Philadelphia Eagles: Ranking the 2022 NFL Draft Class

If Grant Calcaterra didn’t suffer a string of concussions that forced him to retire at the end of the 2019 NCCA season, he almost certainly wouldn’t have been on the board for the Philadelphia Eagles at pick 198.

The then-Oklahoma Sooner was considered one of the best tight ends in the nation, and had he put up big numbers in 2020, he likely would have been a Day 2 pick in last year’s draft instead of a sixth round selection in 2022 after a solid season tucked away in the American Athletic Conference as a member of the SMU Mustangs.

If Calcaterra can return to his former form, the Eagles might have a high-end running mate for Dallas Goedert, who forces more two tight end looks moving forward. If not? Well, Calcaterra is still a solid pass-catching tight end who will instantly slot in as the Philadelphia Eagles’ TE2 and provide solid production as a rookie.

If Calcaterra is a solid short-term prospect who will provide immediate utility but has a questionable ceiling, then Carson Strong is the exact opposite player, as his floor is a rookie season spent away from football and his ceiling is a mid-level starting quarterback prospect.

If Strong was healthy, he likely would have been the sixth quarterback taken in the 2022 NFL Draft, probably to the New England Patriots at pick 137. He has one of the best arms in this year’s class, turned in some solid seasons at Nevada, and while he isn’t the most athletic passer you will ever find, he has an ability to pick apart a defense better than most quarterbacks you will find.

If Strong can get healthy, he’ll be the Eagles’ QB3 in 2022 and their QB2 in 2023-24 at the very least.