Philadelphia Eagles: 7-Round 2018 mock draft in mid-April

At this moment, the Eagles could use an injection of depth at safety. The two starting jobs are locked down, but Malcolm Jenkins isn’t getting any younger. Eventually, Philadelphia will want to start grooming his replacement — or at least find some options for the No. 3 safety role.

While I wouldn’t go as far as calling Quin Blanding a potential replacement for Jenkins, he’s an intriguing safety prospect to ponder. He may lack the speed needed to be a shutdown single-high safety, but he’s an experienced starter who plays downhill and isn’t a stranger to getting his hands on the football.

With Blanding, it’s the measurables that are concerning. His 4.63 40-yard speed is unsettling, and he isn’t a great athlete. Although his production and size will win over some scouting departments, Blanding’s game has some holes that could prove too much to overcome at the next level.

Still, he’s worth a shot here in the middle rounds. Blanding proved at Virginia that he can be a difference maker, albeit not at an elite level. His attacking mindset against the run, knack for racking up tackles and good awareness on the backend seem to suggest he could be a valuable addition for Philadelphia.