The Philadelphia Eagles are sitting at a frustrating 2-2 right now, and honestly, the outlook for the rest of their season is looking murky at best, catastrophic at worst. Seriously, it’s rough. With things feeling this bleak, it’s the perfect time to start looking ahead, WAY ahead, to the 2027 NFL Draft! This class is absolutely loaded with exciting and promising players on both sides of the ball. Who even knows where the Eagles will be picking come spring, but there are some absolute studs I’m locked in on this weekend.
Future Offensive Weapons to Watch
First up, we’ve got Jadan Baugh, the running back from Florida, taking on South Carolina at 12:45 PM ET on SECN. This dude has straight-up *emerged* this year as one of the best running backs in college football. In Florida’s four wins so far, Baugh has smashed for over 130 yards in each game and scored a mind-blowing 11 touchdowns in that span. Last week, though, he got stifled by Missouri, and the Gators dropped their first game. You know he’s gonna be fired up and looking to bounce back big time this week.
Then there’s Elijah Paige, the offensive tackle from USC, playing Penn State at 7:30 PM ET on NBC. This guy has been playing like the best tackle in the country so far this season. He’s got that monster size at 6’7” and 315 pounds, but what really gets you is how smoothly he moves, both as a pass protector and when he’s going downhill. USC is up against a feisty Penn State team that’s desperate to get back in the win column, so this is going to be a massive test for Paige.
Game-Changing Talent for the Defense
On the defensive side, Colin Simmons, the edge defender from Texas, is facing Oklahoma at 3:30 PM ET on ABC. This guy has been a hellacious pass rusher all season. You gotta see what he did in Texas’ big win over Tennessee where he was credited for a ridiculous 5.5 sacks! He was in the quarterback’s face on every single play. He’s got another huge SEC showdown next with Oklahoma. Simmons honestly can’t get much higher on draft boards, but you know he’s damn well going to try and show out again.
Another name you absolutely need to know is Sahir West, the edge defender from UCLA, squaring off against Oregon at 3:30 PM ET on CBS. After a seven-sack season at JMU last year, West followed Bob Chesney out to Los Angeles where he’s now a key part of an undefeated Bruins defense that’s only giving up less than 19 points per game. Sahir West is a super versatile defensive lineman who can play both edge or inside. Oregon’s offense is going to really challenge UCLA in both the run and passing game, which means West will need to bring it on every single down, no matter where he lines up.
Finally, we’ve got KJ Bolden, safety from Georgia, going head-to-head with Alabama at 7:30 PM ET on ABC. It’s another year, another Georgia defender near the top of everyone’s draft wishlists, right? Bolden is a reliable, versatile defensive back who lines up all over that Bulldog defense. Georgia’s been lights out defensively, allowing less than 14 points a game over their last five. But now they’re taking on a high-powered Alabama offense with an explosive passing and running game. The Bulldogs are going to need a truly great game out of Bolden to contain Keelon Russell.
Look, this season’s start for the Eagles has been a brutal one. But seeing these kinds of college players emerge, knowing what’s coming in the draft, that’s what keeps you watching. This weekend, every single one of these guys is playing in a massive game, and you can bet scouts, and desperate fans, will be watching every snap.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleeding Green Nation.
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