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The Philadelphia Eagles made a few free agency moves this offseason, but the Birds will make their biggest splash in the 2022 NFL Draft. Philadelphia has three first-round picks this year, giving the team a huge opportunity to kick its rebuild into high gear.
The Eagles have the 15th, 16th, and 19th overall picks, and the defensive line is the team's most urgent position to strengthen. They will likely draft a lineman 15th, but what position is second of importance? Here are the three best options for the Eagles with the 16th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft.
3 best players the Eagles can select with the 16th pick in the 2022 NFL Draft
3. Jameson Williams – Alabama
Last year, the Eagles were fortunate enough to draft DeVonta Smith 10th overall. The Heisman Trophy winner out of the University of Alabama quickly became Jalen Hurts' favorite offensive weapon.
Now, Philadelphia has another opportunity to draft a promising young receiver out of Alabama. Jameson Williams is one of the top receiver prospects in the 2022 draft class. Despite tearing his ACL at the end of the season, the junior announced that he was taking his talents to the NFL.
The 6'2″, 189-pound receiver could bring speed to the Eagles' offense, recording a 4.25-second 40-yard dash. His ability to battle and win contested catches is exactly what Hurts needs to improve his passing game in Philadelphia.
2. Aidan Hutchinson – Michigan
Despite a potential additional receiver, the Eagles are pretty set on offense. On the other hand, the team's defense is slowly shifting to a new core of players. Aidan Hutchinson from the University of Michigan would be a perfect addition to the rebuild.
Hutchinson is a senior defensive end for the Michigan Wolverines. According to NFL Draft Buzz, the 21-year-old is the top defensive end in this year's draft class. The website ranked him at the top of the position for multiple reasons, calling Hutchinson “the most dominating pass rusher in college football,” “almost impossible to block,” and an “athletic freak with amazing combination strength, quickness, and speed.”
Hutchinson will continue to show his explosiveness as a pass rusher in the NFL, and the Eagles will want to be on his side when that time comes.
1. Ahmad Gardner – Cincinnati
The Eagles must capitalize on the cornerback talent in the 2022 draft class. While Darius Slay has provided reliable coverage for the Birds, he is getting up there in age. It's time to bring a young player in to learn the ropes and work alongside Slay next season.
That's where junior Ahmad Gardner comes into play. The 21-year-old from the University of Cincinnati would be a great complimentary player on the Eagles' defense. According to NFL Draft Buzz, Gardner uses his size to beat smaller receivers in contested catches. His profile states that he “has good ball skills to locate and attack the ball in the air” and “sticks to receivers like glue.” He is also described as a “tough tackler who hits hard and rarely misses a chance to make a stop.”
These are all extremely important qualities for a cornerback, especially one in Philadelphia. The Eagles had the most dominant run game in the league last season but lacked a productive passing game. It's crucial that Philadelphia's defense can shut down its opponents' passing games while the offense continues to improve theirs.
