The Eagles are suddenly looking very thin on the offensive line. Starting left tackle Andre Dillard suffered a biceps injury that will most likely require season ending surgery. Pro Bowl guard Brandon Brooks will also miss the season after tearing his Achilles in June.
Dillard struggled last season, allowing 6.5 sacks on just 183 pass blocking snaps. There are serious questions about whether he's capable of starting and producing at a high level for the Eagles.
The 2021 NFL draft may be very far away at this point, but it doesn't hurt to take a quick look ahead at some of the top offensive line prospects the Eagles may target with their sudden needs on the offensive line.
Penei Sewell - Oregon
Sewell is widely considered to be the top offensive lineman in the 2021 draft. He's just 19 years old, but already considered an elite player and prospect. There really aren't many flaws in his game at all. Scouts are saying he's one of the best offensive tackle prospects we've seen in quite a few years. He'll likely be selected in the first five picks of the draft, though, so the Eagles will have very slim chances at landing Sewell.
Samuel Cosmi - Texas
Cosmi is seen as a very raw prospect still, but has great size at 6'7" 309 lbs. He started at right tackle as a redshirt freshman in 2018 and started at left tackle during the 2019 season. He's viewed as the one of the more athletic offensive tackles available, although he does need to work on his technique a bit before he's considered elite. Cosmi could potentially see a lot of improvement under a great offensive line coach like Jeff Stoutland, though. Cosmi is currently viewed mostly as a late first round pick. Pro Football Focus named Cosmi the top returning offensive lineman this year in the Big 12.
Alex Leatherwood - Alabama
Leatherwood was very effective as a pass blocker and run blocker as the starting left tackle for Alabama last season. Leatherwood is athletic and moves well. He shows great strength and has a really high motor, but he's a bit over aggressive in his technique at times. He also has one season of experience playing guard, giving the Eagles that versatility on the offensive line they love. He's viewed mostly as a mid-late round first pick, and could be there when the Eagles are on the board.
Walker Little - Stanford
Little's draft stock is very hard to project. He was injured in the fourth quarter of Stanford's 2019 season opener. He was considered the top offensive tackle in college football prior to the injury. I've seen Little projected as early as late in the first round and as late as a fourth round pick. Little may be a bit risky for the Eagles as a first rounder given the injury and time off the field, but could be a steal for them in the second round or later if he shows he still has the top tier talent after his injury.
Cade Mays - Georgia/Tennessee
Mays' versatility makes him a very appealing prospect. He played every position on Georgia's offensive line. He projects to be a guard at the next level, but his ability to play any position would be a big plus on an offensive line with injury question marks. He was a five star recruit out of high school and could be a good addition in one of the mid rounds of the draft.
Wyatt Davis - Ohio State
David was named the second best returning offensive lineman this season by ESPN, behind just Sewell. He's been the anchor on a strong Ohio State offensive line. He didn't allow a single sack or hit all of last season, according to Pro Football Focus. Davis is considered a top talent, but may be available to the Eagles in the mid-late first round, since guards are typically selected a bit lower than offensive tackles. A combination of Davis, Brooks, and Jason Kelce on the interior offensive line would be incredible.
You can follow Tom Barnett on Twitter @tbarnett91
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