Eagles mock draft roundup: Eagles add to the offensive line, select OT Kolton Miller
11 April 2018 DRAFT Eagles News
The saying goes, you win on the offensive line. That is the idea the Eagles have in their minds when they select offensive tackle Kolton Miller in CBS Sports’s latest mock draft.
“Jason Peters is 36 and coming off a major knee injury. Time to draft his replacement, someone who will protect Wentz’s blindside for the majority — if not the entirety — of his career.”
Next to quarterback, the offensive line is the most important position in football. You cannot have a good offense without a good offensive line. This mock draft has the right logic, but will the Eagles go this direction in the first round?
When Jason Peters went down injured, Halapoulivaati Vaitai stepped right in and really did not miss a beat. He struggled at first, but played very well at the end of the season, especially in the playoffs and in the Super Bowl. Big V, as we know him deserves the chance to prove himself as the future, if the team did not think he did it enough already. But, Miller is a very good offensive tackle.
“Miller is an exceptionally tall tackle prospect who lacks the flexibility in his hips to drop his pad level and play with better leverage and a stronger base. His lateral movements in his pass slides are segmented and there are reps that he has to completely break from his technique to chase edge rushers to the corner. What Miller does have is athletic ability that is above average for the position and he showed improvement as the season wore on. He has the physical traits to become an above-average NFL starter, but he’ll need to improve his pass pro technique and become a better finisher in the run game.” NFL.com
Selecting an offensive tackle is no way will hurt the team. But, with other needs and the potential to add a skill player might persuade the Eagles to do otherwise. But, this would be a very safe pick and one that helps the Eagles solidify the wall they built for quarterback Carson Wentz.
Mock Draft Tracker
Mel Kiper Jr. 2/28/18 – Texas A&M WR Christian Kirk
Bucky Brooks 3.0 3/23/18 – South Dakota St. TE Dallas Goedert
Mel Kiper Jr. 3/28/18 – South Dakota St. TE Dallas Goedert
Todd McShay 4/05.18 – Boise St. LB Leighton Vander Esch
Mel Kiper Jr. 4/11/18 – LSU RB Derrius Guice
Sean Wagner-McGough 4/11/18 – UCLA OT Kolton Miller
Photo Credit: Rick Scuteri/Associated Press
Ryan Neal Carson Wentz, Kolton Miller, Philadelphia Eagles, UCLA