The Philadelphia Eagles are already mapping out their post-Riq Woolen future, and it’s all about cold, hard cash. ESPN’s Jordan Reid, dropping his preseason mock draft, is predicting the Eagles will select Mississippi State’s Kelley Jones at pick #22 in the 2027 NFL Draft to replace Woolen, who’s apparently set to walk in free agency after the 2026 season.
Why Philly’s Wallet Is Shutting On Woolen
This isn’t some slight against Woolen, a player who’s shown he can be a legitimate playmaker. This is purely a numbers game for the Eagles. They grabbed Quinyon Mitchell in Round 1 and Cooper DeJean in Round 2 of the 2024 NFL Draft, two incredible picks. Those guys are legit, but they’re also going to be very expensive. Their rookie contracts hit big time after the 2026 season, when they’re eligible for massive extensions. Add that to the huge deals Philly already handed out to Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter, and their wallet is feeling the squeeze. They’ve got to be super careful about how they spend. This means if Woolen thrives, he’ll get a monster contract the Eagles can’t afford. If he struggles? He’s gone for obvious reasons. Either way, the handwriting’s on the wall: Woolen is highly likely gone after 2026.
Meet Kelley Jones: The Next High-Upside DB?
So, with that looming hole at cornerback, who’s Reid got pegged to step in? It’s Kelley Jones, a 6-foot-4, 195-pound cornerback out of Mississippi State. Reid sees him as a player with a similar frame and skillset to Woolen, potentially slotting right into that spot. Jones allowed an FBS-low seven receptions last season. Sounds great, right? But here’s the catch: five of those catches went for 20 or more yards, and two resulted in touchdowns. That’s serious “feast-or-famine” tendency. And honestly, it sounds a lot like what we’ve seen from Woolen during his Seattle Seahawks tenure. He’d flash as a lockdown corner, making huge, game-changing plays, but then occasionally allow a long touchdown before flipping right back into shutdown mode. While that might not be ideal for every defense, the Eagles, with all their surrounding talent, clearly think Jones’ high-upside plays are worth the occasional gaffe. Philly GM Howie Roseman has leaned offense early in drafts lately, and they’ve even got offensive line questions with Landon Dickerson, Lane Johnson, and Tyler Steen. But if they go defense in Round 1, a top-tier cornerback like Jones would make sense.
The Road Ahead
This 2027 mock draft prediction paints a pretty clear picture. We’ll have to see if Jordan Reid’s crystal ball is accurate, but one thing is certain: Riq Woolen is playing for his next massive payday, and the Eagles are already planning for life without him on their roster. It’s the tough reality of the NFL salary cap, folks.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by The Sporting News.
Leave a Reply