National Football League

2017 NFL Draft, Philadelphia Eagles 3-Round Mock: Cornerback or Bust

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 11:03 p.m. ET

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Here is my first Philadelphia Eagles mock draft, with many more to follow.

The words “Philadelphia Eagles” and “Mock Draft” put a smile on my face. It may be mid-November, but this is the time I like to start breaking down college players for the NFL Draft.

Just a year ago, my first mock draft for the Eagles in 2016 featured Philly taking Carson Wentz in the first round. That’s ultimately the route that the Eagles went after acquiring the No. 2-overall pick and it has since worked out. Now Wentz, despite typical rookie issues, looks the part of the quarterback to revamp the organization.

Fast froward to present day and Wentz and his Eagles sit at 5-4 heading into a big Week 11 matchup with the Seattle Seahawks. Usually a team’s record matters when thinking about their first-round pick, but the Eagles traded theirs to get Wentz. However, they also traded Sam Bradford to the Minnesota Vikings for a first-round pick. So, they will be picking in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft, which is in Philadelphia, coincidentally.

Minnesota started hot, but they have now come back down to earth and have lost four-straight games. Ironically, Philly was the team that started their losing streak and I am sure they are happy as ever about it.

The Eagles have glaring holes in their roster that need to be addressed. But which positions will they value most and address in each round? Here’s a look at the first three-round mock draft for the Philadelphia Eagles in 2017.

Oct 15, 2016; Madison, WI, USA; Ohio State Buckeyes cornerback Gareon Conley (8) breaks up the pass intended for Wisconsin Badgers wide receiver Robert Wheelwright (15) during the fourth quarter at Camp Randall Stadium. Ohio State won 30-23. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports

Gareon Conley

CB, Ohio State Buckeyes

This pick may not be popular in November, just like Wentz wasn’t popular last November. But I feel that it could pick up some steam as we get closer to the NFL Draft. Luckily for the Eagles, their biggest hole is one of the strongest positions in the draft: cornerback. The 2017 NFL Draft is still far away, but get ready to see tons of cornerbacks mocked to the Eagles because everyone understands they need one.

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In my first mock of the season, I have the Eagles selecting Ohio State’s Gareon Conley. I know there are other big-name cornerbacks Philly fans want, but Conley is a consistent cover corner that could play right away. Jim Schwartz has the Eagles defense flying around, but they are a good cornerback away from being elite. I know they have played great, but a legitimate starting corner would put this defense over the top and allow them to win any game they play in.

Taking a guy that is athletic and has potential to be a shutdown corner would make sense, but not for the Eagles. They need someone who will come in ready to go and you’d be able to trust right away. And I feel like Conley fits that mold.

At Ohio State, Conley has 83 career tackles, four interceptions, and 14 pass deflections. He may not get the love as the best cornerback in the 2017 draft class, but I feel like he will be talked about in that regard once in the league.

If Minnesota keeps losing, maybe they get one of the top two cornerbacks, but I think they’ll finish towards the middle of the NFL and Conley will fall right into their laps. Regardless of where they draft, they need to draft a cornerback in the first round.

Scott Olmos-USA TODAY Sports

Royce Freeman

RB, Oregon Ducks

Usually I fall in love with a prospect early in my draft process—but that player is normally a quarterback. However, through my early film study of the 2017 class, Oregon running back Royce Freeman has been that player.

I get it, wide receiver may be a bigger need than running back, but look no further than the Dallas Cowboys. Even with Dez Bryant out with an injury, they were still successful throwing the ball because their rushing attack is so potent. Now, I am not trying to say Freeman is on the same level as Ezekiel Elliott, but Freeman has some elite traits that will fit perfectly in the Eagles offense.

His balance stands out to me as defenders bounce off of his legs and he doesn’t go down easily. I also love running backs that lower their shoulder and try to get that extra yard. Freeman embraces contact and will fight for your offense to succeed on the goal line and get six points.

What makes his ability to fight for yards even more special is the fact that he has speed to go with it. Standing at 5-11 and weighing it at 230 pounds, you wouldn’t think he’d have breakaway speed, but he does.

Not to keep making him sound like the greatest running back to ever play, but Freeman can also catch the ball out of the backfield with great success. I think he is the complete package and would not be surprised if his stock rose into the first round.

He currently has 47 combined rushing and receiving touchdowns in his career. Freeman averages an impressive 5.9 yards per carry for his career and has over 4,400 total yards over his three years at Oregon. If the Eagles can get Freeman in the second round, they may get a future stud to pair with Wentz in the backfield for years to come.

Nov 4, 2016; East Hartford, CT, USA; The Temple Owls warm up before the start of the game against the Connecticut Huskies at Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-USA TODAY Sports

Dion Dawkins

OL, Temple Owls

I know Eagles fans, your favorite team didn’t take a wide receiver in the first three rounds of the 2017 NFL Draft. And to answer your question, no, I am not an idiot! I know they have a huge hole at receiver, but I just do not think they will press the need in the draft because they can address it through free agency.

There has been talk about DeSean Jackson returning to Philadelphia and I love the idea. The Eagles need to be smart about signing him, though, and make sure the deal isn’t anything crazy. If they go out and get a receiver like Jackson via free agency, there is no reason to take a third-round receiver.

So, I have the Eagles taking Temple Owls offensive lineman Dion Dawkins. The 6-5, 320-pound senior already plays football in Lincoln Financial Field, so that would be a smooth transition. The reason I mention that is because Dawkins comes with some off-field baggage.

According to Philly.com, “Temple seniors Haason Reddick and Dion Dawkins, who had faced felony aggravated assault and conspiracy charges and related misdemeanor charges in connection with an off-campus fight, have avoided a trial and agreed to be placed in a diversionary program, Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD).”

Despite those issues, though, Philly’s new era of football has seemed to look past off-field issues after they drafted Wendell Smallwood and Jalen Mills in the 2015 NFL Draft. So I think they will look past Dawkins’ red flags.

On the field, Dawkins has a lot to like about his game. He is solid in pass protection and has a nasty punch at times in the run game. He has some technique he needs to clean up, but the Eagles coaches will know that as they get him in the third round. We will have to see how he tests at the NFL Combine, but if he does well, I could see the Eagles targeting him.

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