The Philadelphia Eagles waited patiently for their pair of picks on day 2 of the NFL Draft and it was worth the weight in Gold. After a trade back with the Texans netted Philly two late draft picks, Howie continued his hot run of drafting.
Eagles trade with the Texans
The Houston Texans traded up with the Eagles for a center, acquiring pick 62 in exchange for 65, 188, and 230. This meant that the Eagles would be picking back-to-back a few moments later. Howie Roseman would not disappoint.
Pick 65: Tyler Steen, OT, Alabama
Howie Roseman loves the SEC and it continues to show. Tyler Steen was Howie’s first of two picks, a monstrous 6’6, 321 lbs tackle out of Alabama. He’s an athletic tackle that thrives as a run blocker. He started 13 games for Bama last year and was named to the All-SEC second team. Prior to his arrival in Alabama, he played for Vanderbilt, which means he’s spent his entire college career working against SEC edge rushers.
Steen drew plenty of comparisons to one of the prized tackles in this class – Peter Skoronski. He’s a versatile and athletic lineman who can play both tackle and guard spots, but he did struggle against the pass at times, which was in part due to a shorter wingspan, just like Skoronski.
With that said, Jeff Stoutland is an actual wizard and should be able to turn this talented and versatile lineman into a potential heir to Lane Johnson’s throne within a few seasons.
Sydney Brown, S, Illinois
He’s a ball-hawking safety who had 6 picks in 2022 and will complement the skillset of Reed Blankenship brilliantly. He’s a great box defender who loves getting down and dirty in the run, but his tackling could use some work. With that said, he’s highly instinctive which can lead to some explosive plays where he swarms the ball-carrier. His tackling could use some refining, but there’s a lot to like here if he’s still on the board.
This is exactly the kind of pick the Eagles needed to make. Brian Branch was likely just out of reach, but Sydney Brown is one hell of a consolation prize. He’s an aggressive safety who does lack in fluidity when covering in ‘man’ situations, but that doesn’t stop him from showcasing an impressive football IQ.
Brown is a great young prospect who can develop alongside Reed Blankenship, giving the Eagles a young safety tandem to grow over the next few years with complementary skillsets.
Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire
