By Max Harper
Yesterday, March 8, was a momentous day in the NFL.
Yes, March 8!
Aaron Rodgers signed a massive deal to stay in Green Bay.
And Russell Wilson was traded from Seattle to Denver.
That requires a re-set on the NFL draft, and here’s USA Today’s take:
15. Eagles (from Miami Dolphins) – WR Drake London, USC: Yes, this would mean a first-round wideout for a third straight year for Philly, but the team can afford this move given how flush GM Howie Roseman is with options in 2022. At 6-4, 219 pounds, London would bring a different element to a Smurf-ish group that hasn’t gotten enough from holdovers like Jalen Reagor or 2019 second-round bust J.J. Arcega-Whiteside. London’s size would also be a plus for sometimes scattershot QB Jalen Hurts, who could use a Mike Evans-type target who had seven TD grabs in eight games last season. A broken ankle ended London’s 2021 season early and kept him from competing at the combine.
16. Eagles (from Indianapolis Colts) – C Tyler Linderbaum, Iowa:Yes, Philadelphia drafted C Landon Dickerson in the second round last year. However the Eagles lost G Brandon Brooks to retirement and could bid farewell to C Jason Kelce in free agency. And the upside of Linderbaum, a consensus All-American and the 2021 Rimington Trophy winner, is hard to ignore – and should largely offset any concern about his short arms. And given his widespread comparisons to the athletic Kelce, how could Philly go wrong?
19. Eagles – DE George Karlaftis, Purdue: In two full seasons (2019, 2021) for the Boilermakers, he compiled 13 sacks, 32 QB hits and 64 hurries. And with DE Derek Barnett headed for the open market, and Brandon Graham, who’s about to turn 34, trying to come back from a blown Achilles, Philadelphia clearly needs reinforcements off the edge.
