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Eagles 2019 draft class: What you need to know about the Birds’ draft selections

Everything you need to know about the Eagles' 2019 NFL draft class.

Eagles draft picks J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, left, and Miles Sanders pose for a photo with their jerseys before a press conference at the Eagles NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Sanders is a running back from Penn State who was drafted 53rd overall by the Eagles. Arcega-Whiteside is a wide receiver selected 57th overall from Stanford.
Eagles draft picks J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, left, and Miles Sanders pose for a photo with their jerseys before a press conference at the Eagles NovaCare Complex in South Philadelphia on Saturday, April 27, 2019. Sanders is a running back from Penn State who was drafted 53rd overall by the Eagles. Arcega-Whiteside is a wide receiver selected 57th overall from Stanford.Read more / File Photograph
    by Les Bowen
    Published 

The Eagles added five new players to their roster in the last three days.

Here’s what you need to know about each of them:

First round, 22nd overall: Andre Dillard, OT, Washington State, 6-5, 315.

Eagles traded up three spots in the first round for Jason Peters’ successor. Most analysts had him going higher. A foundational pick who might not have a big impact in 2019. Or he might, depending on Peters’ health at age 37. The only quibble is that the team had to burn fourth- and sixth-round picks to get to Dillard, which limited this year’s haul.

Second round, 53rd overall: Miles Sanders, RB, Penn State, 5-11, 211.

The Eagles hadn’t drafted a running back in the first three rounds since LeSean McCoy in 2009. Sanders, whose patience and vision are reminiscent of McCoy, is a low-mileage runner who sat behind Saquon Barkley until last season. There’s no doubt about Sanders’ ability, but to get on the field a lot as a rookie, he’ll need to learn pass protection and route-running, two things he didn’t need to spend a lot of time on at Penn State. Probably the biggest-immediate-impact rookie the Eagles drafted.

Second round, 57th overall: J.J. Arcega-Whiteside, WR, Stanford, 6-2, 225.

This was a bit of a surprise, given that the Eagles have a wideout with a similar skill set as Alshon Jeffery. But, as with Dillard in the first round, the front office was looking beyond this season to what it will take to optimize Carson Wentz two, three, or four years from now. Excellent red-zone target, chesty build of a running back, which is what he looks like running through tacklers after the catch. Not known for burst or elusiveness.

Fourth round, 138th overall: Shareef Miller, DE, Penn State, 6-4, 254.

In what they pegged as an “historic” defensive-line draft, the Eagles were sure to get a D-lineman. Bit of a surprise that it was this D-lineman. Defensive tackle might have been a bigger need, and the premium edge rushers were long gone by the fourth round. Like Josh Sweat last year, Miller could be something of a project. Scouting reports say he really needs to work on hand placement, a huge key to NFL pass rushing. First Philly kid (George Washington High School graduate) drafted by the Eagles since Bruce Perry in 2004.

Fifth round, 167th overall: Clayton Thorson, QB, Northwestern, 6-4, 222:

With Nick Foles gone, the Eagles figured to draft a developmental quarterback, and Thorson is that. Fifty-three starts in a row gave him most of Northwestern’s passing records, but he also ran up 13 career games with more than one interception. Good size and strength, not known for his ability to go through progressions and pick the right option. Development seemed to stall the last few years, but he didn’t have good skill players around him.