Candis R. McLean
NFL Network and NFL Draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah talked to the media today about the upcoming 2020 NFL Scouting Combine, the 2020 NFL Draft, and the landscape of the NFL. The renowned draft expert released his Top 50 Prospect list and NFL Mock Draft list early in the offseason. Jeremiah’s pick for the Philadelphia Eagles is full of speed and explosive playmaking ability.
Daniel Jeremiah’s Eagles Mock Draft Pick: Henry Ruggs III
(Photo courtesy of Alabama Athletics)Jeremiah had this to say about the junior wide receiver:
“Speed! The Eagles are focused on getting faster this offseason, and Ruggs is the most explosive player in the draft.”
During the media session, Jeremiah talked about wide receiver depth in the draft, cornerback options for the Eagles, and more.
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Q: You mentioned the wide receiver class and how impressive it is. The Eagles were obviously in the market for one. You would think this year. When you look at the area they’ve picked, the low 20s there, 21, which players do you anticipate will be available? And which of those guys kind of fits what they do and would make the most sense?
DANIEL JEREMIAH: “Well, they could use all different styles of receivers, when you talk about getting a Z or an X slot. Like, I think they would prefer to have the speed, which is Jerry Jeudy. I don’t anticipate that — not Jerry Jeudy, Henry Ruggs. Jeudy will be long gone. I assume that Henry Ruggs will be long gone as well.
But that to me, if you were to say home run pick for the Eagles, who is it, it’s Henry Ruggs, just because of how much speed and juice he would give to that offense.
But I think Justin Jefferson has got a chance to be a high, high volume slot receiver a lot like Keenan Allen, can fill that role, can work in traffic. He’s really good down in the red zone. He led the — he led this entire draft class with touchdowns down in the red zone this year at 12. So, he’s a point producer and he would be a great fit for them.”“I love Brandon Aiyuk from Arizona State. I think he’s a stud. He’s tough, competitive, run-after-catch guy. Needs a little polish, but can return as well. So has some value there.
And you get into Tee Higgins, who I think will probably be there, who is really tall, long and rangy. You hope you’re drafting A.J. Green. I don’t think he’s on that level but that’s the style with which he plays. There’s a little bit of concern with him just getting off press. Some of the better competition they played later in the year he struggled a little bit with that. I would say that group of wide receivers is probably be the ones they’ll be staring at.”
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(Getty Images)Q: You brought up the Eagles needing a wide receiver earlier in the first round. But they also need help at cornerback. Who are a couple of guys that you would peg on maybe day two to kind of address the cornerback need or the safety needs that they have?
DANIEL JEREMIAH: “It’s a good group. When you start getting to day two, look, you’ve got a guy like A.J. Terrell from Clemson, who’s real tall, lean, real fluid. He’s somebody that plays a variety of techniques there. A really good blitzer coming off the boundary too, which would be fun for Jim Schwartz to play with a little bit.
But he can be a little sticky when he has to work back downhill. But he’s a tall, long, athletic corner. I think he’s a late 1, early 2, could end up slipping a little bit in the second round, see what happens.
Damon Arnette, I love Damon Arnette. He’s twitched up from Ohio State. He can find and play the ball. He’s a little bit tight, but you can play him in press. He’s somebody, I think, is going to go in the second round.Jeff Gladney from TCU, kind of he’s got some similarities to a Denzel Ward. Just undersized, real feisty. He plays off. He’s real fluid, very aware. I’ve watched the Iowa State game, one of the games I flipped on with him, it was a war watching him go up against that wide receiver. He’s another one in that range.
The one that I think is going to go in the second round that’s fascinating to me is the corner from Auburn, Igbinoghene. I’m going to get that name right when we get to the Combine. I’m sure I just butchered it. But he’s one that’s really explosive. A former wide receiver. He was a track guy. They moved him to corner. Really, really ultra twitched up.But he struggles to play the football. And that to me is my concern. He doesn’t have any interceptions. He’s always in phase, in the right position. And especially in the LSU and Alabama games, he just struggled to find and play the ball.
So I think he’ll get drafted in the second round based off traits, but there’s still some development to take place there.And another name I would just throw in the mix would be Diggs. We’ll see what happens with Diggs from Alabama who has got some Aqib Talib-type skills. But the question is just pure deep speed. But real fluid. Obviously Stefon’s brother there, the wide receiver with the Vikings. Former wide receiver, kickoff returner. Really skilled athlete.The question is just how is his deep speed and he’s just okay as a tackler. It’s a good group. If you want to take a corner in the second round, that’s the list of names you would be choosing from. And I think there’s a lot of good players in that group.”
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If the Philadelphia Eagles do choose to go wide receiver in the first round, guys like A.J. Terrell and Damon Arnette will be high priority options for the team on day two. The Eagles and the fan base obviously want to add a speed WR to the roster. According to Jeremiah, those players might not be there at 21. The Eagles may look to early cornerback help from CJ Henderson and others if a top talent like Henry Ruggs III is off the board.
NFL Network’s live coverage of the 2020 NFL Scouting Combine on-field workouts begins Thursday, February 27 with the quarterbacks, wide receivers and tight ends, and continues with the running backs, offensive linemen and special teams on Friday, February 28, linebackers and defensive linemen on Saturday, February 29, and defensive backs on Sunday, March 1. Coverage of workouts begins at 4:00 PM ET on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and at 2:00 PM ET on Sunday on NFL Network.
You can follow Candis McLean on Twitter (@CandisRMcLean) and e-mail her at [email protected].
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