One year removed from a magical run, the Eagles found themselves beset by injuries on both sides of the ball, but they still managed to make the playoffs, upset the Bears and put a scare into the Saints before ultimately bowing out. Several key players are entering free agency, so the team has a lot of work to do in order to get back to the promised land next season. Here's what you need to know about the Philadelphia Eagles and the 2019 NFL Draft. 2019 draft picks Round 1: Philadelphia Round 2: Philadelphia, Baltimore Round 3: None Round 4: Philadelphia Round 5: Philadelphia Round 6: Philadelphia Round 7: Denver* The Eagles picked up an extra second-rounder this year in the deal that allowed the Ravens to get to No. 32 and draft Lamar Jackson last year. They're missing a third-round pick after trading theirs for Golden Tate. They also picked up a conditional seventh-rounder from the Broncos in for Allen Barbre in 2017, but then included one of their sevenths in the trade to move up for Jordan Mailata in last year's draft and the other as a conditional pick in the Deiondre Hall deal. So when it's all said and done, they may end up with no picks in the last round. Biggest offseason needs Cornerback Running back Offensive tackle Defensive end Linebacker Wide receiver Guard The biggest issue for the Eagles in 2018 was time and again the secondary, and matters were only made worse when Ronald Darby went down with a torn ACL. He's a free agent, and maybe the team will be able to bring him back at a reduced rate, but addressing the position shouldn't stop there. Brandon Graham is a free agent, and while Derek Barnett will likely be in line for a larger role, the Eagles probably don't want to rely on Michael Bennett and Chris Long as the rest of their edge rush. Jordan Hicks is also heading into free agency, so the team will be looking for a solution at middle linebacker. The offensive line was an issue this year, and with Jason Peters holding a mutual option for 2019, a younger option could be pursued as the key position. An upgrade could be pursued at left guard as well. The Eagles felt the need to upgrade at receiver by bringing in Golden Tate before the trade deadline, but he's a free agent, so they'll need to find more help in the offseason. With the Eagles going away from Josh Adams in the postseason, they'll likely be in the market for more talent at the running back position. Prospects to watch Byron Murphy, CB, Washington The Eagles went to the University of Washington well when they selected Sidney Jones, so why not do it again with a superior prospect in Murphy? He's a beast in coverage and plays bigger than his 6-foot, 175-pound frame. He should be able to start on Day One, and he's the type of prospect the Eagles should consider making a move up the draft board for. Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama Jacobs is likely to emerge as the top prospect available at the running back position and the only one in the mix to be selected in the first round. He's a three-down back who has the speed to break away for big runs, the catching ability to convert downfield on third downs and the blocking prowess to stay in the backfield and protect the QB when needed. Greg Little, OT, Ole Miss While Jonah Williams might be out of reach for the Eagles, Little would be a great consolation prize as a full-time starter for the last two years who was a first-team All-SEC pick in 2018. He would serve as a long-term bookend for Lane Johnson with Jason Peters likely on his last legs. Zach Allen, DE, Boston College Allen is both strong against the run and a quality pass rusher who could fit at defensive end for the Eagles but also has the versatility to move around on the defensive line. The wealth of edge talent in the draft this year could push some quality prospects who don't absolutely blow the doors off the pre-draft process to the end of the first round, which would be huge for an Eagles team that may be looking to add young talent at the position. Devin Bush, LB, Michigan Bush, who checks in at a shade under 6 foot, can be found all over the field making plays. Not only is he capable in coverage, but his ability as a blitzer would give Jim Schwartz another chess piece to use to generate pressure.<doc-sep>You really know the 2019 NFL offseason has arrived (for all but four teams, at least) when Mel Kiper is back in your life. The ESPN analyst released his first 2019 NFL mock draft on Thursday. Here’s who he has the Philadelphia Eagles taking in the first round, via In$ider: 25. Philadelphia Eagles: Montez Sweat, DE, Mississippi State With free agents Brandon Graham and Chris Long potentially moving on, Philadelphia could add some pass-rush help here. At 6-foot-6, 241 pounds, Sweat is a rangy prospect who is athletically gifted. And he produced, racking up 22 sacks the past two seasons. Receiver is also a position to watch, as Golden Tate and Mike Wallace are both on the free-agent market. Kiper certainly isn’t going to be the only draft analyst to mock a defensive end to the Eagles leading up to April. It’s an obvious position of need for Philadelphia with Brandon Graham being a free agent, Chris Long potentially retiring, and Michael Bennett turning 34 in November. The fact that this year’s defensive line class is so strong — Howie Roseman called it “historically great” — makes it even more likely the Eagles’ first-round pick will be a pass rusher. The 22-year-old Sweat began his college football career at Michigan State before transferring to Mississippi State as a junior. In two years with the Bulldogs, Sweat logged 101 total tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 22.5 sacks, and one forced fumble. That’s obviously quality production. A very important and noteworthy thing is that the Eagles would have two players with the last name “Sweat” if they drafted this dude. Teaming up Montez with Eagles 2018 fourth-round pick Josh Sweat would cause a whole lot of perspiration. (I’m logging off now.) Here’s a scouting report on Sweat from The Draft Network: Montez Sweat projects favorably as a base 4-3 defensive end at the NFL level. Sweat illustrates textbook extension in his attack of blocks and his separation skills enable to him win at the line of scrimmage with consistency. Sweat’s lack of mobility through the hips will restrict him as a space defender, he needs to play with his hand in the dirt at all times to make the most of his linear explosiveness and skills stacking blockers. College highlights: Grade the pick:<doc-sep>
There are 101 days until the 2019 NFL Draft begins on Thursday, April 25. Until the big event gets here, we’re going to kill some time with our weekly Mock Draft Monday series. Following the Eagles’ Divisional Round playoff loss to the Saints on Sunday, SB Nation’s Dan Kadar has Philadelphia taking a running back in the first round. 25. Philadelphia Eagles: Josh Jacobs, RB, Alabama: Maybe this is too reactionary, but the Sunday’s playoff loss to the Saints showed that the Eagles need a true lead running back. Don’t forget that Jay Ajayi, who tore his ACL this season, is a free agent. If there’s a first-round back in the 2019 draft, it is Jacobs. The Eagles definitely need to address the running back position this offseason. Jay Ajayi and Darren Sproles are set to be free agents. Corey Clement is coming off a relatively disappointing season that was cut short due to injury. Wendell Smallwood isn’t an ideal regular contributor and he’ll be in the last year of his rookie deal. Josh Adams had some flashes but the coaches didn’t trust him to play in the playoffs. Boston Scott and Donnel Pumphrey are totally unproven. Jacobs, who only turns 21 in February, finished his three-year career at Alabama with 251 carries for 1,491 yards (5.9 average) and 16 rushing touchdowns. As a receiver, Jacobs had 48 catches for 571 yards (11.9 average) and five scores. Jacobs also boasts kick return ability; he scored a touchdown and averaged a solid 31.4 yards per kick return in 2018. Jacobs is an intriguing prospect for the Eagles. He didn’t have a crazy workload in college and he projects as a three-down back in the NFL. With that said, I’ll believe the Eagles are taking a first-round running back when I see it happen. It’s been 34 years since Philly last took a rusher that early in the NFL Draft. Given how the Eagles have prioritized building through the trenches, I’d think they’ll be targeting another lineman in the first round. BGN’s Benjamin Solak feels the same way as he made a pick for the Eagles in his mock draft over at The Draft Network: 25. Christian Wilkins, iDL, Clemson: The storybook run of Philadelphia back through the playoffs was truly something to behold — but like all good things, it finally came to an end. And when it did, we noticed that, while DT Timmy Jernigan came back from a back injury to start meaningful reps, his quality of play decreased. His contract now non-guaranteed due to the non-football injury, and the depth behind him laughable, Jim Schwartz will look to add pass-rush juice with Wilkins, a 3-tech next to Fletcher Cox and a 1-tech stopgap when Cox isn’t on the field. In 2019, Philadelphia can now rush Cox, Wilkins, Michael Bennett, Derek Barnett, Josh Sweat, and Brandon Graham if he’s retained. That’s a whole lotta oomph. This year’s draft class is loaded with defensive line talent. That’s good news for the Eagles, who certainly could find themselves in need of replenishing a unit that’s been so criticial to their success over the past two seasons. What do you think of these picks?