Mock Draft: Eagles Land Top Linebacker in 2022 Draft

Even with the possibility of the Philadelphia Eagles’ clinching a playoff berth on Sunday, the team will still hold three first-round picks in the April draft and it’s never too early to begin thinking about the next draft cycle.

CBSSports.com have the Eagles beefing up their offensive line and adding some firepower to their defense in the 2022 NFL Draft.

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Philadelphia owns both Miami and Indianapolis'picks along with their own, which has them selecting 19, 20 and 23rd in the 2022 NFL Draft.

However, each of those teams playoff performance would dictate where the picks are ultimately positioned in the draft order.

CBS writer Josh Edwards has the Eagles planning on their next move in the event Jason Kelce retires.

With the 19th pick, Edwards has the Eagles taking Texas A&M guard Kenyon Green.

Philadelphia drafted Andre Dillard in the first round even when it had Jason Peters. It is possible the Eagles select Green even if Jason Kelce returns. The idea would be that Landon Dickerson eventually takes over at center and Green slides over to guard.

In this scenario, Edwards has Landon Dickerson moving to center and Green taking over at left guard.

At pick No. 20, the Eagles take USC edge rusher, Drake Jackson, who would likely move to defensive end at the pro level.

Derek Barnett is a free agent and Ryan Kerrigan, Brandon Graham will be 34 years old next season. Josh Sweat and Jackson are a duo that Philadelphia can be excited about moving forward. The Eagles have always invested in the line of scrimmage and the Jackson selection carries on that selection.

It seems unlikely that Derek Barnett won't be back next season and who knows what to expect from Brandon Graham, who will be 34 next season. Jackson finished top five in the Pac-12’s with five sacks this season.

Finally, with their third, first-round pick, the Eagles land Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean.

The Eagles have long neglected the linebacker position and that narrative seems to have reached a boiling point. Philadelphia upgrades the front seven with Jackson and Dean. Those two serve as a bridge to the future of the defense.

The winner of the Butkus Award as the nation's top linebacker,  leading the Bulldogs with 61 tackles and five sacks on the season, adding 23 quarterback pressures in 2021.

The NFL draft begins Thursday,  April 28 and you can listen on 97.3 ESPN.