NFL Mock Draft 5.0: Could Saquon Barkley fall to the Redskins at No. 13?

Depth at cornerback is an issue the Philadelphia Eagles will look to solve this offseason. The reigning Super Bowl champions don’t have many glaring needs on the roster, but at cornerback, they are set to lose one or two players to free agency. Thus, finding another player in the NFL Draft to bolster the relatively young unit will become a primary goal.

At this pick, the Eagles have some choices to assess, such as Isaiah Oliver, Mike Hughes, and Jaire Alexander. Here, I have them picking Alexander, for several reasons.

Earlier in the first round, Alexander is a risk. But here, he holds more value. More value, one would argue, than Mike Hughes, who only has one good year of good starting tape, and Isaiah Oliver, who has potential, but is too sloppy to warrant a selection in Round 1 or Round 2.

Alexander beats the other two options for this spot because of his pro-readiness, and his playmaking potential. Alexander isn’t as far along as Hughes, and his injuries may have set him back in recent years, but he is by far the most athletic out of the bunch.

At 5-foot-11, 192, Alexander can come in and fill a multitude of roles for the Eagles. He could fill in on the outside as a depth player, or he could move to the slot if Patrick Robinson leaves via free agency.

Next: Assessing Redskins first-round options: Roquan Smith

Alexander compares favorably to former Washington Redskins cornerback Kendall Fuller, and Fuller has the talent to play both inside and outside. Perhaps, with the No. 32 pick in the NFL Draft, the Eagles will remember this comparison to a former foe, and they’ll draft Alexander, with the hopes that he can grow on a stacked defensive roster and eventually fill the need desired from him.