The Philadelphia area might not be considered a hotbed for NFL talent, but it has consistently produced prospects who catch the league’s attention every year. The region is home to a 2020 potential first-round pick and could have 10 players drafted this week.
The Eagles don’t make draft decisions based on whether a player has a cell phone number with a 215 area code (or 610, 267, 609 or 856, for that matter). However, they’ve added rookies from the region in recent years — from Shareef Miller, a fourth-round pick in last year’s draft, to Josh Adams, an undrafted rookie who became the team’s leading rusher in 2018, to Corey Clement, an undrafted rookie and eventual Super Bowl contributor in the 2017 season.
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This list comprises the top 10 players from the Philadelphia area in this year’s draft. It does not include players from local colleges, although some listed did attend those schools. It’s made up of players who grew up in Philadelphia, the Philly suburbs or South Jersey. (The order is based on the Top-300 Draft Board rankings by The Athletic’s Dane Brugler.)
1. D’Andre Swift, RB, Georgia
Philadelphia; St. Joseph’s Prep
Brugler’s projected round: 1-2
Arguably the best running back in the draft, Swift’s name was known in Philadelphia football circles before he stepped foot in Georgia. He developed into a five-star recruit at St. Joseph’s Prep and was considered the state’s top prospect.
He earned playing time in one of the best backfields in the country, rushing for 2,885 yards and 20 touchdowns in three years at Georgia. His 6.6 yards per carry are a school record. He’s considered a three-down running back who can also catch and block.
“That’s where I get my mentality from,” Swift said of his Philadelphia roots. “Can’t help it. Gritty guy. Love to compete. Never back down from a challenge. That’s everything Philly that’s in me. That’s why I play the game the way I play it.”
There have been plenty of scouting reports on Swift during the past few months. At the combine, he offered his own scouting report on Philadelphia cheesesteaks: his two favorites are from Dalessandro’s and Ishkabibble’s.
2. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Wisconsin
Salem, N.J.; Salem High School
Brugler’s projected round: 1-2
There’s no debate about this draft’s most productive running back. Taylor, a three-year starter, won the Doak Walker Award (for college’s best RB) the past two years and was a unanimous All-American both seasons. He averaged more than 2,000 yards per year, totaling 6,174 yards in his three seasons at Wisconsin. Taylor followed Clement to Wisconsin and continued a tradition of South Jersey running backs who starred for Badgers, including Ron Dayne (Pine Hill, N.J.). Taylor said Clement was a big reason why he went to Wisconsin.
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“Going into high school games, tearing through South Jersey, seeing him go to Wisconsin, have success at the highest level of collegiate football, thinking, ‘Oh, he’s from the same area as me. If he can do it, why can’t I?’ That kind of put Wisconsin on the map and had me following them,” he said.
Taylor boosted his draft stock when he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at 226 pounds.
3. Cesar Ruiz, C, Michigan
Camden, N.J.; IMG Academy (Bradenton, Fla.)
Brugler’s projected round: 2
Considered the draft’s best interior lineman, Ruiz transferred from Camden High School after his sophomore year. He blossomed into the top center recruit and started 31 games during three years at Michigan. He played right guard as a freshman before spending the past two years at center, where he’s expected to play in the NFL.
Ruiz said his Camden upbringing forced him to mature quickly at a young age.
“Growing up in that kind of neighborhood, there’s a lot of different distractions you could come by,” Ruiz said. “It takes a mature young man to keep your head on straight and not get distracted. … I knew it was dangerous, but I never thought anything of it. I just figured that’s how things were. I never saw the outside world before.”
Jonah Jackson at the Senior Bowl in January. (Vasha Hunt / USA Today)
4. Jonah Jackson, OL, Ohio State
Media, Pa.; Penncrest High School
Brugler’s projected round: 4
A Delco native, Jackson spent his first four years of college at Rutgers. He started 16 games up the Jersey Turnpike before transferring to Ohio State last season. He took advantage of his year with the Buckeyes, earning first-team All-Big Ten and third-team All-American honors while starting 14 games at left guard. He can play both guard and center.
Asked at the combine which team he followed as a kid, Jackson said he’s a “Philly guy” but was always “a little bit of a bandwagon (fan).” So he liked Tom Brady and has always been drawn to Andy Reid.
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“But at this point, hey, I like whoever,” Jackson said.
5. John Reid, CB, Penn State
Mount Laurel, N.J.; St. Joseph’s Prep
Brugler’s projected round: 4-5
Once Swift’s teammate at St. Joe’s Prep, Reid was also a top recruit and started two games as a freshman at Penn State. He became a major contributor as a sophomore in 2016 before a torn ACL sidelined him for the 2017 season. He started the past two years and finished his Penn State career with seven interceptions.
At 5-foot-10 and 187 pounds, Reid is on the smaller side for a cornerback, but his experience and production (and a 4.49-second 40-yard dash) should help him land a spot in a secondary next season.
6. Harrison Hand, CB, Temple
Cherry Hill, N.J.; Cherry Hill West High School
Brugler’s projected round: 5
Coming out of high school, Hand was initially recruited to Temple by Matt Rhule’s staff before he followed Rhule to Baylor, where Hand started his college career. After two years in Texas, Hand transferred to Temple last season.
“I had a lot of family issues going on back at home,” Hand said. “And one of my position coaches was Fran Brown. He went back to Temple at about the same time. I was up in the air about it. But the fact that he was going back home, too, kind of put me over the top.”
Hand was determined to enter the draft this spring, though. He had three interceptions for the Owls while starting 12 games and then decided to forgo his final season on North Broad Street even though the NFL advisory board didn’t give him a grade in the first two rounds. Hand started 25 games in three years.
Juwan Johnson dives for the end zone against USC. (Jayne Kamin-Oncea / USA Today)
7. Juwan Johnson, WR, Oregon
Glassboro, N.J.; Glassboro High School
Brugler’s projected round: 6
Johnson, the No. 3 recruit in New Jersey’s class of 2015, started his college career at Penn State. His best season came in 2017, when he totaled 54 catches for 701 yards. After transferring to Oregon last season, he had 30 catches for 467 yards. Johnson’s size is his best attribute in a deep wide receiver class. At 6-foot-4 and 230 pounds, he’s one of the biggest receivers in the draft.
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He’s the younger brother of George Johnson, a defensive end who played in the NFL from 2000-07 for Tampa Bay, Minnesota, Detroit and New Orleans.
8. Yasir Durant, OL, Missouri
Philadelphia; Imhotep Institute Charter High School
Brugler’s projected round: 6-7
Durant’s Imhotep team was the first Philadelphia Public League team to win the state championship. He spent a year at Arizona Western College before enrolling at Missouri, where he started at left tackle the past three seasons. At 6-foot-6 and 331 pounds with 34 3/4-inch arms, Durant offers appealing size that an NFL offensive line coach will try to develop.
Jon Runyan Jr. at the combine. (Trevor Ruszkowski / USA Today)
9. Jon Runyan Jr., OL, Michigan
Moorestown, N.J.; St. Joseph’s Prep
Brugler’s projected round: 6-7
The name should sound familiar. Runyan is the son of the longtime Eagles right tackle (who became a congressman and NFL executive). He’s developed into an NFL prospect after earning first-team All-Big Ten honors the past two seasons as Michigan’s left tackle.
“Growing up, it was kinda hard, especially trying to play football in the Philadelphia area,” Runyan told reporters at the combine. “People were always giving me these unfair comparisons against my dad when I was just a 14-year-old kid, just trying to find my way. I didn’t even know what position I was good at yet. It was really difficult and I still get those comparisons to him. I feel like sometimes they’re unfair. I’m still (growing) into my own. Feel like … my whole life I’ve been living kinda in the shadow, but I’m trying to step outside that shadow and cast a bigger one over that one.”
Runyan is 6-foot-4 and 306 pounds, and Brugler projects him as a guard in the NFL. He played in high school with Swift and Reid.
10. Shaun Bradley, LB, Temple
Mt. Holly, N.J.; Rancocas Valley High School
Brugler’s projected round: 7-priority free agent
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Bradley, who played basketball in high school, was lightly recruited out of Rancocas Valley before developing into a three-year starter at Temple. He was first-team All-AAC and a captain as a senior, when he led the Owls in tackles. The coaching staff awarded Bradley with a single-digit jersey the past two seasons. At 6 feet tall and 235 pounds with a 4.51-second 40-yard dash, Bradley will push for an NFL role as a special teams contributor.
More coverage: Eagles draft
(Top photo of D’Andre Swift: Kevin C. Cox / Getty Images)