We are less than 50 days away from the Eagles selecting the next bust great player to wear midnight green. There are a plethora of needs on the team, too many for a perennial Super Bowl contender, but you can only select one. So which position should get the Eagles’ first rose?
Note: I said first pick, not necessarily first round pick
Another note: I am keeping specialists out because there is no other Jake Elliot and we have our Mann at punter
Another, another note: I missed you too
Quarterback
Let’s get the pitchforks out of the way.
I am not suggesting replacing Hurts. I am just looking at history.
Hurts is going into his fifth year with the team, his fourth as a starter. The previous Eagles quarterback also went five years. You have to go back to the McNabb years to find a QB who had more than three seasons as the Eagles’ bonafide starter.
Could the Eagles look to set themselves up for Hurts’ eventual replacement this year? There are certainly intriguing names in the first round of the draft. While names like Williams, Maye, and Daniels will be out of reach, could Nix, McCarthy, or Penix entice Howie? They’d have the fifth year option to play with and could have a back up plan ready if history repeats itself.
Running back
This is where I remind you that I never said first round pick. While I made the case last year for the Eagles to draft Bijan Robinson, there is no running back of that caliber this year.
Hoooooowever, what if, let’s just say.. for argument’s sake.., they trade out of the first round. Could a team that misses out on a QB near the top of the draft trade back in? Let’s say that the Patriots skip over a QB at 3, select Marvin Harrison Jr., and then offer #34 and next year’s 1st to move up to #22 and select Penix.
Now we have something! Trey Benson and Jonathan Brooks (despite the injury history) are the top tier RBs in the draft. The Eagles drafted Miles Sanders in the 2nd round, so this isn’t too farfetched. Drafting a top running back early will give the team a productive player on a rookie contract for four years. Rinse, repeat.
Wide receiver
Did you see WR3 for the Eagles in 2023? Do I need to say more?
Ok, sure, there are more pressing needs. But imagine AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith always getting 1 on 1s because the opposing defense is too busy worrying about names like Brian Thomas, Keon Coleman, Adonai Mitchell, Xavier Worthy, or Ladd McConkey.
There are plenty of names that I like later in the draft (hello Legette), but first round should definitely be an option.
Tight end
If you follow me, you have seen my affinity for Kyle Pitts and how much I wanted him to come home to Philly. Now imagine Pitts but better in this offense. If the Eagles could somehow get Brock Bowers (they can’t, Chris, shut up) then this is a slam dunk pick.
Outside of Bowers, this would be a trade out of the first round candidate. Dallas Goedert was drafted five years into Zach Ertz’s career, so it’s possible that six years of Goedert will lead the Eagles to draft his eventual replacement.
Interior OL
Jason Kelce is gone. It’s real. It’s sad. It’s life.
With Jurgens moving to center in 2024, RG is a position of need. Sure, Tyler Steen could plug right in but he did not play that well in his limited time. Offensive line is always going to be a priority for Howie in the first round so this wouldn’t be a huge reach.
However, interior offensive line hasn’t been a focus in the first round. If Jackson Powers-Johnson falls to 22, could the Eagles opt to keep Jurgens at RG and bring in JPJ? That would continue to the athletic center trend for Philly (not that Jurgens is not athletic) and set up the line for continued success.
Offensive tackle
Jordan Mailata is 26 and set to anchor the left side for another decade. Lane Johnson is 33 (34 in May) and is probably entering his final two seasons with the team. Lane has missed time in every season since 2015, although that didn’t prevent him from earning five Pro Bowls and two All Pros since.
The reality is that the Eagles need a real plan at right tackle. Jack Driscoll is a free agent, and wasn’t great in the times he replaced Johnson, and there aren’t many other options on the line, as it stands. Names like Tyler Guyton and Amarius Mims are two names to keep an eye on as they are both massive and athletic. Jeff Stoutland could turn either into All Pros.
EDGE
Josh Sweat is entering the final year of his contract and has had one season above 7.5 sacks in his six year career. Haason Reddick may not be on the team in 2023. Brandon Graham is set to be back on a one (final) year deal.
Could Nolan Smith take a giant leap in 2024? Sure. But the depth is thin and the sacks were not there in 2023. Chop Robinson, Jared Verse, and Darius Robinson are names that could be available at 22, or even a little down in the first round.
Defensive Tackle
Will the real Jordan Davis stand up? We’ve seen JD be absolutely dominant and the Eagles run game fall apart when he’s absent in 2022 and we’ve seen JD admit that he was out of shape towards the end of 2023. With Fletcher Cox set to retire or hit free agency, we’re looking at a DT room with Jalen Carter and Milton Williams being the only consistent performers. While Moro Ojomo and Marlon Tuipulotu have shown flashes here and there, adding a DT in the first round could solidify a leaky run defense. Byron Murphy II and Braden Fiske would be slam dunk additions to the DL.
Linebacker
TRADE!!! THE EAGLES TRADE OUT OF THE FIRST SO THE FOOTBALL GODS ALLOW THEM TO DRAFT A LB!
Do I need to write something about the linebacker need? No? Good.
While there aren’t any LB worthy of a first round selection over other positions, second round should absolutely be the target round. Edgerrin Cooper, Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Junior Colson, and Payton Wilson are just four names that could help the LB room.
Cornerback
James Bradberry is toast. Darius Slay is 33. Avonte Maddox was released.
The Eagles do have promising players in Kelee Ringo, Josh Jobe, Eli Ricks, and Mario Goodrich, while also having suspended Isaiah Rodgers Sr. coming in 2024, but the need is still crucial.
Terrion Arnold, Kool-Aid McKinstry, Nate Wiggins, Cooper DeJean, Quinyon Mitchell: take your pick.
Safety
For Fangio’s defense to be successful, a safety that can do it all is needed. Do the Eagles have that?
We thought we did in Byard, but he was a prisoner of a ever-changing defense. The safety class in free agency is set to be the best we’ve ever seen, but even with a free agency addition there is still a need in the draft.
No, Howie won’t draft a safety in the first. But as with the linebacker, running back, and tight end positions, this is a trade out of the first round target with their first pick.
Kamren Kinchens, Tyler Nubin, and Jaden Hicks could be targets in the second.
Photo by John Jones/Icon Sportswire
