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The Duel

3 Players the Eagles Need to Avoid With Their First-Round Pick

By michael obermuller

The Eagles should stay focused on wide receiver in the first round of the 2020 draft.
The Eagles should stay focused on wide receiver in the first round of the 2020 draft. / Joe Robbins/Getty Images
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The Philadelphia Eagles have spent most of their offseason bolstering their secondary, after trading for Darius Slay and signing Nickell Robey-Coleman and Will Parks. This had been an area of need, but now the focus shifts to wide receiver and linebacker, the two weak points of the Eagles roster.

Many expect Philadelphia to draft the top wide-out available at 21st overall, they might even trade up to get one of the top prospects at the position (according to rumors). I have to say that I am in full agreement with this plan and having said that, here are three players the Eagles need to avoid with their 2020 first round draft pick.

3. Grant Delpit, S (LSU)

The Eagles do not need a safety in the first round, even if Delpit looks like a stud.
The Eagles do not need a safety in the first round, even if Delpit looks like a stud. / Jonathan Bachman/Getty Images

Grant Delpit has the looks of an impact NFL safety, but the Eagles have already spent the majority of their offseason on the secondary. Along with Parks and the aforementioned corners, they re-signed veteran Rodney McLeod and converted corner Jalen Mills. Safety is not generally considered the most important position on the field and Philadelphia has viable options. Delpit is not the player for them with this pick.

2. Javon Kinlaw, DT (South Carolina)

Javon Kinlaw is the type of player the Eagles like, but not the one they need.
Javon Kinlaw is the type of player the Eagles like, but not the one they need. / Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images

Philadelphia has a history of prioritizing the offensive and defensive line, a strategy that I would normally get behind in full. Javon Kinlaw looks like the classic player that would catch the eye of the Eagles, but in this case I urge restraint, especially after signing Javon Hargrave. They must focus on adding a new WR1 for Carson Wentz, or at worst drafting a middle linebacker that can captain this defense..

1. Yetur Gross-Matos, DE (Penn State)

The Eagles have better options than Gross-Matos on their roster already.
The Eagles have better options than Gross-Matos on their roster already. / Scott Taetsch/Getty Images

I'll admit that K’Lavon Chaisson out of LSU is more tempting, but assuming the two top edge rushers are off the board, the Eagles should avoid this position at all costs. Yetur Gross-Matos is probably the next best edge player available, and the Penn State product has a lot more risk at the NFL level than Chase Young and Chaisson. This is not thought to be a stacked draft at edge, and Philly would be better suited to give Derek Barnett the full-time gig rather than reach on a player like Gross-Matos or A.J. Epenesa.

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Michael Obermuller is not a FanDuel employee. In addition to providing DFS gameplay advice, Michael Obermuller also participates in DFS contests on FanDuel using his personal account, username king_mizzard. While the strategies and player selections recommended in his articles are his personal views, he may deploy different strategies and player selections when entering contests with his personal account. The views expressed in their articles are the author's alone and do not necessarily reflect the views of FanDuel.