5 players Eagles should draft in the first round

4. Trent McDuffie

Daris Slay gives the Eagles an outstanding No. 1 cornerback but last year’s No. 2, Steven Nelson, is headed for free agency. That makes cornerback an obvious area of need for Philadelphia heading into the draft.

McDuffie doesn’t have the elite athleticism or measurables of some of his peers in this draft class, but that didn’t stop him from thriving on the outside in college. His ability to play on the boundary or as a nickel corner should only add to his value at the next level.

The former Washington star’s greatest attribute as a corner is his quick burst in tight spaces. He’s ideally suited to shut down the sort of short and intermediate throws that are staples of most modern passing attacks. He’ll need support further down the field, but the Eagles can provide that comfortably given Slay’s presence on the other side of the formation.

McDuffie isn’t the best corner the Eagles can come away with in this draft, but he represents a great potential value pick at No. 19. Walking out of this draft with a new starting cornerback should be a requirement for the Eagles. Landing McDuffie would give them just that sort of player.