McShay’s Mock Draft 1.0 Has Eagles Landing Three Players

Its the most wonderful time of the year!

No, not college bowl season. NFL mock draft season!

This mock draft season might be the best of all-time with the Eagles holding three picks in this April's draft.

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ESPN.com senior draft analyst Todd McShay has his NFL mock draft 1.0 posted today, with the Eagles landing three new players to try and help them for the 2022 season.

First up with the No. 10 pick, from the Miami Dolphins, he has the Eagles going defense, with Michigan defensive end David Ojabo.

Philly jump-starts its three-pick Round 1 party with an explosive pass-rusher. Ojabo's first step is lightning fast, and he closes on the QB extremely well -- his 11.0 sacks and 14 tackles for loss this season prove it. Brandon Graham will be 34 years old and returning from an Achilles injury next season, and only two teams have fewer sacks this year than the Eagles' 21. And while they would love see Hamilton fall to them, the Eagles get a defensive upgrade with Ojabo. Michigan has had multiple first-round defenders only three times (1972, 2017 and 2019), but here it sends two to the top 10.

Quarterback is obviously a question mark, too. If the Eagles decide to move on from Jalen Hurts, they could deal some of their first-round picks to upgrade. But I can't see them gambling on a weak crop of QB prospects if they can't solve the issue by trade or free agency.

Ojabo would essentially be groomed to replace for Michigan first-round pick, Brandon Graham, who is out this season with a ACL injury.  With that injury and his age, its unclear if he will be back at full strength next season and Ojabo would fit that role.

Next up at pick No. 14, McShay has the Eagles staying on the defensive side of the ball, landing Utah linebacker Devin Lloyd.

The Eagles have taken just one linebacker in the first round over the past 40 years (Marcus Smith in 2014), but it's obvious they could use a playmaker in the middle of that defense. Lloyd -- who has 96 tackles, 20 tackles for loss, 7.0 sacks and four interceptions for Utah this season -- is rangy and moves around the field like a 235-pound safety. He could quickly become a QB on defense for Philadelphia. Cincinnati cornerback Ahmad Gardner and USC receiver Drake London might also be in play.

While McShay mentions Marcus Smith as the last linebacker taken in round one, but really the last true linebacker they have selected was Jerry Robinson in 1979. The team extended the contract of T.J. Edwards and drafted Davion Taylor in the third-round last season, but neither seems to be an impact player at the position that Lloyd might be.

Up next is the Eagles pick from the Colts they received in the Carson Wentz deal, this comes in currently at No. 20. With that pick McShay has the Eagles trying to upgrade their wide receiver position with Ohio State wide out Garrett Wilson.

The Eagles are projected to have three picks in the top 20, and we used the first two on defense (David Ojabo and Devin Lloyd). An NFL team has gone to the WR well in the first round in three consecutive drafts just once in the common draft era, per ESPN Stats & Information (Lions, 2003-05), but let's face it: Philadelphia still needs pass-catchers despite drafting Jalen Reagor and DeVonta Smith in the past two years. Wilson's body control in adjusting to the ball in the air is incredible, he has the wheels to make the big play downfield and he shows a nose for the end zone (12 TDs this season). Cornerback is another position to watch, especially with Auburn's Roger McCreary still out there.

The need for another wide receiver is because 2020 first-rounder Jalen Reagor has been a complete disappointment, and the team needs to add another piece across from 2021 first-round pick DeVonta Smith.

The NFL Draft is still a ways off, but is there anything better than mock draft season?