Philadelphia Eagles Mock Draft Mondays: Week 8 Edition

There are more holes on the Philadelphia Eagles’ defense than one can count, and while cornerback isn’t the greatest need, Derek Stingley Jr. is too good of a talent to pass up.

The hope is that somehow, someway, Kayvon Thibodeaux falls past the top pick. There were rumors that Alabama tackle Evan Neal could go first overall, but that was when the Jacksonville Jaguars had the top pick. Unfortunately for Philadelphia, the Lions drafted Penei Sewell to be their LT of the future just last season, and they selected CB Jeff Okudah third overall the year before.

Sadly, we must live in a world without Kayvon Thibodeaux in midnight green. Derek Stingley Jr. is no “consolation prize,” though, as he has the makeup to be a lockdown corner for years to come in the NFL.

Stingley has the ability to become a true ballhawk, or at least he looked that way as a true freshman in 2019. That season Stingley managed to grab six interceptions, and while he put up a goose-egg the following year, the athletic profile and ball-skills are there to give hope for the future.

Daniel Jeremiah of The NFL Network and NFL.com compared Stingley’s game to Marshon Lattimore, which should be seen as an absolute compliment despite Lattimore’s struggles in recent years. Both corners exhibit good size and speed paired with fantastic ball skills.

The only thing stopping Stingley from being a top-three pick is the recent surgery he had on his foot. It’s the latest in a longer-than-desired injury history for the LSU corner. Stingley is currently out indefinitely, and there’s no word on his return, but regardless, there’s no doubt he’s a top-flight talent even with the second pick and can help rebuild the Eagles’ secondary.