The Philadelphia Eagles did what they usually do. They made moves to work the NFL draft board, acquiring high-upside players who somehow, someway, slipped through the cracks right in front of other teams.
That was the case again when they took Miami OT Markel Bell in the third round. Despite this being an OT-heavy class and him not being among the many first-rounders, they may have landed one of the steals of the event.
Markel Bell Could be a Starter in Philadelphia
The Eagles desperately needed to bolster the trenches, knowing that Jordan Mailata might retire young and that Lane Johnson isn't getting any younger. That's why they got an absolute unit of a human being, someone who stands at 6'9" and 346 pounds.
Unlike some of his classmates, Bell's technique needs refining. He also has to alter his body composition to find his ideal playing weight, as that fluctuated significantly during his college career.
They can afford to let Bell do so while they continue to have one of the best OT tandems in the game for at least another season. Then, when he's ready to take the field, he's going to be a human brick wall at either side of the line -- most likely as a blindside protector.
Bell joined the Hurricanes as a rotational piece, but his continued development and impressive work ethic ultimately led to playing time. He started opposite Francis Mauigoa to help Miami make a run at the championship game, playing 1,034 snaps without allowing a single sack.
The Eagles won the Super Bowl two years ago with Mekhi Becton at guard. Nick Sirianni and Howie Roseman love towering linemen who can manhandle, outmuscle, and bully the opposition. That's who Bell can turn out to be.
This organization has made a living out of drafting replacements for their veterans early. That gives them the bandwidth and time to develop those prospects, rather than throwing them into the fire when they're clearly unprepared. There's no need to rush, and Philadelphia's approach can also help them prepare their bodies for the wear and tear of NFL football.
Of course, Bell still has some refining to do; he's far from a finished product. But given those physical tools and a remarkable work ethic, there's no doubt that the Eagles may have landed one of the biggest steals of the third round of the draft, which shouldn't be a surprise at this point.
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