Better Later

It remains to be seen if the Eagles next Thursday night ultimately deviate from their foundational philosophy of building through the trenches.

There’s a world in which UCLA’s edge rusher Laiatu Latu, and perhaps even Penn State’s Chop Robinson, are off the board by the time the Eagles are on the clock at 22nd overall in the NFL Draft, forcing a pivot.

Fortunately for the Eagles, who seem ripe to come out of the three-day event with a pass-rusher, there will be other opportunities outside the first round to take a swing.

A source told InsideTheBirds.com last week that Eagles defensive ends/OLBs coach Jeremiah Washburn recently traveled to Fort Collins, Colorado, to put edge rusher Mohamed Kamara through a private workout, while Houston Christian’s Jalyx Hunt had a pre-draft visit with the team last Friday.

Both are projected within similar terrain and offer plenty of upside.

Let’s take a closer look at two of my favorite mid-range pass rushers in this class, as both warrant consideration given the Eagles’ need to further bolster the depth chart with long-term fixtures.

Mohamed Kamara, Colorado State

I can see it now. Kamara’s name rolls across the screen, unveiled as the newest Eagle, and folks across the Delaware Valley frantically take to Google to learn more.

Kamara’s measureables – or lack thereof – are likely to be among the more prominent topics of conversation. But after turning on the tape – heck, even his highlights – few would dispute Kamara’s game-wrecking potential at the pro level. The 6-foot-1, 248-pound edge rusher first appeared on radars back in 2022, producing 8.5 sacks and racking up 16.5 tackles for loss, but it was his final campaign that introduced Kamara to a broader audience. For reference, he tallied 13 sacks, 17 tackles for loss, two forced fumbles and a fumble recovery over 12 games.

Relentless in nature and violent in intent, Kamara boasts an outstanding understanding of how to utilize leverage to his advantage. He’s also quite aggressive at the point of attack and generates push and power moving forward due to a sturdy base.

The glaring lack of length is the biggest knock on Kamara, which could potentially relegate him to situational duty at the next level, but to this point Kamara has found ways to circumvent his shortcomings. He’s also proven to be a model of consistency.

Perhaps the Eagles wait on selecting an edge rusher, potentially setting their sights on Kamara, who’s likely to come off the board in the third round. Compact, powerful and explosive, Kamara would benefit from logging controlled snaps as a rookie while continuing to hone and refine his skill set.

Jalyx Hunt, Houston Christian

Once a safety at Cornell who appeared in 17 games over two seasons, Hunt (6-4, 252) morphed into a traits-laden edge phenom after transferring to Houston Christian ahead of the 2022 season.

Showcasing athleticism, upside and freakish measurables – including an 82 7/8-inch wingspan – a supercharged Hunt terrorized opposing blockers during his two-year run, collecting 13.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss, five passes defended, five forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries and an interception over 21 games.

An enticing blend of blistering speed, acceleration, bend and movement skills has quietly surged Hunt up draft boards during a strong pre-draft cycle, which began at the Senior Bowl. A player once branded as a Day 3 sleeper is trending toward Day 2 territory.

But while the raw ability is evident, Hunt must develop his play strength to avoid getting engulfed by linemen and extinguished as a run defender. He’ll also need to refine his pass rush, becoming more nuanced and technical with his hand usage and his plan of attack rather than winning on just natural ability.

If the Eagles identify Hunt as an impact rotational player and zero in at pick No. 120 – or move around the draft board to recoup a third-round pick – they’d be a good fit for the former Huskie given his untapped potential.

Whether he hears his name on Friday or early Saturday of draft weekend, Hunt will surely be someone to monitor.

– Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.