The Philadelphia Eagles have built one of the best offensive lines in football. The engine of the league’s most controversial play, the Eagles have mauled their way to win the second championship in franchise history. But the Eagles also were depleted when Mekhi Becton left in free agency.
With pieces going in and out, keeping the offensive line strong will be necessary for Philadelphia to defend its title. Fortunately for them, they found a player in the fifth round of the draft that could be a future starter.
Eagles Select Boston College OL Drew Kendall in Fifth Round of NFL Draft
The Eagles added some depth along the offensive line by selecting Boston College center Drew Kendall in the fifth-round (168th overall) of the NFL Draft on Saturday. Kendall was a three-year starter with the Eagles and was the anchor of the offensive line, running a healthy mix of zone and gap schemes in Bill O’Brien’s offense.
The 23-year-old also showed plenty of athleticism during his pre-draft workouts with a relative athletic score of 9.09. Although he lacks some strength with just 20 reps on the bench press, his ability to move and his technique help him finish blocks to become a serviceable offensive lineman.
The next step depends on his development. Kendall, who is the son of former first-round draft pick and NFL offensive lineman Pete, will get to work with Jeff Stoutland, who is one of the most highly regarded offensive line coaches in the league. While Kendall has also played 100 percent of his snaps during his collegiate career, he also shows guard-like tendencies, which could help him either become a utility player or a starter on the interior of the offensive line.
The Eagles are currently set with Landon Dickerson at left guard and Cam Jurgens at center. But Kendall can develop behind Jurgens or insert himself into the competition at right guard where Tyler Steen and Trevor Keegan are projected to battle it out.
Either way, Kendall has the talent and the bloodlines to make an impact and could turn out to be a late-round gem.