The Eagles have had an incredible offseason so far even though the Haason Reddick trade has put a little bit of damper on it. Nonetheless the Eagles brass feel very confident in who they currently have. The offseason doesn’t end there though. There are still plenty of moves to be made in free agency and the NFL Draft.
Philadelphia has done well in recent years with their drafts as they have found players who can come in and make a significant impact early on. From DeVonta Smith, Sydney Brown, Jordan Davis, and Jalen Carter, the Eagles have hit their marks time and time again. So what does the 2024 NFL Draft hold in the cards for Philadelphia?
I did a mock draft using PFN’s mock draft simulator and it sure helped me make it spicy enough for you to like. Let’s take a look at what I was able to put together and why I believe this can work in the Eagles’ favor.
TRADE plus another TRADE?!
For starters I had the Eagles trading up in the draft to select the best cornerback in Quinyon Mitchell. Philly traded the 22nd pick, 50th pick, and a future 2025 third-rounder to the Denver Broncos for the 12th overall pick. Unfortunately, the simulator knew what I was up to as it drafted Mitchell before the 12th pick.
So what do we do when we run into a dead end? Capitalize! I then traded the 12th overall pick and pick 210 to the Rams for the 19th overall pick and pick 52 which led to my first selection:
Round 1, pick 19: CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson
He’s the cornerback I wanted all along. Philadelphia has gone too long without a true homegrown shutdown corner. It’s about time to change that trend as they select a player that I believe will be great for a long time. With Darius Slay at the tail end of his career and the big question mark surround James Bradberry, it’s time for the Eagles to get their guy.
Wiggins is 6’1” with great speed and great ball-tracking skills. He can be extremely disruptive at the next level and has the eye discipline and awareness that many of the Eagles’ previous cornerbacks lack. Plugging Wiggins into this defense gives Philly a huge advantage. He would be able to learn from one of the best to ever do it in Darius Slay and it also gives Vic Fangio his CB1 of the future.
Round 2, pick 52: Payton Wilson, NC State
The Eagles have Nakobe Dean and now Devin White. Both are still young and in need of a get-right season. Bringing Payton Wilson would not disrupt that at all and I feel like this trio can mesh well together. Wilson is a good coverage LB with great explosiveness.
He has a nose for the football and an extremely high motor. While his injury history may scare away other teams, the Eagles have shown that they believe in their staff to keep their guys upright. Wilson and Dean could be a lethal combination in the near future and if White ends up showing out then maybe this trio could be something.
Round 2, pick 53: OT Roger Rosengarten, Washington
I’ve said many times that Nick Sirianni needs to humble himself and get back to his garden. Well here’s another garden that they’ll need. Time is ticking for the Eagles and Lane Johnson especially with both Fletcher Cox and Jason Kelce retiring. While the Eagles set themselves up ahead of time for both of those departures, it’s time that they do the same with Lane’s inevitable retirement.
Rosengarten is a 6’5” monster who can keep pass rushers honest on every play. He’s aggressive and very agile with a Swiss army approach to pass blocking. A year or two under Lane Johnson and Jeff Stoutland can help develop him into a great right tackle.
Round 4, pick 120: WR Luke McCaffrey, Rice
I can promise you that my selection of McCaffrey has nothing to do with his name and everything to do with his game. While he can’t stretch the field, he is shifty enough to make defenders miss and make the most of his yards after the catch. He also has terrific hands and great concentration.
McCaffrey’s catch radius is phenomenal. It seems as if he is a tactician when the ball is in the air. From one-handed catches to tight windows, Luke has a knack for catching the ball in any situation. The Eagles need that kind of player to be their WR3. The great thing about him is that he can play on the outside or inside which is something that the Eagles favor.
Round 5, pick 161: S Jaylon Carlies, Missouri
The Eagles need safety depth and Carlies has the talent to be that and more. While he will find himself pretty deep on the depth chart, Carlies would have the ability to make an impact on both special teams and defense. He’s a sure tackler with great awareness.
At 6’2”, has also a good disruptor in pass coverage. Carlies has great timing when it comes to breaking up a play and is a good defender in the run game. This would be a sneaky good pick for Philadelphia.
Round 5, pick 171: OT Garret Greenfield, South Dakota State
The Eagles love their offensive line depth which means adding a second offensive lineman is not out of the question. Greenfield is a 6’6” beast who could be the swing tackle that they need. With Jack Driscoll and Sua Opeta signing elsewhere, it may be time for Stout University to start stacking up on developmental linemen.
Greenfield is very athletic but is also very raw. He has the basis needed to provide the team with a good depth piece but there is still a lot of work for him to become a starter.
Round 5, pick 172: EDGE Xavier Thomas, Clemson
Did you think I wouldn’t draft a pass rusher? I think the Eagles should stay away from a first-round pass rusher in favor of giving both Huff and Smith a year to figure things out. They want their guys to develop and that’s a fair way to look at it. But this pick, man, he is perfect for Philadelphia and is extremely disruptive.
Drafting a player like Xavier Thomas gives you the depth you need for this season. He can also develop into a monster off of the edge if he acclimates well at the pro level. Thomas is explosive off of the line of scrimmage and is hard to contain due to his speed and quick hands. I would love for the Eagles to take a chance on him as his high motor and athletic ability fit exactly what they want from the pass rushers.
Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire
