Former GM’s Mock Draft Has Eagles Landing a Linebacker

As the NFL calendar gets set to turn to April, we will officially be in NFL Draft month.

With less than one one month to go before the April 28th first-round, we get a new mock draft, one that takes a look at what former NFL general manager and executive, Mike Tannenbaum would do on draft day if he was in charge of the Eagles.

This isn't what I'm expecting or what I'm hearing. Instead, what follows is how I'd make each first-round pick if I were representing each of the 24 teams with at least one Day 1 selection. It's based off my own evaluations and preferences, along with what I believe makes the most sense for every team on the board.

So with that, let's take at how Tannenbaum would proceed if he had picks No. 15, 16 and 19.

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First up, he does something that many fans might be happy with, but doubt will actually happen, take a linebacker. He says he would take Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd with the 15th pick, as a do-it-all player in the middle of Jonathan Gannon's defense.

Philadelphia hasn't taken a first-round linebacker in almost a decade, but Lloyd can be a do-it-all player in the middle of the Eagles' defense. He's a three-down defender who plays faster than his 4.66-second time in the 40-yard dash suggests.

Last season with the Utes, Lloyd totaled 108 tackles, 31 pressures and eight sacks while also notching four interceptions, a true playmaking linebacker, who would look great in midnight green.

Next up at No. 16, Tannenbaum goes with interior lineman Kenyon green from Texas A&M.

I love this guy's versatility. He has at least 100 snaps at four different positions along the offensive line, and he's capable of playing the fifth (center). Center Jason Kelce re-signed but for only a year, and guard Brandon Brooks just retired, so the Eagles could use a player like Green.

This is not a pick I like too much, I think the Eagles have plenty of depth and options along the offensive line and while you can never have too much there, they have other pressing needs and plenty of options to fill them in this spot. Yes, Jason Kelce is getting to the end of the line, but I think Isaac Seumalo will take over the center spot when he retires.  Jack Driscoll is still on board and the team has some other nice depth peices.

Now at No. 19, he fills a need with Washington Huskies cornerback Trent McDuffie.

Now I'm focusing on cornerback, where Philly needs a starter opposite Darius Slay. The Eagles tied for the worst completion percentage against in 2021, allowing opponents to connect on nearly 70% of their attempts. But McDuffie is shutdown material. He allowed just 3.8 yards per pass attempt thrown his way last season, which tied for the third-best number in college football, and he can play in man or zone schemes.

I have no issue with taking a corner and I like McDuffie, but there were some other options he has going after McDuffie that I like as much if not more. Corners Andrew Booth Jr and Derek Stingle, wide receiver Treylon Burks, defensive tackle Jordan Davis to name a few.