The first mock drafts for the 2020 NFL Draft were unveiled just hours after the dust settled on the 2019 annual player selection meeting. ESPN's Todd McShay, who released his in early May 2019, mocked Alabama cornerback Trevon Diggs to the Eagles at No. 25. Give McShay credit, Diggs is still predicted to go late in the first round, right around that No. 25 spot, in a majority of mock drafts.
After nearly a full year of filing mock draft after mock draft, and more will come between now and Thursday night's first round, here's a look at 20 picks for the Eagles from local and national reporters as well as draft experts.
The most popular pick: LSU WR Justin Jefferson
Six of the 20 mock drafts surveyed had the LSU wide receiver going to the Eagles at No. 21.
In our annual reporter mock draft extravaganza on the Journey to the Draft podcast, driven by AAA, Bo Wulf from The Atlhetic, the king of bird puns, did not fly the coop when making the choice for the Eagles.
"The pick is Justin Jefferson and I think it's receiver or bust in this scenario, so if you think Jalen Reagor or Brandon Aiyuk or Denzel Mims is WR4, that could be the pick too," Wulf wrote. "But I think Howie Roseman likes to make the best bet and Jefferson checks every box, unlike the other wide receiver options.
"If someone at a premium position fell, like (cornerback C.J.) Henderson or (defensive end K'Lavon) Chaisson or (defensive tackle Javon) Kinlaw, the Eagles might have to think twice. And if Jefferson were also off the board, I think they'd love to trade down. But in this scenario, I think they play it down the middle."
The runner-up: Alabama WR Henry Ruggs
Of the 20 mock drafts, 15 of them pegged a wide receiver to the Eagles. The Alabama speedster, who ran the fastest time at the NFL Scouting Combine with a 4.27-second 40-yard dash, was just behind Jefferson with four votes.
From Peter King of NBC Sports in his latest Football Morning in America column: "(T)he thing I heard about the Eagles in the last few days is, Henry Ruggs will not get past 21. So here we are. Ruggs and his 4.27 40-speed are obviously tempting, and 24 touchdowns on only 98 career catches is explosive stuff.
"But a couple of things make me wonder. Three years, 41 games, 2.4 catches per game, 41.9 receiving yards per game. The most dangerous weapon in your offense gets 42 yards a game? The other side of that is some very smart offensive minds – Sean Payton, Andy Reid – love Ruggs. He's competitive, and he doesn't drop many. If he goes to Philadelphia, he'll be the deep weapon Carson Wentz has imagined with DeSean Jackson."
The winner (non-wide receiver category): Oklahoma LB Kenneth Murray
The Eagles have not selected an off-ball linebacker in the first round since Jerry Robinson was the No. 21 overall pick in 1979. Wait, No. 21 overall? The same place where the Eagles pick this year?
NFL Network's Daniel Jeremiah, who has been in the Eagles' draft room, predicts that the streak could come to an end. He's not alone.
"Under Howie Roseman, the Eagles traditionally draft the best player available at a position of relative need in the first round and Murray fits that criteria," The Athletic's Dan Brugler wrote. "He can be late to sort at times, but his play speed and competitive energy will quickly make him a fan favorite in Philadelphia."
The target in a move up: Oklahoma WR CeeDee Lamb
Most mock drafts don't factor in trades, but Walter Cherepinsky from Walter Football, which annually produces some of the most accurate mocks, has the Eagles making the leap from No. 21 to No. 10 for the All-American who led the Big 12 with 14 touchdown catches in 2019.
"The Eagles are expected to target a receiver early in the 2020 NFL Draft. ... In fact, the Eagles could trade up for a talented receiver like I have happening in my 2020 NFL Mock Draft," Cherepinsky wrote. "Howie Roseman reportedly loves CeeDee Lamb, and to get him, he'll have to leap over the 49ers, Raiders, and Jets."
Jefferson was also the target of a trade in Sheil Kapadia's mock draft for The Athletic.
The rest: LSU linebacker Patrick Queen and TCU wide receiver Jalen Reagor each received a pair of votes. Lamb and fellow wide receivers Tee Higgins and Jerry Jeudy netted a vote apiece.
ESPN's Todd McShay on Queen: "Justin Jefferson out of LSU is for sure in play at No. 21. But Philadelphia also could really use a spark in the middle of the defense. Queen is a rangy, off-ball linebacker with burst and great tackling ability."
Rotoworld's Josh Norris on Reagor, the son of former Eagles defensive tackle Montae Reagor: "That one game with DeSean Jackson was really fun, Philadelphia. The plan with the veteran vertical threat was clear - but unfortunately all of the eggs went into one basket. The Eagles acknowledged a need at corner but have deferred at receiver - so far. Reagor's athletic profile is quite similar to D.K. Metcalf's (minus a few inches): straight-line explosion with iffy agility scores."
Jeudy is probably a bit of a surprise in that it didn't require a move up the draft board, as most mocks have the Alabama wide receiver going in the top 12. But NFL.com's Chad Reuter predicts a little bit of a slide for the two-time All-American and former Biletnikoff Winner as the best wide receiver in college football.
"Opinions are all over the board on Jeudy," Reuter wrote. "Some believe he'll go to Denver or Dallas well before the Eagles are on the clock. Others believe he'll slide down. I try to identify some surprises in my mock, so I'll say Jeudy falls a few spots like Marquise' Hollywood' Brown did last year. The Eagles luck into finding a very talented receiver at 21."
