Eagles predicted in ESPN mock draft to replace Riq Woolen with 6-foot-4 CB

The Philadelphia Eagles made two incredible picks during the 2024 NFL Draft, taking Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in Rounds 1 and 2. But there's a problem after getting both: they're going to be very expensive, and those contracts are going to hit soon.

So, the Eagles now have to be careful about how they spend their money, especially after signing Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter to huge extensions. That means they're likely to let Riq Woolen walk in free agency after 2026.

ESPN's Jordan Reid, in his preseason mock draft, is predicting the Eagles select a 6-foot-4 cornerback out of Mississippi State to replace Woolen in Kelley Jones.

Eagles predicted to draft Kelley Jones to replace Riq Woolen

"22. Philadelphia Eagles. Kelley Jones, CB, Mississippi State," Reid predicts. "With Riq Woolen set to be a free agent, the 6-foot-4, 195-pound Jones could slot in as a player with a similar frame and skill set."

The Eagles don't need to splurge on a cornerback in the first round, and Howie Roseman might end up going an offensive lineman in Round 1 of the 2027 NFL Draft, with some Landon Dickerson, Lane Johnson, and Tyler Steen questions.

But if they do add on the defensive side of the ball in Round 1, another top-tier cornerback like Jones would make some sense.

Woolen is likely to leave the team after 2026. If he struggles, the Eagles won't bring him back for obvious reasons. But if he thrives, he'll likely receive a massive contract in free agency that the Eagles cannot afford to pay him.

The reason why is that Mitchell and DeJean are awaiting major paydays after the 2026 season, when they're finally eligible to receive an extension. So, instead of having a hole at cornerback, Reid is predicting the Eagles take Jones, a similar player to Woolen.

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"Jones allowed an FBS-low seven receptions last season but has feast-or-famine tendencies, with five of those catches going for 20 or more yards and two resulting in touchdowns," Reid writes.

Woolen has been similarly "feast-or-famine" in the NFL, with plenty of moments during his Seattle Seahawks tenure highlighting just that. He'll be a lockdown corner for a long time, making big plays, but then allow a long TD before returning to shutdown CB mode.

While that might not be ideal for all defenses, considering how good the Eagles are around such a player, the high-upside plays are worth the occasional gaffe.

This prediction from Reid would be interesting, as it would be a return to the defensive side of the ball after the tide has been shifting to offense early in drafts for Roseman lately.

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