Since the 2017 NFL Draft, the team holding the 10th overall pick traded back in four of the past six years.

The Cleveland Browns were the only team to keep the 10th pick during that span, drafting offensive tackle Jedrick Wills Jr. The other team to hold on to the 10th pick was the New York Jets, who drafted wide receiver Garrett Wilson after acquiring Seattle’s selection in the Jamal Adams trade.

The two most infamous trades at 10 came when quarterbacks fell, and possibly the best draft trade in NFL history occurred. In 2017, the Chiefs traded picks 27, 91, and first-rounder the next year to jump up and choose Patrick Mahomes. The Bills used the 27th on Tre’Davious White and used that first-round pick next season to trade up for Josh Allen, so it all seems to have worked out. It did not work out for the Cardinals in 2019, who traded picks 15, 79, and 172 to draft Josh Rosen, while the Raiders took offensive tackle Kolton Miller at 15 and used the 79th pick to trade for wide receiver Martavis Bryant.

With four quarterbacks expected to go in the Top 10, one of the two top offensive tackles prospects could be available for a team in desperate need of an immediate starter. Next year’s draft class is loaded at the offensive tackle position, so if the Eagles want to address Lane Johnson’s heir apparent, they should do so then.

Using the PFF mock draft simulator, here are the seven players I acquired in the first five rounds, using those historical trades at 10 as a template of what teams/picks I might be able to obtain in my first Eagles mock draft.

TRADE DOWN

• Buccaneers receive pick R1: #10
• Eagles receive picks R1: #19, R2: #50, and R3: #82

Round 1, Pick #19: DL Calijah Kancey, Pittsburgh

Howie Roseman must be feeling like he hit the jackpot with this pick. Clemson’s Bryan Bresee may have been the expected choice, but Calijah Kancey slipped to the 19th pick. The three-star recruit didn’t even see the field during his freshman year in 2019, but since then become an integral part of the Panthers’ defense over the past two seasons.

Adding Kancey creates a menacing future defensive tackle rotation for the Eagles. With Jordan Davis expected to draw double teams and Milton Williams proving himself as an every-down starter, adding another interior pass rusher to complement them is a priority. Kancey fits the bill perfectly, having finished tied for second in the nation with eight sacks last season among all defensive tackles. According to PFF, his 47 pressures on 275 pass-rushing snaps earned him the highest grade among all interior defensive linemen (92.4).

TRADE UP

• Eagles receive picks R1: #27 and R3: #91
• Bills receive picks R1: #30 and R3: #82

Round 1, Pick #27: OG O’Cyrus Torrence, Florida

It’s no secret that “Young Brandon Brooks” is on the radar for several teams in the late first or early second round, but I have a feeling that Howie Roseman and the Eagles will make a bold move to snag him first. Torrence is arguably the most dominant guard in this year’s draft. With Isaac Seumalo taking his bag of money with Chicago and Cam Jurgens penciled in as the starting right guard, the Eagles need offensive line depth.

Torrence began his collegiate career at Louisiana-Lafayette before stepping up the competition by transferring to Florida last season. The jump in talent did not phase him, and the First Team All-SEC guard held his ground and then some. He didn’t allow a single sack or quarterback hit, and his 89.9 PFF run-blocking grade was the best of his entire career.

The Florida guard immediately reminded me of Brandon Brooks with how he demolishes defensive linemen like a man amongst boys. He’s a true powerhouse, much like Brandon Brooks himself. If the Eagles can snag Torrence with a trade-up, it could be a game-changing move for their offensive line.

TRADE UP

• Eagles receive picks R2: #42, R4: #114, and R5: #143
• Jets receive picks R2: #50 and R3: #84

Round 2, Pick #42: CB Emmanuel Forbes, Mississippi St.

Even though the Eagles already boast one of the NFL’s top cornerback duos in Darius Slay and James Bradberry, they need some depth behind their starters. That’s where Emmanuel Forbes comes in – he’s a ball-hawking outside cornerback who could learn a thing or two from the seasoned veterans.

Forbes has been making waves throughout his collegiate career at Mississippi State, and it’s easy to see why. He’s racked up an impressive 13 interceptions over three years, four more than any other Power Five cornerback since 2020. The SEC Player of the Year played a ton of off-zone coverage for the Bulldogs defense but excelled in man coverage. Forbes managed to snag three interceptions while allowing just three catches in man coverage last season. In fact, his 20% completion rate in man coverage is the lowest among all cornerbacks in the country.

It’s not hard to imagine Howie Roseman eagerly snatching up Forbes to bolster the Eagles’ cornerback corps. With his natural talent and ability to learn from two of the best in the game, Forbes could be a vital piece for the future of this secondary.

Round 2, Pick #62: S Sydney Brown, Illinois

The Eagles’ safety unit took a massive hit this offseason, losing starters Marcus Epps and Chauncey Gardner-Johnson. While the addition of Terrell Edmunds was a sneaky good free agent signing, the secondary still needs reinforcements. Justin Evans and undrafted free agent Reed Blankenship join 2020 fourth-round pick K’Von Wallace. Still, it’s clear that more help is needed on the safety front.

Enter Sydney Brown, a Canadian product who hit the ground running at Illinois, starting 10 games as a true freshman and intercepting his first collegiate pass with three pass breakups. Brown improved every year as a starter for Illinois, increasing his PFF grade each season and producing six pass breakups and six interceptions to just one touchdown allowed. He’s a freak athlete with effortless speed who can play as a deep safety, but he’s also solid enough in coverage to move him into the box. Brown’s work ethic and love for the game make him an ideal addition to any locker room.

Round 3, Pick #91: CB Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson, TCU

In this Eagles mock draft, I have Howie looking to add some profound depth to their defense. They’ve set their sights on a ball-hawking slot cornerback to back up the impressive Avonte Maddox, and that’s Tre’Vius Hodges-Tomlinson. He’s the 2022 Jim Thorpe Award winner – an honor bestowed upon the best defensive back in all of college football. With his high ceiling and natural abilities, Hodges-Tomlinson is shaping up to be an incredible option for the Eagles come draft day. Besides offensive guard, the Eagles are in dire need of a top-notch slot cornerback. And with the Jim Thorpe Award winner available in the third round, Howie Roseman would be crazy not to make a move.

The TCU product is a force to be reckoned with, leading the nation in forced incompletions last season with a whopping 21. Hodges-Tomlinson’s burst to beat wide receivers to passes is elite, and his silky smooth transitions when shadowing routes are a thing of beauty. He’s got the speed, agility, and instincts to make some serious noise in the NFL.

Round 4, Pick #112: C Olusegun Oluwatimi, Michigan

I may be overcompensating for the loss of Isaac Seumalo but picking the Big Ten Player of the Year who played center seems to be a safe move in the fourth round and adds more versatility to the interior offensive line. Injuries also derail playoff teams’ chances of making the Super Bowl, and the Eagles need as much depth as possible.

Oluwatimi allowed only three sacks since 2020 and earned above an 80.0 overall PFF grade in back-to-back seasons. Despite playing exclusively at center for the Wolverines, it gives Jeff Stoutland more versatility to work with Cam Jurgens, O’Cyrus Torrence, and Olusegun Oluwatimi in the future to continue the Eagles’ offensive line dominance.

Round 5, Pick #143: WR Rakim Jarrett, Maryland

As much as I want Quez Watkins to have a breakout year in the slot, the Eagles need insurance behind him. But a solid backup plan is crucial in a league where injuries can happen at any time. That’s where Rakim Jarrett comes in, a Maryland product with a “lab-built” frame at six feet tall, 192 pounds, and blazing fast speed, running a 4.44 forty-yard dash at the combine.

While Jarrett’s frame and speed make him an exciting prospect, his route-running and ball skills are significant concerns, dropping an eye-popping 16 passes in his three years with the Terrapins. However, in the fifth round of the draft, the Eagles could take a chance on his potential as a project pick. With his elite athleticism, speed, and size for a slot wide receiver, Rakim Jarrett could be a steal for the Eagles, even with his weaknesses in college.

FULL EAGLES MOCK DRAFT 1.0

Featured Image Credit: Pitt Athletics

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