Eagles bolster trenches on both sides of the ball in PFF’s latest mock draft

Pro Football Focus has been pumping out the mock drafts at a rapid pace this offseason. To their credit, they’ve managed to give Eagles fans different scenarios to mull over with each new installment
In their latest mock draft, the Eagles front office sticks to their guns, selecting one offensive and defensive lineman with their two first-round picks.
With their first pick at tenth overall, PFF has Philadelphia selecting Ohio State offensive tackle Paris Johnson Jr. Their reasoning:
The Eagles have made a living out of using their priority picks in the trenches. With their bonus first-round pick, that’s where I think they look. They have Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens to give them depth and versatility on the interior, and Paris Johnson Jr. can do the same at offensive tackle.
At first glance, this is a bit of a head scratcher; even though the Eagles are known for selecting lineman with their premium draft picks. Simply put, Johnson won’t play in year one if he comes to Philly – barring injury.
Despite the fact that he won’t play right off the bat, there is clear upside with Johnson down the road. For an athletic freak like Johnson who would be better off honing his craft for a year, learning behind Lane Johnson and Jordan Mailata, along with the tutelage of Jeff Stoutland, is about as good as it gets.
The Eagles will have to replace Lane Johnson within the next few years as well, so taking an offensive lineman here isn’t out of the question.
Down at 30th overall, PFF has Philly dipping into the trenches again. This time, on the defensive side of the ball, selecting Pitt DT Calijah Kancey. Their reasoning:
There’s a lot to like about Kancey’s pass-rush profile. The 6-foot, 280-pounder has some of the fastest hands and burst off the snap you’ll see. But that’s because he is smaller in overall size, which goes into some of the give and take of his scouting report. Putting him next to a space eater like Jordan Davis might form a magical pairing.
Even though Howie took Jordan Davis in the first-round last year, taking another DT in the first this time around is certainly plausible. The team values defensive line depth and they’re going to lose at least some of that depth to free agency this offseason. Both Javon Hargrave and Fletcher Cox are set to hit the free agency market come March, and it’s unlikely the team will be able to afford both of them.
As PFF points out, Kancey and Davis could be a match made in heaven due to their differing skill sets. Having Davis eat up blocks while Kancey goes to work one-on-one with a guard or center could be the recipe for success moving forward.
With the NFL Scouting Combine set to begin Tuesday, we’ll be sure to get a clearer picture on what all of these prospects are made of.
>> Read More: Report: Eagles conduct second interview with Seattle assistant Sean Desai for vacant defensive coordinator position

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Mandatory Credit: ESPN