NFL Mock Draft 7.0: Giants, Patriots trade up; Redskins land defensive help

Last year, both Frank Ragnow and Billy Price went in the top-25 of the draft. Both were viewed as athletic interior offensive linemen that could start right away in the NFL. In a weaker draft class, it’s possible that some of the athletic offensive linemen from this group could rise as well.

One of those players is Erik McCoy. Throughout the draft process, McCoy has steadily been rising, working his way from a Day 2 pick to now being a potential Day 1 pick. McCoy showed off great athleticism and movement skills at the NFL Combine. And McCoy played well at Texas A&M anyway, and should have the versatility needed to play any of the interior line positions.

At first glance, the interior line may not seem like a glaring need for the Eagles. After all, they have Jason Kelce and Brandon Brooks on the unit, and they are two of the better players at their respective positions league-wide.

However, Brooks suffered an Achilles injury late in the season and may not be ready for the start of 2019. They’ll need a replacement for him this year, and the team made need a long-term option at center, too. Plus, it’s notable that former third-round pick Isaac Seumalo was only decent at best as the starting left guard last year, so McCoy could be an upgrade there when Brooks returns.

Plus, Doug Pederson comes from the Andy Reid coaching tree, and Reid loves to address the trenches in the draft. With the defensive line already set, thanks to the wizardry of Howie Roseman, the Eagles could look to add some talent on the offensive line. Besides, there aren’t any linebackers worth selecting with this pick, so McCoy is the most sensible option.