Mike Trout has NFL draft message for Eagles general manager

Los Angeles Angels star Mike Trout has a message for Philadelphia Eagles general manager Howie Roseman: “Defense wins championships.”

With that mentality in mind, Trout, a diehard Eagles fan, told ESPN’s Buster Olney on the “Baseball Tonight” podcast Wednesday that he wants the Eagles to shore up that side of the ball in Round 1 that begins Thursday night.

“I think a young corner,” Trout said. “You always go back to defense and you know defense wins championships, obviously. … I think bringing in a young stud (would help).”

A recent report from NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah indicated that Roseman was considering a cornerback at No. 22, but that the stance may have changed. It dovetails into Trout’s other suggestion.

“Maybe trade up to get a tackle to boost that line,” Trout said. “I know Howie’s big on juicing that offensive and defensive line, but who knows what he’s going to do.”

The Eagles’ defense gave up 356.1 yards per game, the seventh-most in the NFL last season. That paled in comparison to how the secondary was gashed: the 252.7 passing yards per game allowed was the second most.

The NFL draft begins at 8 p.m. ET.