By Max Harper
The NFL draft is creeping up on us — April 27-29 in Kansas City.
And The Athletic’s Zach Berman suggests the Eagles will stay close to home:
Round 1 (No. 10) — Joey Porter Jr., CB, Penn State
Even though the Eagles always prioritize the line of scrimmage — especially with a high pick — cornerback is also a premium position for the team, and it’s looked closely at cornerbacks high in the draft during the past two years.
If the Eagles stick to No. 10, it could be a sweet spot to land one of the top corners (Devon Witherspoon, Christian Gonzalez or Porter). Porter lacks the interceptions on his stat sheet, but his size, length, and coverage skills would allow him to be a potential long-term starter. He didn’t allow a touchdown all season, according to Pro Football Focus. He’s 6-foot-2 and 200 pounds, plays on the outside and has the physicality one would expect for someone named Joey Porter Jr.
What the Eagles do at No. 10 will likely depend on when quarterbacks go off the board. If four quarterbacks are taken in the top nine, the Eagles could benefit from top defensive players falling. If there’s a run of non-quarterbacks early, the Eagles could be in a prime trade-back position for a team seeking one of the top four quarterbacks.
It’s reasonable to wonder whether the Eagles could move down three to five spots and still land one of the top cornerbacks. I’d be shocked if one of their first two picks was not spent on a player who rushes or protects the quarterback. But for the purposes of this mock draft, Porter would be a solid and sensible selection.
