Section 215
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Philadelphia Eagles: Predicting what the team’s “big board” looks like at 12

By David Esser

Feb 25, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 25, 2020; Indianapolis, Indiana, USA; Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman speaks to the media during the 2020 NFL Combine in the Indianapolis Convention Center. Mandatory Credit: Trevor Ruszkowski-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Philadelphia Eagles likely ruled themselves out of landing Kyle Pitts or Ja’Marr Chase during this year’s NFL Draft due to their decision to trade back, but there’s still talent to be had at pick 12.

While it’s impossible to predict how things shape up during any sort of professional sports draft (Pitts/Chase could end up falling all the way down to pick 12 for all we know), a clearer picture of who the Eagles are likely to target with their first-round pick is starting to emerge.

Taking into account that wide receiver and cornerback are the Eagles’ two most glaring needs at the moment, here’s a glimpse at how the team’s “big board” might be shaping up when it comes to the 12th overall pick:

Taking a stab at predicting the Philadelphia Eagles “big board.”

Philadelphia Eagles Rashawn Slater
Sep 30, 2017; Madison, WI, USA; Northwestern Wildcats offensive lineman Rashawn Slater (70) during the game against the Wisconsin Badgers at Camp Randall Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Rashawn Slater, OT

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Fans of the team would absolutely despise this pick, but it’s pretty clear that a guy like Rashawn Slater would rank highly on Howie Roseman’s draft board. A 6-4, 313lbs offensive tackle who has the positional flexibility to play all five positions on the offensive line, Slater offers both a short and a long term fix to the Eagles’ offensive line woes.

While some may be quick to rule out the possibility of the Eagles going offensive line with their first-round pick, history paints a dramatically different picture. The Eagles have drafted an offensive lineman with 25.6% of their first-rounders since 1970, and Howie Roseman himself has drafted an offensive lineman with three of the nine first-round selections that he’s overseen.

The Eagles organization firmly believes in building through the trenches, and that philosophy didn’t magically change after a season where their O-Line was a significant issue.

The Eagles are expected to see Andre Dillard, Brandon Brooks, and Lane Johnson return to the line in 2021, but none of them are really sure things at the position. Slater offers a sense of insurance should Brooks or Johnson get injured again, or if Dillard fails to live up to his own first-round status.

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