McShay: A Look at Eagles’ Biggest Draft Needs

Most NFL mock drafts have the Philadelphia Eagles using their first-round pick to select a either a cornerback or wide receiver.

Jaycee Horn and Patrick Surtain II are the two best corners, who might be on the board at No. 12 and Jaylen Waddle and DeVonta Smith are the two most likely wide receivers to be there at No. 12.

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Just because most mocks don’t have the Eagles going in another direction doesn’t mean they don’t have other needs. However, ESPN’s Todd McShay believes that Philadelphia’s No. 1 priority heading into the draft is wide receiver and corner.

For two years, we've been talking about how badly the Eagles need a receiver. In the 2020 draft, they took one, but they opted for Jalen Reagor while Justin Jefferson (1,400 yards in 2020) and Brandon Aiyuk (748) were right there. Then they didn't do anything at the position in free agency last month -- and actually lost Alshon Jeffery and DeSean Jackson. And adding to the issue, a trade back from No. 6 to No. 12 put them in danger of missing out on all four of the top pass-catchers in the draft class. Philadelphia has to figure out a way to give Jalen Hurts some targets so it can properly evaluate him as a long-term option.

Cornerback opposite Darius Slay is the other biggie for the Eagles, and while the Eric Wilson and Anthony Harris signings boost linebacker and safety, I'd still look for depth there. The Eagles lead all teams with 11 draft picks.

McShay also has Philadelphia in need of a linebacker, quarterback, safety, tight end and slot corner as the biggest holes that need to be filled.

At linebacker, the Eagles return Alex Singleton and T.J. Edwards and just added former Viking Eric Wilson in free agency. While Singleton had a solid and surprising season, Philadelphia could use another player at the position.

Penn State's Micah Parsons is the best of the linebackers in this draft class and could be the impact player the Eagles are lacking on that side of the ball, but most mock drafts have not had Parsons making it to the Eagles at No. 12.

On McShay’s big board of draft prospects, Parsons is listed as the ESPN analyst’s ninth-best prospect at any position.

After Parsons, McShay has Notre Dame linebacker Jeremiah Owusu-Koramoah, listed as his 12th-best prospect.

Another area that the Eagles filled in free agency, but could target in the draft is safety.  The team added another former Viking, Anthony Harris, but Rodney McLeod is coming back from an ACL injury and there isn't much depth at the position.

It's not a good draft for safeties with Trevon Moehrig of TCU the highest rated on McShay's big board, as the 17th best prospect. Richie Grant of UCF, Jevon Holland of Oregon and Andre Cisco of Syracuse are all considered mid-to-late second-round picks.

If the Eagles want to bring in another quarterback for depth, after the first five are off the board, Kellen Mond of Texas A&M would be the highest rated of the group. One name to keep an eye on is Florida's Kyle Trask, who played for current Eagles QB coach Brian Johnson last season. Both would be available in the third or early fourth round.