Philadelphia Eagles 2022 NFL Draft/UDFA signings recap
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To fully encapsulate the Eagles’ 2022 NFL Draft, one has to take in the AJ Brown trade first and foremost. After that, the team drafted a ‘center of the future’ in Cam Jurgens and picked up the most athletic 340-pounder this side of the WWE in Jordan Davis. The team then went out and got his teammate, Georgia LB Nakobe Dean, stopping a draft day slide.
General manager Howie Roseman swapped picks in the first round with Houston and then gave the Texans a 2022 fourth-round pick (124), 2022 fifth-round pick (152) and another 2022 fifth-round pick (156) for the chance to draft Davis. A sleeper selection may be Kansas’ Kyron Johnson, who brings potential as an exchange linebacker and edge rusher on third downs.
| Philadelphia Eagles | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Round, Selection, | Player | School | DN Big Board Rank/ Grade | ‘Nasty’ Take: |
| 1 (13) Acquired from Houston | Jordan Davis | DT/Georgia | 5/1st Round | Big presence and big expectations are in store for the 6-foot-6, 341-pounder. Can he develop a pass rush arsenal? |
| 2 (51) | Cam Jurgens | OC/Nebraska | 66/2nd Round | Jurgens did not experience a draft day slide due to his wonderful physical gifts. He has few limitations other than one. Can he consistently be relied upon for accurate shotgun snaps in the NFL? |
| 3 (83) | Nakobe Dean | LB/Georgia | 26/2nd Round | Dean has enough ability to uncover himself with his eye speed tracking down loose plays such as screens or reverses. There are times, however, when the action does in fact get too big for him. The 2021 Butkus Award winner did miss three tackles in the team's season opener against Clemson despite notching two quarterback sacks. |
| 6 (181) Acquired from | Kyron Johnson | LB/Kansas | 352/5th Round | The Texas contest opened up everyone's eyes to how much Johnson could dominate a contest, but that type of energy was seen week-to-week. With 4.4 speed and a motor to match, it will be interesting to see how the Eagles employ his services on special teams and beyond. Can he play the ILB spot? |
| 6 (198) Acquired from Steelers via Jaguars | Grant Calcaterra | TE-H-back/SMU, Oklahoma | 291/4th Round | A couple of years ago, it wasn't even a foregone conclusion that Calcaterra would continue to play. It had to be quite the day for him when he heard his name called after such a tough time at two different schools. Athletic pass catcher with excellent route-running skill. |
2022 Philadelphia Eagles UDFA signings:
| 2022 Eagles UDFA signings | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| DN Big Board rank | Player | Positions | School | Grade | Round | Nasty’ Take: |
| 68 | Carson Strong | QB | Nevada | 6.16 | 2nd Round | Strong’s medical concerns overshadowed a career that demonstrated toughness, range as a passer and high football intelligence. His postseason did not help his cause. |
| 160 | William Dunkle | OG | San Diego Stateate | 5.71 | 3rd Round | Dunkle’s tenacity as a run blocker often created forward movement for a stout running game. His hands often got too busy in pass protection. |
| 170 | Mario Goodrich | CB-Nickel | Clemson | 5.69 | 4th Round | Goodrich’s instant nature and aggression overcame any lack of long recovery speed in school. He plays longer than his size would indicate. Can he slide inside to nickel? |
| 185 | Reed Blankenship | S | Middle Tennessee | 5.67 | 4th Round | Blankenship posted career-highs in tackles for loss in 2021, but never regained his 2018 form. In that season, he made plays in coverage all over the field. |
| 207 | Josh Jobe | CB-Nickel | Alabama | 5.62 | 4th Round | Jobe ranks as yet another prospect whose best years were in the rear view mirror of his latest results. Proving that he can overcome a lack of bulk on the perimeter will be the challenge. |
| 250 | Noah Elliss | DT-NG | Idaho | 5.49 | 4th Round | Elliss ranks as a two-down defender who consistently bows back interior OL. He showed more on-field range than his postseason workout results suggest. |
| 276 | Kennedy Brooks | RB | Oklahoma | 5.42 | 4th Round | Brooks, a smooth runner with a gliding style, didn’t turn into a game changer. Nonetheless, his 6.3 yards per carry average lays credence to his vision. He can execute in gap-schemed or zone-based run offenses. |
| 287 | E.J. Perry | QB | Brown, Boston College | 5.36 | 4th Round | The 2022 East-West Shrine Bowl MVP was more than adequate as a playmaker in the Ivy League after flashing slightly at Boston College. He is a playmaker who needs to reign in the risks he takes in an NFL training camp. The athleticism is vastly underrated. |
| 302 | Josh Blackwell | CB-Nickel | Duke | 5.29 | 4th Round | Blackwell’s 4.3 speed was well-documented and he covers with a calm that represents that. Durability has been the question mark since arriving on campus. |
| 315 | Josh Sills | OG-OT | Oklahoma State, West Virginia | 5.233 | 4th Round | Sills started off at West Virginia and was productive while there. His experience at both OG and OT helped his cause, as does his outstanding size. |
| 387 | Jarrid Williams | OT | Miami (Fla.), Houston | 5.09 | 5th Round | Williams was consistent at Houston, started off fine at Miami (Fla.) and then took a step back at times in 2021. The rare length and wingspan give him a chance, but the feet have to catch up. |
| 416 | Britain Covey | All-Purpose | Utah | 5 | 5th Round | Covey’s age was well-documented. The production should be considered, too. The former Ute returned a punt for a TD against SDSU’s Matt Araiza early in the year and then a kickoff back for a TD in the 2022 Rose Bowl. |
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