Kiper’s 1st NFL Mock: Eagles Take Defensive End Montez Sweat
The Philadelphia Eagles are going to have to make some really tough decisions this offseason regarding Nick Foles. They also have to decide what they want to do with the guy who made one of, if not the most impactful plays in the history of the franchise.
Holding and drafting with the No. 25 NFL Draft pick means the Eagles are going to have to hope someone falls, or is a late bloomer, selecting that late in the first-round to improve the 2019 team.
Eagles executive vice president of football operations said during this press conference that the defensive line position was an area of depth in the 2019 draft and ESPN's Mel Kiper agrees in his first version of a 2019 mock that the Eagles could look at the defensive line in the draft.
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.
Sweat played 26 games for the Bulldogs the past two seasons.
In 2017, as a junior, Sweat recorded 48 tackles, 15.5 for loss, to go with 10.5 sacks. This season, Sweat was even better with 53 tackles, 14.5 for loss, and 12 sacks as a senior.
Who else could the Eagles draft at No. 25? Kiper’s first mock looks a bit different from the one compiled by Todd McShay, who had the Eagles taking a defensive back with the pick.
Deandre Baker, CB, Georgia
Baker isn't the biggest or fastest corner, but he shows the best instincts of the bunch and is a ball hawk. And you might have noticed that the defending Super Bowl champions could use a solid cornerback. Let's see what he does against those big Texas receivers in the Sugar Bowl.
Baker posted 40 tackles, 2 interceptions and nine passes defensed during his senior season at Georgia won the 2018 Jim Thorpe Award.
That’s an interesting twist because the Eagles, of course, might be interested in filling the cornerback slot opposite with Ronald Darby set to be an unrestricted free-agent.