Previously, we looked at options for the Eagles to draft when the 10th overall pick is officially on the clock. While Eagles GM Howie Roseman has yet to make any moves involving the Eagles’ draft picks, there’s still time to go.
The Eagles will approach the 2023 draft with the following picks:
Round 1 Pick 10 (Saints)
Round 1 Pick 30
Round 2 Pick 62
Round 3 Pick 94
Round 7 Pick 219 (Vikings)
Round 7 Pick 248
There’s not a lot of draft capital to play with this year, leaving room for a likely trade-down situation. But if the Eagles wanted to trade up by any means, there are more than enough picks in 2024 that the Eagles could use.
Below are the 12(!) picks the Eagles have in 2024, compared to the 6 in 2023.
Round 1
Round 2
Round 2 (Saints)
Round 3
Round 3 (Comp)
Round 4
Round 5 (Vikings)
Round 5
Round 5 (Comp)
Round 5 (Comp)
Round 5 (Comp)
Round 6
Options At 30
Consider the players listed as options the Eagles could have drafted at 10:
– Jalen Carter DT
– Paris Johnson Jr OT
– Nolan Smith EDGE
– Christian Gonzalez CB
– Bijan Robinson RB
Regardless of who the Eagles draft with, the 10th pick still leaves plenty of options for them at 30.
With the majority of the Eagles’ losses in Free Agency on the defensive side of the ball. It only makes sense that the Eagles will most likely stock up on first-round defensive players.
There have already been several answers to potential question marks on the offensive side of the roster. There’s no need for a Day 1 Pick on the OL, as Cam Jurgens doesn’t need to be a benchwarmer for 2 seasons.
Nolan Smith – Edge – Georgia
It’s already been said for the 10th pick that the Eagles could draft Nolan Smith if Jalen Carter is off the board.
However, looking through mock drafts, Smith is taken anywhere throughout the 1st draft. Could Smith fall all the way into the Eagles’ second 1st round selection? Will the Eagles gamble some of their 2024 draft picks to move up from 30? Expect the Eagles to bolster their rotation on the defensive line with at least one of their 1st round picks. While finding the successors of Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox remains a priority.
Brian Branch – Safety – Alabama
Losing both of Marcus Epps and C.J. Gardner-Johnson wasn’t the expected outcome we were hoping for. Signing Terrell Edmunds was a step in the right direction. At the same time, Cornerback looked like the largest need in the secondary before Free Agency began. Re-signing Bradberry and being able to extend Darius Slay solved that problem and directed the spotlight towards the safeties. If the plan is to let Reed Blankenship grow another season, the Eagles receive that luxury by grabbing a 5-year solution to a starting position.
Jahmyr Gibbs – Running Back – Alabama
Gibbs either rounds out the end of the 1st round or slides into the top of the 2nd, with the Eagles picking 30th and not until 62nd. Gibbs could be another fit for the Running Back room if the Eagles happen to miss out on Robinson while waiting for 30 to get called.
It still seems unlikely the Eagles will draft a Running Back in the first round. Trading back to acquire an early 2nd-round pick could be in the Eagles’ best interest to acquire any extra picks they could be looking for in Day 3 (like that Right Guard everyone’s in a hurry to draft!)
Darnell Washington – Tight End – Georgia
Another player projected to fall into the 2nd round is Georgia’s Darnell Washington. Picking 30th and 62nd puts the Eagles into a difficult situation. Reach at 30, or trade back into a position that risks the desired 2nd-round player being snatched before their new pick.
Dallas Goedert’s 5-week absence was a difficult time for the Eagles. During that stretch, Eagles Tight Ends Jack Stoll and Grant Calcaterra combined for 115 yards. A massive blow for an Eagles team that had a Tight End with 544 Receiving Yards through the first 9 weeks of the season.
Considering the options available at 10, the opportunity for the Eagles to get creative with 30 could lead to some interesting outcomes once the draft begins. The chance to trade up and secure another star player in the draft could come costly to a team that would be trading with future draft picks.
On the other side of that coin, the Eagles love to trade back with desperate teams that are looking for help. The Saints packaged off picks 16, 18, 98, 101, 120, 237, the 2023 10th overall, and a 2024 2nd in their trade-ups to acquire Chris Olave and Trevor Penning. Perhaps a team like the Packers(45th) or Raiders(38th) could be the desperate prey for Howie Roseman to pull off another trade miracle with.
We’re 2 weeks away from the NFL draft. And 2 weeks away from answers to who the Eagles might draft.
Go Birds!
Photo Credit: Zach Bolinger / Icon Sportswire
