Philadelphia Eagles First-Round Mock Draft: Week 18 Edition

Again, David Ojabo isn’t the only prospect to hopefully succeed a Philadelphia Eagles’ legend. While there is no one on this planet, or any others for that matter, that could replace Jason Kelce, at some point, the Eagles will have to do their best to try. Retirement rumors have followed Kelce for years, and while a playoff berth may buy the team some time, Howie Roseman knows it’s better to be proactive than reactive.

While there is no true replacement for Kelce, the next best thing looks to be Iowa’s Tyler Linderbaum. Similar in size with just a bit more meat on the bones, Linderbaum looks the part of the ultra-athletic center the Eagles are now used to.

Athleticism, competitive toughness, and a unique ability to block upfield, Linderbaum is the spitting image of Jason Kelce, at least on the field. There are so few centers with that assortment of skills, the NFL may be heading in a direction where that is the prototype, but as of now, they are still ahead of the curve.

Linderbaum may also share some of Kelce’s weaknesses as he’s not quite strong enough to take on some of the larger defensive tackles by himself. Over the years, though, the Eagles have found ways to minimize Jason Kelce’s weaknesses and maximize his strengths. There’s no reason they cannot do the same for Linderbaum.

The Center position has been a staple for Philadelphia for nearly a decade. With the selection of Linderbaum, that statement could be true for another 10 years. With one more pick in the first round, the Eagles look to solidify one more position for the next decade.