Philadelphia Eagles: Post-free agency 7-Round mock draft with trades
By Jeremy Klump
Round 3, Pick 73 (via Patriots): Christian Miller, DE, Alabama
After moving back in the first round, the Eagles use the third round pick they received from the Patriots to take a defensive end. Former Alabama pass rusher Christian Miller will not be a popular pick for the box score scouts. Miller had 56 tackles and 11 sacks in his career at Alabama. Those are numbers a player usually puts up in a season, but Miller is riding the wave of his solid eight-sack senior year.
Miller did not start for Bama much, but was still able to put those numbers up, so his senior stats show he is trending upward. The Eagles could use him on passing downs in Year 1 and give him time to put on some weight and strength. Miller shows elite traits as a pass rusher, shooting his hands and using his arms, in addition to having a great get-off.
He will be a high ceiling, low floor player, but Roseman may believe he is worth the gamble. Even with the addition of defensive end Vinny Curry, the Eagles will still likely add a pass-rusher in the draft and Miller could be the guy.
Round 4, Pick 127: Isaiah Buggs, DT, Alabama
In the fourth round, the Eagles take another Alabama player, but this time it is defensive lineman Isaiah Buggs. The former Crimson Tide starter had an excellent senior season, with 9.5 sacks and also adding 13.5 tackles for a loss. Buggs would likely become the Eagles third defensive tackle right away and would provide great value in the fourth round.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see Buggs go earlier because of his ability to rush the passer from the inside. However, the Eagles run to the podium and take him here in the fourth round. This would give them one of the deepest and most dangerous defensive lines in football.
Adding three players (Wilson, Miller, and Buggs) from one of the best defenses in college football doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.