hutchinson

Hutchinson was on his way to becoming a potential first-rounder last season before suffering a fracture in his right ankle that forced him to miss the final three games. The 6-foot-6, 265-pound senior is making up for lost time in a big way, with 18 tackles, 6 TFLs and 4.5 sacks going into Saturday’s game against Nebraska. And while most draft evaluators rank Hutchinson as the No. 2 or No. 3 overall pass rusher behind Oregon’s Kayvon Thibodeaux and Georgia’s Adam Anderson, that could soon change, as Thibodeaux has been slowed by injury and Anderson is still only getting part-time snaps along Georgia’s loaded front. Here’s what CBS Sports’ Chris Trapasso said about Hutchinson after he recently mocked Hutchinson going to Philadelphia: “Hutchinson is freaky athletic and a three-down talent who can ultimately replace some of the aging veterans on the edge for Philadelphia.”

Round 1: Ohio State OT Nicholas Petit-Frere

Alabama’s Evan Neal is widely considered the No. 1 tackle prospect in the 2022 draft class, but it’s a little more up in the air after Neal. One name that has steadily risen up draft boards is Petit-Frere, who has yet to give up a sack this season. Petit-Frere has switched back and forth from right tackle to left tackle this season, depending on where the coaches need him. The 6-foot-5, 315-pound junior was the top-rated tackle in the country his senior year in high school, and he’s done nothing but continued to impress at Ohio State. Petit-Frere’s accolades aren’t just limited to the field, though; he’s also an Academic All-Big Ten and OSU Scholar-Athlete recipient.

Round 2: Texas A&M Edge Michael Clemons

Kempski said Philadelphia needed pass rushers – as in plural – and Clemons would be another welcome addition to an aging defensive line. You haven’t seen Clemons mentioned as a Day 2 prospect by many other publications, but expect that to change between now and the draft, as few possess Clemons’ size at 6-foot-5, 270 pounds. And while his defensive line teammate DeMarvin Leal gets most of the press, Clemons is just as disruptive and is a better pass rusher. The biggest question marks facing Clemons are some off-the-field issues that caused the school to temporarily suspend him, so the interview process during the offseason will be just as important as his performance on the field.

Round 3: Mississippi State CB Martin Emerson

It would be hard for the Eagles to pass up a cornerback in the second round, but an overall deep draft could push players like Emerson down to later rounds. At 6-foot-2, 200-pounds, Emerson entered the season as an honorable mention All-America by Pro Football Focus, but he only has 1 interception for his career, so his Combine is going to be important, especially his 40 time. Emerson is a big body who should match up well against some of the bigger receivers in the NFC East.

Round 4: Texas LB DeMarvion Overshown

Overshown is one of the best athletes in the upcoming draft. The 6-foot-4, 223-pound senior is a former safety who moved this season to linebacker, where he’s racked up 44 tackles, 2 TFLs and half a sack. He’s still learning the position but has rare athleticism and could see his name rise up draft boards after the Combine.

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Jake Rigdon
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