3 future centers the Philadelphia Eagles should consider drafting
By David Esser
Drake Jackson, Kentucky
A high-upside prospect who could be available as late as the fifth or sixth round, Drake Jackson actually has a fairly similar build to Jason Kelce. Standing in at just 6-2, 290lbs Jackson is definitely an undersized option compared to most NFL centers. However, the Philadelphia Eagles have experienced a ton of success with a smaller Kelce (6-3, 282lbs) running the show in the middle of the offensive line.
A four-year starter for the Wildcats, Jackson has primarily won matchups down in the trenches due to his speed and athleticism. A nimble and explosive blocker, his type of play style would be best highlighted in a west coast scheme, something the Eagles will likely try to run under Nick Sirianni.
The major “pro” to drafting someone like Jackson is that it likely wouldn’t require a high draft pick, and he could easily spend the entire 2021 season learning behind Kelce. It’s not as flashy of a pick as Humphrey or Myers, but it’s an option nevertheless.
Kelce was a sixth round pick himself after all. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Next. 8 low-cost cornerbacks the Philadelphia Eagles could target in free agency. dark
The Eagles don’t have to select a future center during this year’s draft – they could totally punt this issue off to the 2022 season. However, getting that body into the organization for at least one full season of development would go a long way in terms of building up the team’s O-Line moving forward.