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Tag: Laiatu Latu

  • The Pick Is In! The Eagles Select CB Quinyon Mitchell With The 22nd Pick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    The Pick Is In! The Eagles Select CB Quinyon Mitchell With The 22nd Pick – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    Speculation has come and gone. And now we finally have an answer to who the Eagles would select in the first round of the 2024 Draft.

     

     

    The now former Toledo Rocket was the first corner taken in the draft.

    Talk about having your choice of pick at #22!

     

    Things took an amazing turn for the Eagles when 14 picks had gone by and all of them were offensive players.

    The bad news at the time, was the first defensive player taken off the board was Laiatu Latu. Notably at the top of my list for the birds to hopefully land (see more here). Fortunately, the best option for the Eagles was a Cornerback at 22, and with every option available. Quinyon became the surprisingly easy choice.

     

    Tons of mock drafts were shaken up when the first 12 picks included 6 Quarterbacks. The below mocks had Quinyon projected to go at the following picks:

    CBS (Prisco): Jaguars @ 17th
    NFL (Jeremiah): Jaguars @ 17th
    ESPN (Yates): Eagles @ 16th, acquiring 81 in exchange for 22 and 50
    Bleacher Report: Falcons @ 8th

     

    Stats From Toledo

    In the past 2 seasons, Mitchell was productive for the Rockets.

    With 41 Tackles each year. 6 Interceptions (5 in 2022). And 37 Passes Defended. (Stats From Sports-Reference)

    Mitchell was a lockdown corner in Toledo, allowing a 44.7 QBR when targeted.

    Coming in at 6’0, 197lbs, Mitchell posted a 4.33s 40-yard dash at the combine and turned heads at the Senior Bowl. Getting praise tonight from Nick Saban and Howie Roseman about his performances going up against some of the NCAA’s best.

    While some worry might come from the level of competition faced in the MAC. The same concern was voiced when the Jets drafted Sauce Gardner, and I don’t think they’re complaining about his play in MetLife.

     

    2 More Draft Days, 7 More Picks

    We’ve only gotten through 32 picks of the Draft. And the Eagles already made another standout pick. Even after tonight, big names like Kool-Aid McKinstry and Cooper DeJean are still on the board. And even with some other positions of need available as we’ll approach the middle of the 2nd round. The Eagles have already addressed plenty of question marks in the roster during the off-season with their plethora of free agent moves. Even if they’re not looking for Year 1 starters, below are a few picks I could see the Eagles making tomorrow (subject to availability)

    • S Javon Bullard, Georgia
    • TE Ja’Tavion Sanders, Texas
    • LB Edgerrin Cooper, Texas A&M
    • LB Junior Colson, Michigan
    • Edge Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan

     

    Who do you think the Eagles will take with their Day 2 draft picks?

    Go Birds!

     

     

    Photo Credit: University of Toledo

     

    Tyler L’Heureux

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  • Jesuit head coach cheers Colts’ first-round selection of Sacramento’s Laiatu Latu in NFL Draft

    Jesuit head coach cheers Colts’ first-round selection of Sacramento’s Laiatu Latu in NFL Draft

    CARMICHAEL, Calif. (KTXL) – Marauders head football coach Marlon Blanton watches from Jesuit High School as his former student athlete Laiatu Latu is selected 15th overall by the Indianapolis Colts in Thursday’s first round of the NFL Draft.

    Blanton talks with FOX40’s Sean Cunningham about how proud he is of his former player, what it means to the school to see him make the NFL and Latu’s Sacramento roots.

    Latu, 23, was the first defensive player to be selected in Thursday’s NFL Draft. He was the consensus Associated Press First Team All-American defensive end last year with UCLA, where he led the nation 21.5 tackles for loss.

    Latu posted career highs with 49 tackles, 13 sacks and two interceptions last season with the Bruins. He spent two seasons with UCLA, transferring from Washington where his football career nearly came to an end due to a neck injury.

    Latu missed the 2020 and 2021 seasons and was medically retired at one point following neck fusion surgery. He returned to action in 2022 when he transferred to UCLA.

    The 6-foot-5, 265-pound edge rusher was the Bruins first winner of the Lombardi Award last season, which is awarded to the nation’s top defensive lineman in college football.

    Sean Cunningham

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  • 3 Weeks From The Draft. Who Might The Eagles Take With Pick #22 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    3 Weeks From The Draft. Who Might The Eagles Take With Pick #22 – Philadelphia Sports Nation

    With three weeks until the NFL draft.
    Rosters are beginning to take shape and some clear picks are beginning to show.

    With the Bears, Patriots and Commanders expected to take their QBs of the future. There will be a long way to go to see who might fall to the Eagles with the 22nd overall pick.

     

    While the Eagles have recently ended the conversation whether they would trade Reddick or Sweat. Another hole has opened in the depth of the roster.

    Sure the Eagles have already signed Bryce Huff to a $51M deal and have Nolan Smith waiting in the wings after only playing 188 defensive snaps in his rookie season. Barely seeing an increase in playtime after the Eagles had waived Derek Barnett prior to their Week 11 game against Buffalo. 

    Laiatu Latu – Edge, UCLA

    Re-filling the edge-rusher position after trading away Reddick, with Brandon Graham on his final season all while not knowing what you have in Smith and Huff is probably one of the best options for the Eagles at #22. Similar to drafting Davis and Carter in lieu of Hargrave and Cox departures in the last two seasons.

    The biggest area of concern regarding Latu is from a neck injury he suffered during a preseason workout in 2020. An injury that had the University of Washington medical staff refusing to medically clear him to continue playing.

    The Eagles have had multiple instances of drafting players with this warning, including Josh Sweat and Nakobe Dean. 

    If the Eagles don’t believe that Huff and Smith are able to take over enough of the defensive snaps. Bringing in Latu could be the final piece to a new defensive line. 

    NFL.com has multiple mock drafts with Latu going to the Rams at 19 and 24, as well as the Buccaneers at 26. He might fall perfectly within the Eagles range.

     

    Kool-Aid McKinstry – CB, Alabama

    After the disastrous end to the Eagles season. It’s clear a new CB might be needed on the roster. They’ve already gone and re-signed C.J. Gardner Johnson and now brought back Avonte Maddox as well.

    James Bradberry was “part of the plan” when Howie Roseman spoke at the combine, but things can always change by September.

    There’s plenty of available Cornerbacks in this draft. From Quinyon Mitchell, Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean and McKinstry are all projected to go in the late 1st round per NFL.com’s mock drafts. 

    Much like Latu. The Eagles may have to look at trading up if they wanted to go after Mitchell in the draft. However, if they wanted to move back in the 1st, McKinstry could be available past 22nd. Allowing the Eagles to regain assets later in the draft.

    With Bradberry and Slay still under contract for multiple seasons. The Eagles should be looking to drafting their predecessors like they have on the defensive line. Unless Eli Ricks or Kelee Ringo have breakout sophomore seasons, a long-term solution needs to be put in place alongside Reed Blankenship and Sydney Brown in the secondary. McKinstry could be that answer, and could even allow them to trade Bradberry before the start of the season. Rumors have swirled about the Eagles landing Surtain from the Broncos, but I’d prefer to draft and acquire a starting caliber player still on a rookie deal.

     

     

    No Offensive Picks?

    The offence may not have been able to score at will last season. But the Eagles defense hemorrhaged yards and points beyond belief last year. Was it all on coaching?

    The Eagles have already gone and signed Saquon Barkley, DeVante Parker, Matt Hennessy and Parris Campbell plus more additions for the offense. Taking another day one defensive pick won’t hurt an offense that recently extended two players on the offensive line. With Mailata, Dickerson and Jurgens all under contract for multiple years. There’s multiple options for the Eagles to find a Right Guard late in the draft if Steen hasn’t won the starters spot.

    The Eagles will still have 7 draft picks following the 22nd pick. Where they’ve been able to make successful picks in the later rounds, including 2 more picks in the the top 60.

     

    Who do you have the Eagles drafting in the 1st round?

     

     

     

     

    Photo Credit: Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports

    Tyler L’Heureux

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