NFL Mock Draft Monday: Going back down to Georgia

After drafting five Georgia Bulldogs in 2022 and 2023, the Eagles drafted just one since. Maybe that will change in April?

Charles McDonald and Nate Tice, Yahoo – OT Monroe Freeling, Georgia

Freeling has been a big riser over the back half of the college season and might go even higher than this when this cycle is all said and done. He has good size with long arms and a frame that could add even more bulk. Freeling is an easy mover (his basketball background shows up constantly) whose technique and polish sharpened quickly after he got healthy this past season. He even showed improved strength and ability to anchor in the last month of the season, and that only adds to his appeal. Freeling might have played on the left side in college, but his athleticism should allow him to flip sides if needed. Howie Roseman loves investing in the trenches and this would give Jeff Stoutland and company a Lane Johnson succession plan.

They’ve already done five mocks before February? #Content.

Freeling is a “late riser” which in his case isn’t necessarily a bad thing. He wasn’t a highly touted prospect coming into the season because didn’t play much last year, but he’s made a name for himself as the season progressed. At 6-7 315 he’s got room to add bulk, and unsurprisingly with that weight he moves well for a guy his height. He is a true junior, which cuts both ways for him: youth is on his side, but he’s only started for one season. He has some work to do besides in the weight room, he plays with a high pad level and can get pushed around.

High ceiling but needs some more time baking? The Eagles are a good landing spot for him since he won’t need to play right away.

Zachariah Branch had his most productive season yet, catching 73 passes for nearly 750 yards with 17 explosive catches. He’s elusive in space, can stop and start on a dime, and is always a threat to score as a punt and kick returner.

The Eagles are going to need to add a WR. Don’t expect AJ Brown to be back, and Jahan Dotson will leave in free agency to a team that will actually give him a chance to do more than get some cardio on Sunday afternoons.

Branch is CBS’ 89th overall prospect. Daniel Jeremiah has him as his 48th overall prospect. So 23 is a reach.

Branch had a good season at Georgia, and as a freshman at USC he had a punt and kick return TD. But there’s about to be an AJ Brown sized hole in the roster, and Branch isn’t the type to fill it. If the Eagles are going WR in the 1st or 2nd, I’d rather have a big bodied WR like Washington’s Denzel Boston, Louisville’s Chris Bell, or Notre Dame’s Malachi Fields that compliments Devonta Smith rather than duplicates him.

The SEC’s defensive player of the year, Howell finished with 11.5 sacks and 41 total pressures, according to PFF. He has a sleek build (6-3, 248) but holds up well on the edge, and his explosiveness ranks among the best in this year’s class.

Holds up well on the edge? Were they watching Howell? He is a liability against the run. His arm length is sub 31”, which is a massive outlier for an EDGE, that is bottom 1%. Howell is a stand up situational pass rusher in the NFL. His motor might keep him in the NFL for a while, but a 1st round pick on him is a reach, pun not intended.

The Eagles tried multiple players opposite Quinyon Mitchell without success, and the ascending Hood could be a good option for them. If he can run well at the NFL Scouting Combine, a first-round landing spot would make sense.

With the impending retirement of Vic Fangio we can probably rule out the Eagles going with defense in the 1st round. And as I said last week, a CB in the first may not be the best use of resources.

But if they do go CB, Hood would be a fun pick. He plays with a toughness and physicality that you’re going to love. The downside is he’s got some discipline to clean up, he might be a penalty machine in the NFL. A strong showing at the Senior Bowl may have locked up a 1st round selection for him.