When looking at the current situation of the Eagles’ secondary, there is a decent need at safety. If not for the 2020 season, then for the years after. Their two current starting safeties, Malcolm Jenkins and Rodney McLeod, are thirty-two and twenty-nine respectively. These two aging players will need to be replaced, and why not go after a young, extremely talented player to groom and develop.
This is where standout Division-II start, Kyle Dugger, comes into the equation. Dugger was a standout in Division-II of NCAA college football. Coming out of Lenoir-Rhyne, Dugger is one of the most interesting safety prospects in this class, and should be a highly regarded commodity come April. His career at Lenoir-Rhyne saw him leaving with 237 total tackles, 6.5 tackles for loss, thirty-six passes defended, and ten interceptions, and six forced fumbles. Needless to say, he had an extremely productive career.
But what separates him from other small school standouts, and what makes him worthy of a top 100 selection in the 2020 NFL Draft? For one, he is extremely athletic with great size. Coming in at 6’2, 220 pounds, he has great size and weight for the defensive back position. Not only does he have the size and strength, but he has the athleticism to be dominant in the NFL. There is a very high change that Dugger runs in the 4.3 territory in the 40 time, making him one of the fastest safeties in the class. He is a fluid mover in space, and has the quickness and change of direction to make plays on passes and in the run game. He has all the tools a team could want to become a dominant player in this league for years to come.
Given Dugger’s traits, he will more than likely be a top fifty pick, and could even slide into the first round of the NFL Draft. However, if the Eagles can get him on day two, they should absolutely make the move to add this talent to the secondary. Give him a year or two behind the current safety duo to polish up his game, and groom him to take over the role of starting safety. At the end of his rookie contract, Kyle Dugger should be an ascending player in the secondary, and a bright spot for this team.
Philadelphia Sports Chronicle 