2018 NFL Mock Draft: Projecting every first round selection
54. . OT. Western Michigan. Chukwuma Okorafor. 32. player
The Philadelphia Eagles’ incredibly postseason run came without several key players who were injured during the regular season. Carson Wentz had thrown his name into the MVP discussion before suffering a torn ACL, but he wasn’t the only Eagle to go down with a season ending injury in the fall.
Left tackle Jason Peters was carted off the field following the Eagles’ Monday night win over the Washington Redskins. The 35-year old veteran suffered a torn ACL and MCL and the Philadelpha offensive line was forced to figure out a way to replace a nine-time Pro Bowl tackle. They made do with former fifth-round pick Halapoulivaati Vaitai, but a long-term solution looks like it might be necessary should Peters and the team part ways to avoid a $11.7 Million cap hit.
One of six finalists for the Outland trophy, Western Michigan’s Chukwuma Okorafor has been among the nation’s best tackles over the past two seasons. A back-to-back first team All-MAC selection, Okorafor helped paved the way for a top 25 rushing offense. At 6-foot-5, 330 pounds he’s not easy to go through.
Next: Way-too-early college football top 25 rankings for 2018
Okorafor has the athleticism and the strength to protect the Eagles’ franchise quarterback for a long while, and keeping Wentz healthy has to be head coach Doug Pederson‘s number one offseason priority.