Philadelphia Eagles 7-round mock draft: Pick 12 is Jaycee Horn territory

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Nov 14, 2020; Tulsa, Oklahoma, USA; Tulsa Golden Hurricane linebacker Zaven Collins (23) gets ready for a play during the game against the Southern Methodist Mustangs at Skelly Field at H.A. Chapman Stadium. Tulsa won 28-24. Mandatory Credit: Brett Rojo-USA TODAY Sports /

The Philadelphia Eagles select…

54. LB. 37. player. Scouting Report. Pick Analysis. Tulsa. Zaven Collins

Sticking with the theme of building up the defense first before worrying about the offensive side of the ball, the addition of Tulsa’s Zaven Collins at the top of the second round would do a great deal in terms of addressing the Eagles league-worst linebacking group.

With both Nate Gerry and Duke Riley leaving in free agency, Philly also just needs bodies to fill up some snaps at LB moving forward.

A 6-4, 260lbs “Bronko Nagurski Trophy” winner, Collins is one of the more well-rounded defensive prospects in the entire 2021 NFL Draft. He excelled at all three levels of the defense in college: stopping the run, dropping into coverage, and blitzing the quarterback.

Collins really intrigues me due to the creative defensive scheme that newly hired defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon is likely set to run moving forward. He’s expected to ask a lot of his linebackers from a responsibility standpoint, which would put Collins in a good position to succeed as a rookie.

Collins would immediately take over as the Eagles’ starting middle linebacker, which also opens up the door for players like Alex Singleton and Davion Taylor to develop as role-players moving forward – a better fit for everyone involved.

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