Justin Jefferson of the LSU Tigers. (Photo by Michael Hickey/Getty Images)
The Eagles made some good moves in free agency, but they need to nail their first round draft pick if they want to get back to the Super Bowl next season.
Head coach Doug Pederson knows his Eagles roster is one of the most talented groups in the NFL. That means its Super Bowl or bust for Philadelphia next season.
Free agency has been kind to the franchise. The trade for Darius Slay solves the team’s biggest weakness by giving them a legitimate No. 1 cornerback. Adding Javon Hargrave at defensive tackle gives the Eagles an embarrassment of riches along the defensive line.
That doesn’t mean the team’s work is done though. They still need to come away with meaningful talent in the NFL Draft. Finding a true No. 1 wide receiver for Carson Wentz should be a priority. That position group also happens to be loaded with talent in this year’s draft class. Finding a playmaker at linebacker should also be something Philadelphia addresses early in the draft.
In the end, look for the Eagles to land on one of these five players with the No. 21 overall selection. The franchise needs to make the right choice to maximize their chances of winning another Super Bowl title.
5. CJ Henderson, Florida cornerback
Henderson will likely be off the board by the time the Eagles go on the clock, but if he’s not, don’t be surprised to see Philadelphia snap him up. The Slay trade is a massive upgrade for the team’s secondary, but it doesn’t’ mean they couldn’t use another infusion of talent at cornerback.
Stylistically, Henderson is a great fit for the way they want their corners to play. He’s a tough, athletic prospect who likes to stick his nose in and make plays on the ball. Henderson will get burned a few times early in his rookie campaign, but he should be ready to play high leverage snaps late in the season. The Eagles may not be able to pass on that kind of upside if they get a chance to draft him.