Philadelphia Eagles seven-round 2020 NFL Mock Draft

Many mock drafts suggest that the Philadelphia Eagles number one concern going into the 2020 NFL draft will be obtaining a new cornerback. While they won’t likely take one with the team’s first-round pick, I believe the team will need to finally take the position seriously and draft a long-term cornerback in the 2020 NFL draft.

The Philadelphia Eagles are going to have four players from their secondary become free-agents in 2020, including Jalen Mills and Ronald Darby. Darby is already on a one-year contract extension and is likely to move on after this year.

With so many pivotal players on the Philadelphia Eagles roster signing contract extensions in the past week, it wouldn’t appear that much of the teams secondary will be included in the team’s long-term plans. Also, with 92 potential free agent cornerbacks available in 2020 (according to Spotrac), expect the Philadelphia Eagles to build through free agency.

That being said, the team could use some consistency at the position going forward. The past year has shown the consequences of having below-average cornerbacks for the Philadelphia Eagles. Game after game this year the Eagles secondary gave up big plays to the outside receivers.

Multiple times this year, the defense gave up huge chunk plays on third down to teams like the Vikings, Dallas, Atlanta and Detroit. With Ronald Darby and Jalen Mills injured for large swathes of time, the team needed to rely on backups, practice squad players and even free agents on the couch like Orlando Scandrick.

Scandrick decided to trash the front yard as he left, giving a black eye to the organization and its general manager on Undisputed (Fox Sports One). There may be 92 free agent cornerbacks available after this season, but the team still needs an elite player at the position.

I think C.J. Henderson is low enough on most draft boards that the Florida cornerback should be available in the second round. Henderson is a player who could bring the physical style he has with Florida to the Philadelphia Eagles. It is already documented how much I think of the Gators cornerback, but I think his style could translate well to the Philadelphia Eagles.

Henderson is fast, physical, has great coverage skills and maybe most importantly can tackle. Tackling by players in the Philadelphia Eagles secondary has been spotty this year. There is a ton of tape available for those who want to see cornerbacks slipping from receivers/running backs from 2019. Henderson could be a big part of rectifying that, as his ability to bring down a receiver is topped only by his relentless pursuit of receivers.

Besides being a cornerback with a ton of skill, Henderson has shown that he can make the big plays that define a game. In his first year in Florida, Henderson had four interceptions playing as a depth piece. This year has shown a slight regression in his production, but part of that can be attributed to an injury he sustained earlier in the season.

Watching Henderson play is legitimately entertaining, as he plays with a level of intensity that I haven’t seen from other cornerbacks in the 2020 NFL draft. The Philadelphia Eagles defense could use a little inspiration next year, as the secondary allowed game after game this year to slip away from them. General Manager Howie Roseman doesn’t draft cornerbacks often, drafting only seven during his nine-year tenure. Roseman likes to get cornerbacks in trades and free agency.

There seems to be a perceived indifference to the cornerback position from the manager’s point of view. Preferring to invest in pass-rushers and safeties might have got the team to a Super Bowl in 2017. But this year has shown how neglecting a position group for too long in the draft can come back to haunt you. Just like ignoring running backs for years led to the 2018 Philadelphia Eagles having their running back leader rack up a measly 511 yards, according to Pro Football Reference.

Drafting a proven cornerback like C.J. Henderson would help lock down opposing team’s top receivers for several years and would give some stability to a position badly needing it. Not bad for a second-round pick.

I have a first-round grade for C.J. Henderson. Coming into the 2019 season he looked poised to be a first-round cornerback prospect for the 2020 NFL draft. But an injury and a regression in overall production seemed to have diminished his draft stock for next year. But assuming Philadelphia Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz returns next year, I believe Henderson would fit well into his defensive tendencies.

Schwartz likes to have his defenses run a lot of soft zone coverage and prevent on third downs. Henderson excelled while playing off the line of scrimmage for Florida, and for a prevent defense that is exactly where the Philadelphia Eagles need their cornerbacks to excel at. Assuming Henderson falls into the second round, expect the Philadelphia Eagles to take a serious look at the Gator Cornerback.