Speculation is strong in the city of Philadelphia as we get closer to the NFL Draft at the end of April. With two first-round picks, and plenty of flexibility in the 2023 class, the Eagles have a golden opportunity to either trade up for a top talent, or stay still and pick two franchise-altering players with the 15th and 18th overall pick this year.
As the predictions grow from NFL Analysts, one such reporter has opened up a surprise suggestion that has has turned a few heads…
In no way is this trade being reported as happening. It’s is just a hypothetical trade, but it brings an interesting question:
Should the Eagles use their capital to get into the Top Five this year?
The Pros
With this year’s class being extremely deep on the DL, the Eagles could get themselves a transcendent pass rusher that could change the entire defense for the better at this point.
Whether it is Hutchinson, Thibodeaux, or even Walker, the DLine class is excellent. The Eagles getting in the top five would be a gamble, but it could also be a better overall collection of talent than two players at 15 & 18.
Outside of Derek Barnett, the Eagles have had a ton of success in drafting edge rushers and have been as successful when drafting in the top 5. It hasn’t happened since the team took Carson Wentz in 2016, but the team won a Super Bowl because of that pick, along with Lane Johnson back in 2013.
The risks are certainly there, but the team has had a lot of success when drafting in the top five, and the expectation is that they’ll be able to do so again.
The Cons
Eagle fans can hope that the team goes best available on the defensive side of the ball…but things are rarely that simple. They wouldn’t trade two firsts to go into a prime spot and NOT take a QB.
Sigh.
Whether it’s Malik Willis, Kenny Pickett, or Matt Corrall, if the Eagles were to make a trade into the top five it would be for a QB. Why would this be a bad thing? Well, it’s because if you trade into the top five, the player better be a sure-fire selection and not a gamble.
This QB class is far from excellent, and scouts have already argued this is one of the worst QB classes in recent memory. If the Eagles take a gamble into the top five for a QB, they are gambling on players that may not pan out. If a QB was taken and doesn’t end up performing, it would set the franchise back a good five years with a miss that large.
QB is the most important position on the football field.
Throwing darts at every single class in the hope that one pans out is NOT the way to build a championship-level roster though.
Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire
