Potential Late Round Sleepers the Eagles Should Target
With Alshon Jeffery, Zach Ertz, Brandon Brooks, Fletcher Cox and Malcolm Jenkins all with 2019 cap numbers north of the $10 million figure and a Carson Wentz mega-deal looming in the near future, the Eagles cap space situation will become very tricky.
In the 2020 season and with Wentz under a new deal, the Eagles will likely have over 60% of their salary cap spent on just nine players. Obviously, Howie Roseman will have a chance to re-work deals and clear up some space, as he has done this offseason, that is a lot of money invested into just a small amount of the full roster. The Eagles can plan for this situation through drafting skilled players in the late rounds of the draft that can produce for the team, at a low price.
Having players like Cre’Von LeBlanc, Avonte Maddox, Corey Clement, Kamu Grugier-Hill, and Josh Adams definitely helps the Eagles quite a bit. They are all solid rotational players, possibly future starters, that are each under a $1M cap number for 2019. The Eagles need more players, like these, which can be found in Day 3 of the 2019 NFL draft.
With 4 picks to use on the last day in the 2019 draft, it is crucial for the Eagles to hit these picks out of the park. Here are several players that the Eagles should have their eyes on that can produce well for the Eagles, at a bargain.
Notre Dame LB Drue Tranquill
Photo via Matt Cashore/USA TODAY Sports
Drue Tranquill began his CFB career as a true freshman for Notre Dame as a safety where he played 10 games for the Fighting Irish. The following season, Tranquill was set to grow into a bigger role in the defense which was cut short in just Week 3 where he tore his ACL after awkwardly falling on his knee while celebrating with his teammate just after his game-winning pass breakup against Georgia Tech. Tranquill recovered from this freak incident and returned to the field in 2016 where he began his transition to linebacker. In his first full season as a true linebacker in 2017, he recorded 85 tackles and 1.5 sacks, impressive numbers which were improved upon again in 2018 when he recorded 86 tackles, 3.5 sacks, and 4 passes deflected.
His background as a safety helps Drue Tranquill as a linebacker because he has excellent man coverage skills and hard hitting abilities. At the Combine, Tranquill ran a 4.57 40-yard-dash, put up 31 reps on bench press, and jumped a 37.5″ vertical and 122″ broad jump. Outside of his athletic abilities, Tranquill is an intriguing prospect for his ability to be a leader, as he was a two-time captain for the Fighting Irish. Drue always plays with 110% and rarely lets up on the field. He excels in run blitzing, which would improve the Eagles run defense. Although he is smaller for a linebacker, Tranquill is a strong player and can put on more muscle mass to gain size.
Along with many strengths, there are a few weaknesses that Tranquill has. He has been criticized for inconsistent tackling and coverage abilities, but both have improved over the years. Tranquill will likely not jump straight into a starting role beside Nigel Bradham on defense but may find his niche on special teams to start his career. With speed and his physical playing style, Tranquill is a great option for kick and punt coverages and may find himself see snaps on defense in select packages. Drue Tranquill will most likely be picked between rounds 5-6 and is an intriguing option for the Eagles to develop into a special teams ace and rotational linebacker/defensive role player.
Check out Drue’s highlights HERE!
Baylor WR/RB Jalen Hurd
Photo via Eric Gay/AP Photo
If you are looking for one of the most athletic and versatile players in the draft, look no further than Jalen Hurd. Hurd began his college career with the University of Tennessee as a five-star running back recruit. Yes, here is another player that converted positions in college. Jalen Hurd played 13 games in his first two seasons with the Volunteers and rushed for 2,184 yards between the two seasons.
Entering his junior season, Hurd was looking to be a surefire first-round pick out of college if the production on the field remained the same. Seven games into his 2016 campaign, Hurd suffered a concussion on the field and eventually requested a positional change from the coaching staff. After his request was declined, Hurd transferred schools due to “wear and tear on his body” and found himself at Baylor University where he could play as a wide receiver. When asked why he switched positions, Jalen noted that running backs in the NFL last about 3.5 years whereas wide receivers can still produce after 10 seasons. Hurd finally made his debut as a wide receiver in 2018 where he recorded 946 receiving yards and 4 touchdowns, while also getting over 200 rushing yards which mostly came from goal-line and short yardage situations.
Hurd just may have found his niche at wide receiver with a 6’5″ frame and excellent athletic ability. However, Hurd is a versatile offensive weapon that can be placed at running back every once in a while, or if an injury occurs. Although Hurd switched positions to lengthen his career in the NFL, he is still open to running the football here and there, or if running backs on his team go down due to injuries. His versatility would be valuable to the Eagles as a unique offensive weapon.
Jalen Hurd would be a good option for the Eagles with his elite size and great route running ability. Hurd also uses his background as a running back to an advantage when he has the ball in his hands. After he catches a pass, Hurd has great vision to find holes in the secondary and pick up valuable yards after the catch. Despite his athletic abilities, Hurd would still be a work in progress. As a new pass-catcher, Hurd will need to develop more moves and route diversity in order to succeed in the NFL. Also, he spent most of his time in Baylor in the slot, but would most likely need to move to the outside at the next level. All in all, Hurd would be an excellent investment in the later rounds of the draft with a huge reward is he pans out.
Here are Hurd’s wide receiver highlights!
Akron LB Ulysees Gilbert III
Photo via Quinn Harris/USA Today Sports
If the Eagles decide to pick a linebacker late in the draft, they have solid options with Drue Tranquill, and also Ulysees Gilbert III. Like Tranquill, Gilbert is a bit undersized but possesses the speed and coverage ability to make up for it. As the NFL changes to a pass heavy league and running backs are evolving into dual-threat athletes, having a linebacker that can line up against wide receivers, running backs and tight ends consistently is crucial in a successful defense. Gilbert brings that ability to the table. With success in both pass coverage and run defense with Akron, Gilbert has the experience that the Eagles are looking for in the middle of their defense.
Once he gets into the NFL, teams will likely want to see him bulk up a bit to adapt to bigger competition at the next level. Although Gilbert may find his way to a starting linebacker in the near future, his initial success in the NFL may come through special teams, something that the Eagles have lacked in recent years. Gilbert’s speed and hard-nosed tackling will make him a great player to put in punt and kick coverages and work his way up from there.
In his Junior year with the Zips, Gilbert recorded 140 tackles, 5 sacks, and 3 interceptions.
Check out Gilbert’s highlights here!
Florida Atlantic University RB Devin Singletary
Photo via Rob Foldy/Getty Images
The running back situation in the 2019 draft is a unique one. This class lacks clear cut, RB1’s that will make an instant impact. The best RB in the class, Josh Jacobs, is projected to be picked in the late first round, compared to previous seasons where Saquon Barkley and Ezekiel Elliott were picked Top-5. Although this class lacks elite backs, it is end loaded with dozens of backs that will be available in the later rounds. As a lot of these backs have similar traits, will teams be able to find a starter in later rounds? If the Eagles look to add depth at running back in the later rounds, Devin Singletary is their guy.
First of all, the Eagles need a back to compliment the style of new acquisition, Jordan Howard. Whereas Howard is a power back and has many different strengths as a back, he lacks elusiveness and pass-catching abilities. That is where Singletary excels. Singletary is hard to bring down with his shiftiness and balance once he meets a defender across the line of scrimmage. When lanes are clogged, Singletary utilizes his lateral movements to get across the field and find a hole to dash through. Once he finds that hole, Singletary takes off with elite acceleration but lacks sustained top-speed. When he is not running with the football, Singletary is a threat in the passing game and is also a great pass protector to pick up blitzes.
Singletary rushed for 4,287 yards in his 3-year career with FAU and also recorded 397 yards in the passing game. Outside of his excellent rushing stats, his touchdowns may be more impressive. With 12 in 2016, 32 in 2017 and 22 in 2018, Singletary is a touchdown machine and will give the Eagles a player with a chance to score from anywhere on the field, something that they have lacked since LeSean McCoy, who Singletary has been compared to.
Here are Singletary’s highlights!
Penn State DE/DT Shareef Miller
Photo via Joe Hermitt/Pennlive
On the Eagles defensive line, they value two things the most: versatility and depth. Shareef Miller would offer both of these traits to the team. At PSU, Miller mainly spent time on the end of the defensive line but was able to flex into the interior as a defensive tackle. The Eagles are intrigued by players of this nature, as current players Brandon Graham and Malik Jackson serve this role, and Michael Bennett spent time all over the line in 2018. Having a versatile backup on the D-Line that can be plugged in anywhere on the line will be very valuable to the Eagles.
Shareef grew up in Philadelphia, and would most likely love to return to his hometown and compete for the Super Bowl LII champions. Although he will likely fall to round 5-6 before he is selected, he had a very successful career with the Nittany Lions that should not be overlooked. Miller was an honorable mention All-Big Ten selection in 2017, where he played in all 13 games with 12 starts and recording 37 tackles, 11 for loss, and five sacks. Shareef was awarded third-team all-conference honors from his junior campaign, as well as a co-winner of the Nittany Lions’ Most Valuable Defensive Player award. He started 12 games; recording 41 tackles, 15 for loss, and 7.5 sacks on the year.
On the field, Shareef Miller is a difference maker. Once the ball is snapped, he attacks his opponent with great upfield burst and has solid footwork to make quick changes in direction in order to get into the backfield. Miller always keeps his head up as he rushes past the offensive line, allowing him to see the play unfold and not bite on play action passes. Against the run, he shows his versatility and experience from his work on the interior of the defensive line to clog the B gap and disrupt the run.
Although Miller shows flashes of productivity, there will be room to improve once he gets to the next level. In order to succeed in the NFL, Miller will need to improve his pass rushing variety by having more moves to use on offensive linemen as well as improve the use of his hands to shed blocks. All in all, Miller would be a project but has enough raw talent to contribute as a rookie for the Eagles and develop into an eventual starter down the road.
Want to learn more about some intriguing sleepers in the draft? I gave a few names in a previous Birds Banter Podcast, which you can listen to HERE! Let me know what you think and feel free to follow me on Twitter @MLupiNFL.
Featured Photo: Bill Panzica
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