The 2023 NFL Draft is just weeks away and the Philadelphia Eagles are busy trying to find the next crop of talented young players to continue to enhance their title window.
For general manager Howie Roseman, the draft will be a key part in continuing to improve on a team that represented the NFC in the Super Bowl last year. And while recent top picks have certainly worked out, recent history hasn’t always been kind to the Eagles’ GM.
Today, we go over the picks Roseman has hit, missed, and secretly nailed throughout the fourth round.
Best Pick: Josh Sweat
People will be debating between Sweat and Avonte Maddox for this particular decision but the numbers clearly favor the former Florida St. Seminole. Sweat has improved his sack total in every year since he’s been in the league and is coming off his first pro-bowl selection.
28.5 sacks over the last four seasons is very solid. With Haason Reddick still working alongside him, Sweat could be in for another big year in 2023.
Worst Pick: Donnel Pumphrey
Pumphrey was a disaster of a draft pick in 2017. Not just because he was always seen as a reach in the fourth round, but he never actually played an NFL snap. When considering how many other top running backs were selected in that year along with the poor running game in 2018, Pumphrey was a downright horrific selection for the Birds.
Sleeper Pick: Brandon Boykin
Maddox shouldn’t be considered a sleeper but a former slot corner most certainly should. When Boykin was drafted and moved to the slot, he became one of the more dependable players in the league. Boykin’s pick in the game against Dallas ended up clinching the division for the Eagles as well. In total, the former Georgia Bulldog totaled eight picks in his NFL career which spanned teams outside of Philadelphia once Doug Pederson was brought in.
The wait-and-see pick: Jack Driscoll
Many fans and analysts believe that Cam Jurgens is expected to replace Isaac Seumalo at right guard but a lot of people are overlooking the personnel addition of Jack Driscoll from the 2020 NFL Draft. Driscoll has played very well when he’s replaced interior linemen and could very well be the player to start the 2023 season. By the end of next season, Driscoll could very well be the top fourth-rounder selected by the Eagles over the last decade. He just needs to be given a chance.
Photo by Andy Lewis/Icon Sportswire
