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The Philadelphia Eagles have three first-round picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. This is the most of any team in the first round, giving the Eagles a ton of leverage.
With great power comes great responsibility, and Howie Roseman knows this more than anyone. He has had his fair share of draft busts, and now he has three prime opportunities to either make his drafting record worse, or clean it up.
Most Philadelphia fans expect the Eagles to strengthen the defense this offseason by drafting at least one defensive lineman and a cornerback. However, it wouldn’t hurt to use one of the three picks on a wide receiver. With all of this in mind, here are the top three prospects that the Eagles should consider with their third first-round pick.
3 best players the Eagles can select with the 19th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft
3. Garrett Wilson – Wide Receiver
The Eagles are known to have a predominantly run-heavy offense, while the passing game is more of an afterthought. However, Jalen Hurts is looking to change that narrative. The young quarterback is actively working with a coach to improve his passing game this offseason. If Hurts’ hard work pays off, he’s going to need another receiver to pass to.
That’s where receiver Garrett Wilson comes into play. The junior from Ohio State is a perfect match for Philadelphia. The 6-foot, 183-pound receiver would be a perfect complimentary player for DeVonta Smith, who sports a similarly tall, slender build.
According to his NFL profile, Wilson has “deceptive speed” and “instinctive, sudden and strong” hands aiding his success. The young receiver also doubles as a punt returner, which would be a bonus if the Eagles capitalize on his potential.
2. Jameson Williams – Wide Receiver
There are a lot of promising receivers in the 2022 draft class. Along with Garrett Wilson, Jameson Williams from the University of Alabama is a top prospect. Despite only playing three years in college, the junior receiver is extremely well decorated.
He was named First-team All-American 2021, SEC Co-Special Teams Player of the Year 2021, and First-team All-SEC 2021. All of these honors and accolades are with great reason. Williams led the Crimson Tide in receiving with 79 receptions for 1,572 yards and 15 touchdowns in the regulars season. The 21-year-old also recorded 11 receptions for 127 yards in Alabama’s two postseason games before tearing his ACL.
Fortunately, Williamson is on track to be healthy and ready to go for NFL training camp, and the Eagles should make sure the promising receiver lands in Philadelphia.
1. Trent McDuffie – Cornerback
As stated previously, the Eagles need to focus primarily on strengthening their defense this offseason. With that in mind, the cornerback position could use some reinforcements. Darius Slay has performed extremely well at the position and could be a great mentor to a young prospect like Trent McDuffie.
The cornerback out of the University of Washington is slightly shorter than most cornerbacks in the NFL. However, according to his NFL profile, that doesn’t matter much once he gets to work on the field. The league describes McDuffie as “tenacious in run support,” and a “fearless, aggressive competitor” who stops yards after the catch with “decisive blows.”
McDuffie’s size could easily trick receivers into thinking they have him beat. However, his competitive nature makes up for the few inches he lacks in height.
If Howie Roseman plays his cards right, the Eagles could get two of these players in the first round, along with a top-tier linebacker. The 2022 NFL Draft kicks off on Thursday, April 28.