It’s draft season! I’ve been busy watching a bunch of these prospects, so in the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Daft, I’ll be releasing my rankings. Before you read ahead, please keep in mind the following!
- I have ranked these players based on the Eagles’ needs and scheme fits. Therefore, the round grade I have given considers that. For example, I may have had a 2nd round grade on a player like Trey Benson if the Eagles badly needed a running back, but I have pushed him down the board after the signing of Barkley.
- Please focus more on the tiers rather than the list. I use tiers when I have similar grades on players, and there might not be a lot of difference between players if they are in the same tier.
- I try to watch as much film as I can on these guys, but I also rely on others for stats and other data. Huge credit to PFF and Dane Brugler for some of the stats and measurables used in the pieces.
- I may mention off-the-field and injury issues in the reports, but I don’t really factor that in when ranking these prospects. However, I may mention it in the summaries.
- If I haven’t ranked someone, that’s because I haven’t watched them! If you’d like me to watch someone in particular, feel free to comment and I’ll try to get to them before the draft.
Previously
Wide Receiver
Tier 1
1. Marvin Harrison Jr, Ohio State, 6-3 2/8, 209
Summary: Marvin Harrison Jr. is a long, athletic, explosive athlete with elite ball skills, production, and route running. He’s a slam dunk top 5 prospect.
Eagles Thoughts: Marvin Harrison will only be an Eagles in your dreams/Madden seasons only, sorry!
2. Rome Odunze, Washington, 6-2 7/8, 212
Summary: Odunze is an extremely talented lengthy receiver who knows how to use his size to win in contested situations, yet has the fluidity of a smaller slot receiver.
Eagles Thoughts: Obviously, yes I would take him. But he isn’t falling anywhere near the Eagles pick.
3. Malik Nabers, LSU, 6-0 199
Summary: Nabers is an explosive twitchy athlete with outstanding route running and effortless movement skills who can win at all levels of the field.
Eagles Thoughts: See above! Obviously, yes. But he isn’t falling anywhere near the Eagles pick.
Tier 2
4. Brian Thomas Jr, LSU, 6-2 7/8, 209
Summary: Brian Thomas Jr. is a potential superstar as he has an elite combination of size, speed, and a huge catch radius but he hasn’t yet put it all together. and there is a lack of nuance to his game right now. There is some risk involved, but I think he will put it all together.
Eagles Thoughts: Taking a receiver in the 1st is a bad allocation of resources but… it would be fun wouldn’t it? I would not hate it if Brian Thomas was available and the pick at 22.
5. Adonai Mitchell, Texas, 6-2 2/8, 205
Summary: Mitchell is an explosive freak who has a tall lean frame and looks like a great vertical receiver. He is a good route runner who will excel on go routes, posts, and crossers, but won’t provide much in the short game. He would be a 1st round pick based on talent, but the effort levels are a real concern.
Eagles Thoughts: Mitchell excels in the middle of the field, which makes him an interesting player for this team. If this is an area the Eagles want to improve in the passing game, I think Mitchell could be high on the Eagles boards and I’d target him in the 2nd as I think the 1st may be slightly high considering what the Eagles already have, but I don’t think 22 would be a disaster. If he hits his upside, then this Eagles’ receiving group would be utterly insane.
Tier 3
6. Xavier Worthy, Texas, 5-11 2/8, 165
Summary: Xavier Worthy doesn’t have the size or hands to be a WR1, but he has the perfect traits (explosiveness, speed, route running) to be a fantastic WR2/3 for an offense that needs a vertical threat. He’s a bit of a boom/bust prospect, depending on how he develops as a pass catcher, but I don’t think he’s just enough undersized speedster who will flame out. I think he’s better than that.
Eagles Thoughts: Worthy is the exact type of WR I want the Eagles to target as an explosive WR3. He can be explosive with limited touches which is what this team needs but I think 22 is probably a bit too high. The 2nd round would be perfect, but I expect him to go earlier.
7. Ladd McConkey, Georgia, 5-11 5/8, 186
Summary: McConkey is a polished route runner who just knows how to get open, but lacks the physicality or size to be an outside receiver who can defeat press. He’s a safe bet to help an offense and be good, wherever he plays. The huge question is whether he is just a slot-only player, or whether he can take snaps outside.
Eagles Thoughts: I really like McConkey, and I think I’d take him in the 2nd round despite the injuries and lack of physicality. I think he’s a volume receiver who may not get it right now in this offense, but he might down the line. I like the player more than the fit for this offense. In dynasty leagues, I’m taking McConkey as the WR4/5, but for this offense, I’m not sure he’s exactly what we need.
Tier 4
8. Troy Franklin, Oregon, 6-1 7/8, 176
Summary: Troy Franklin is your classic down-the-field vertical burner. He can fly off the line of scrimmage and has long strides and great deep speed, but he struggles when the ball isn’t perfectly thrown and doesn’t track the ball consistently. I like the skillset more than the film, and the size worries me.
Eagles Thoughts: I’m looking for something more than a long vertical receiver as the Eagles WR3, but he would be tempting if he somehow fell to the Eagles in the 2nd or 3rd round. He feels a little more boom/bust to me than Worthy, hence why I have him a tier below.
9. Ricky Pearsall, Florida, 6-1, 189
Summary: Pearsall is the receiver in the class where the film didn’t match the testing so I had to go back and watch him again. I thought he was a low-ceiling high-floor type of receiver who does everything well, especially catching the ball, but wasn’t explosive or the most physical so his upside was limited. But his elite testing has me doubting my own opinion now and I wonder if he could be a really strong receiver and after watching him back again, I liked him more.
Eagles Thoughts: He could be a very strong option as a WR3 if the Eagles want a safe pair of hands, and I think his film suggests a round 3 WR, but the athletic testing might push him into the 2nd. I think this might be an excellent pick in the 3rd but he could go higher.
10. Xavier Legette, South Carolina, 6-1, 221
Summary: A big, strong vertical receiver who wins both with the ball in his hands and in contested situations, but Legette lacks polish and the lack of production is concerning. If he develops though, he could be a superstar. The upside is massive.
Eagles Thoughts: Oh no, this is the profile I’ve wrongly fallen for before… a big fast vertical threat who lacks polish and nuance with his route running is the type of guy who can bust but… I’d love an extra explosive weapon on this team. He could back up and learn from AJ Brown. He would be a bit of a boom/bust selection in the 2nd. I’m a sucker for this kind of player! I can’t help it.
11. Keon Coleman, Florida State, 6-3 2/8, 213
Summary: Keon Coleman is a big physical contested catch monster, who is capable of making acrobatic-style catches but he struggles to separate and the lack of explosiveness is concerning. The talent is there but it’s very inconsistent. Someone will take him high based on the upside. I think he might end up as a big slot at the next level.
Eagles Thoughts: I think he’s going to go earlier than many expect. It would be a boom/bust pick that could go wrong and I don’t think he’s what the offense needs. I would let someone else take that risk in the first round, but the Eagles might consider the risk in the 2nd. I would rather pass.
12. Roman Wilson, Michigan, 5-10 3/4, 185
Summary: Rowan Wilson profiles as a movement WR who moves very well and excels on horizontal routes but doesn’t get the YAC to create as many explosive plays as you would like to see from that type of WR. I think this is because he’s a little better in straight lines and doesn’t have the explosive change of direction you would like to see.
Eagles Thoughts: Wilson is the type of WR I would like the Eagles to target as he wins on horizontal routes such as deep overs and shallow crosses, but I think the 2nd round is a little rich so I’d be looking at him in the 3rd. He could be a steal if he can improve his YAC and create some more explosive plays.
13. Malachi Corley, Western Kentucky, 5’10 207
Summary: Malachi Corley is a bit of a projection as he wasn’t asked to run many in college and had a lot of manufactured touches, but he’s an explosive playmaker who excels with the ball in his hands.
Eagles Thoughts: This is the type of WR I am after as a WR3. In fact, I’ll go further, this is the exact guy I want. He would be the chess piece who can win on screens, reverses, and would create a lot of YAC. The 2nd round is a little rich considering how raw he is, so I would be looking at the 3rd round but I wouldn’t hate it in the 2nd. Honestly, I’ve ranked him at 13 because I don’t want to get carried away as he is so raw and just isn’t ready to play, but this is the skill set I am after, and I could easily move him up.
Tier 4
14. Javon Baker, 6-1, 202
Summary: Baker looks like a good possession receiver who could become an excellent option as a team’s 2nd or 3rd receiving option, but probably lacks the long speed and elite traits to become a WR1.
Eagles Thoughts: I think he would be a solid pick towards the end of day 2, as he could play outside and in the slot.
15. Jermaine Burton, Alabama, 6-0 2/8, 196
Summary: Burton is one of the quickest receivers in the class who can fly down the field and run crisp routes, but is a little light and lacks the physicality to play through contact so he’s probably going to end up as a vertical WR2/3. There appear to be legitimate character concerns too.
Eagles Thoughts: I want the Eagles to go after a YAC guy rather than another vertical threat, but Burton has legit speed and I’d hope the coaching staff could utilize that. Considering the lack of play strength and YAC, I’d wait until the 3rd. Although it’s possible he’s off the board entirely.
16. Ja’Lynn Polk, Washington, 6-1 3/8, 203
Summary: Polk might have the best hands in the class, and can adjust to errant passes and plays with excellent physicality, although his lack of long speed prevents him from being up with the best.
Eagles Thoughts: I like Polk as someone who could play a number of roles for the Eagles, and I think he’d be a worthy addition in the 3rd if the Eagles want a safe pair of hands.
17. Johnny Wilson, Florida State, 6-6 3/8, 231
Summary: As big of a WR as you will see, Wilson is a giant of a man who will be a walking mismatch wherever he lines up, but he needs to improve his catching technique to dominate opponents.
Eagles Thoughts: I mean… it would be fun wouldn’t it? Hurts throws a beautiful deep ball and I always want a team with as many mismatches as possible. But I wouldn’t look his way until round 3.
18. Devontez Walker, North Carolina, 6-1 4/8, 193
Summary: Walker is a boundary Z receiver who has shown he can win vertically, but hasn’t proved he can do a great deal else at this stage. At worst, he’s an explosive long vertical threat who tested extremely well.
Eagles Thoughts: This isn’t the type of profile I’d be after in the 1st 2 rounds, but I wouldn’t turn down the talent if he was there in the 3rd or 4th.
19. Jalen McMillan, Washington, 6-1, 197
Summary: McMillan is tough to project due to his injuries and the high amount of underneath targets he received last year. He is a talented route runner who lacks the elite speed or ability to get YAC to be considered more than a WR2/3.
Eagles Thoughts: He wouldn’t be the profile of player I hope the Eagles go after, but he could make sense as a reliable target from the slot towards the end of day 2 or the start of day 3.
20. Jacob Cowing, Georgia, 6-1 3/8, 208
Summary: A slot receiver at the next level who has the speed and elusiveness to be a really nice complimentary piece to an offense but the upside is limited if he can’t take snaps outside.
Eagles Thoughts: This is the profile I would be looking at as the Eagles WR3, and they could potentially get him at the start of day 3.
As always, thank you for reading. If you want more detailed notes on each player (strengths and weaknesses) then I’m thinking of releasing my entire document this year. Keep an eye out for this and let me know if this is something you are interested in!
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