As the Philadelphia Eagles aim to make another run at the Super Bowl, these sleepers in the 2019 NFL Draft could give them the help they need.
The Philadelphia Eagles are heading into the 2019 NFL season with a roster that looks like it will be able to compete at a high level. They have a few holes to fill, but it seems that if they are able to fill those holes, they will be a team that is in the Super Bowl discussion all season.
Everyone will be discussing what they should do in the first round of the 2019 NFL Draft, where they have the 25th pick. You will see a bunch of big-name prospects have their names floated around with the idea that they will be a perfect fit with the Eagles.
However, Super Bowl teams are not just built through the first round — they are also built on late-round sleepers that play well past their draft spot. Look no further than Eagles center Jason Kelce. Kelce was taken in the sixth round of the 2011 NFL Draft and is now arguably the best center in football. He also played a huge roll in the Eagles winning their first Super Bowl.
Players like Kelce are not easy to find, but the Eagles need to try and hit on some of their late-round picks in the 2019 NFL Draft. Philadelphia does not need the late-round players to be the best at their positions, but they need to hope that they can contribute and play a role in their quest for their second Super Bowl.
Here are three late rounds sleepers that the Eagles could take in the 2019 NFL Draft.
3. Jalen Hurd, Wide Receiver, Baylor
Projected Round: 4 or 5
Former Baylor wide receiver Jalen Hurd hasn’t had your stereotypical path to the NFL. The 6-5 wide receiver started his collegiate career at the University of Tennessee, as a running back. It may sound crazy, but Tennessee gave Hurd the ball a lot and he did well. Hurd carried the ball 589 times for 2,635 yards and 20 touchdowns. However, Hurd left Tennessee and decided to transfer Baylor, but did so as a wide receiver.
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The switch to wide receiver has had its growing pains, but if a team is ready to keep pushing through those pains with Hurd, they may get a steal in the 2019 NFL Draft.
For starters, Hurd was a giant for a running back, but he is still huge for a wide receiver. His size should make some scouts happy with the thought of developing his route running. Hurd could be a player that learns for a year or two with potential to be a stud. His ceiling at wide receiver is extremely high and that aspect alone will attract a lot of teams.
Teams know that Hurd will not hit his potential in year one, which is why he will probably go in the fourth or fifth round. I would not be surprised to see a team risk it with him in the third, but for the Eagles, the fourth round would be perfect.
Hurd may not be a star in year one, but he will be able to contribute to the Eagles right away. Head coach Doug Pederson would be able to get Hurd involved in the offense. The Eagles could also use him at running back on different occasions too.
Imagine the Eagles lining up in five-wide, with tight end Zach Ertz as one of the receivers, and with no running back on the field. That would force the defense to likely come out in a formation with one linebacker. But then the Eagles could shift and put Hurd into the backfield as a running back and Ertz at tight end. That is a scary thought for NFL defensive coordinators.
2. Vosean Joseph, LB, Florida
Projected Round: 3 or 4
There is no debate that the Eagles need a linebacker in the 2019 NFL Draft or via trade. They only have one linebacker on the roster that can be trusted: Nigel Bradham. The Eagles have shown over the past three seasons that they love to have two linebackers play a ton of snaps, but trusting Kamu Grugier-Hill to be that guy could be a big mistake.
Luckily for the Eagles, there are a ton of solid linebackers in the middle rounds of the draft. Oddly enough, the Eagles have not brought any linebackers in for pre-draft visits, but I would not read too far into that. Howie Roseman and company will not go into the season without addressing the position. That is why former Florida linebacker Vosean Joseph is a player the Eagles should target.
If the Eagles are sure they are going with Bradham at middle linebacker, Joseph would plug-in nicely as the second linebacker. The Florida product is solid in coverage and, even though he has some lapses in the run game, he can smack you in the mouth.
He is one of the most aggressive players I have watched and he would add a little more nastiness to the Eagles defense. Joseph will likely be taken in the third or fourth round and he is a player that could start on the Eagles in year one.
1. James Williams, RB, Washington State
Projected Round: 6 or 7
Outside of a second linebacker, a lot of people feel that the Eagles need a pass-catching running back. I tend to disagree, mainly because the Eagles won a Super Bowl in 2017 without really throwing the ball to the running back all season. However, if they are able to get one in the later rounds, that would be the best bet.
And if they are looking in the later rounds for a pass-catching running back, former Washington State running back James “Boobie” Williams is their best bet. It’s easy to love Williams’ game. He is shifty and can make defenders miss easily.
Even though he is 5-9, 197 pounds, Williams will lower his shoulder and try to run defenders over. He may not always run succeed, but seeing the willingness to embrace contact shows he loves to play the game. He’s reminiscent of Darren Sproles, but he is a little bigger than Sproles. Thus, he would be a great replacement for him.
Williams did not run the best 40-yard dash at the combine (4.58 seconds), but he was one of the top performers in the 3-cone drill and 20-yard shuttle, highlighting his impressive change of direction.
One big knock on Williams’ game was that the Washington State offense gave him a lot of check down throws and easy catches, which led to him ending his career with 202 receptions for 1,437 yards and eight touchdowns. That’s not a fair assessment, though, as he still caught the passes and made things happen. His pass-catching ability should make him attractive to the Eagles.