Philadelphia Eagles focus on secondary in early mock drafts
Philadelphia defensive backs Avonte Maddox, Justin Evans and Darius Slay will all miss this week’s Jets game due to injury. No wonder early mock drafts have the Eagles focused on its secondary.
According to Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports , the Eagles will take Clemson cornerback Nate Wiggins with the 30th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. At 6-foot-2 and 185 pounds, Wiggins is a long, athletic prospect best known for a record 98-yard interception in last year’s ACC Championship game.
With 36 tackles, 15 passes defended and two interceptions in three seasons with the Tigers, NFL Mock Draft Database rates him as the 27th-best prospect in next year’s draft with Detroit and Philadelphia as his most likely destinations.
Meanwhile, Luke Easterling of Si.com also gives the Eagles the 30th selection in 2024, but he believes the team will take Miami safety Kamren Kinchens, who he identifies as the draft’s best safety.
Pro Football Focus agrees and has him listed as the No. 15 prospect on their big board, not bad considering he was just the 21st-ranked safety in the 2021 recruiting class. While complimenting his speed, awareness and ball skills, PFF believes Kinchens could be more tenacious when attacking ball carriers
Ironically, the 21-year-old was carted off the field after making a big hit against Texas A&M in Week 2. He returned to play Georgia Tech a month later where he had no tackles and one pass defended.
The All-American safety was the only Miami football player named in ESPN's “College Football's Top 100 Players for 2023.” He has 120 tackles, seven interceptions and two forced fumbles in three years with Miami.
Keep in mind that Philadelphia hasn’t drafted a first-round defensive back since Lito Sheppard in 2002. They haven’t taken a safety that high since Ben Smith in 1990. Still, it’s fun to imagine these things with the 2024 NFL Draft still six months away.
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