The NFL Draft is finally here. In just a few hours time, Howie Roseman will be situated in the Philadelphia Eagles’ War Room preparing to navigate the waters of the opening round and find a franchise cornerstone. We’ve built a handy tracker so you can keep tabs on the latest goings on from Detroit.
How to watch the NFL Draft with Eagles analysis
ESPN and NFL Network will be carrying coverage of the NFL Draft throughout the weekend, but we will also be streaming every round LIVE on our YouTube channel! If you want Eagles-centric analysis, feel free to come hang out with us and discuss all things Philadelphia-related!
BREAKING: A.J Brown signs HUGE contract extension
In the final moments before the NFL Draft kicked off, the Philadelphia Eagles dropped another pipe bomb on the rest of the NFL. A.J Brown has agreed to a 3-year contract extension with the team, keeping him in the City of Brotherly Love through 2029, and making him the highest-paid wideout in NFL history in the process.
READ MORE HERE: https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2024/04/25/breaking-a-j-brown-extension/
Eagles draft Quinyon Mitchell
After a rollercoaster opening to the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft, the Philadelphia Eagles were able to somehow snag one of the top corners in this years’ class without having to trade after all. Quinyon Mitchell was the selection at pick #22, giving the Eagles a potential CB1 to hang their hat on.
At 6’0, 195 lbs, Mitchell has the prototypical size for the cornerback position as well as possessing a RAS score of 9.79. A rare athlete who has elite ball skills and sensational short-area quickness, he’s got the instincts and tools to develop into a long-term starter at cornerback.
In 2023, Mitchell really flashed his skills at the catch point. The Toledo corner racked up 18 passes defensed along with 41 tackles.
READ MORE: https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2024/04/25/eagles-draft-quinyon-mitchell/
Eagles draft Cooper DeJean
It didn’t take long for the Philadelphia Eagles to make some shockwaves during the second round. Just a few picks into the night, Howie Roseman traded up with the Washington Commanders in order to snatch one of the real darlings of this Draft, Cooper DeJean.
Eagles trade with Commanders
Eagles trade: Picks 50, 53, 161
Commanders trade: 40 & 78
With their new 40th overall pick, the Birds selected Cooper DeJean.
Who is Cooper DeJean?
DeJean is one of the most impressive prospects in the entire draft. Widely expected to be taken in the opening round, the Iowa product is as versatile as they come, having spent time on the outside, inside, and at Safety. His ball-hawking ability is second to none, with the fiery DB racking up 7 picks over his last two years, something the Eagles are bound to have to paid attention to.
READ MORE: https://phillysportsnetwork.com/2024/04/26/eagles-cooper-dejean-trade/
Eagles make MORE trades
The trades
Eagles trade: Pick 78
Texans trade: Picks 86 & 123
Eagles trade: Pick 86
49ers trade: picks 94 & 132
A pair of trades saw the Eagles grab some extra day-3 draft picks at next to no cost. Not only did they move back a few spots and land one of the most impressive prospects in the draft, Cooper DeJean, but they hit copy and paste a couple of hours later, adding another fourth-round selection in the process.
Eagles remaining draft picks
Round 4: 120, 123, 132
Round 5: 152, 161, 171, 172
Round 6: 210
Eagles draft Jalyx Hunt
Hunt is the very definition of a small-school sleeper. He played his collegiate ball at Houston Christian after starting out as a Safety at Cornell, later transitioning down to the EDGE spot.
It should come as no surprise that he’s a freak athlete, with Hunt posting a RAS score of 9.37 out of 10 and tearing up the agility drills. He was named the Southland Conference Defensive Player of the Year in 2023, combining for 41 tackles, 4 sacks, and 2 forced fumbles.
With the athletic intangibles and experience to play both as a pass-rusher and an off-ball linebacker, Hunt will be able to impact the game from a variety of positions.
Eagles kick off day 3 by drafting a running back
Will Shipley, RB, Clemson
The Eagles started things off by moving from pick 123 down to 127, picking up a 2025 fifth-round pick from the Texans in the process. With the 127th selection, they added Clemson RB Will Shipley into the mix.
The 5’11 running back ended 2023 with 827 yards and 5 touchdowns. His lack of size has been a notable concern throughout the draft process, but his patient running style and impressive agility more than make up for it.
More trades
Before the Eagles made the Will Shipley pick, they sent off selection 120 to the Miami Dolphins for a 2025 third rounder.
After the trade back to 127, the Eagles sent picks 132 and 210 to the Detroit Lions for 164, 201, and a 2025 fourth rounder.
The Eagles have the following picks remaining in this year’s draft:
Round 5: 152, 164, 171, 172
Round 6: 201
*Update: The Eagles also traded pick 171 to the Jets in exchange for picks 185 and 190.
Eagles move up two spots to select Ainias Smith
This is a home-run hit in my opinion. One of my top-graded receivers in this class, Smith feels primed to thrive under Kellen Moore in a slot role. He’s a versatile wideout who can do damage from just about anywhere and is as well-rounded as they come.
Smith has some real zip to his routes, but more importantly, tracks the ball incredibly well and is able to make catches away from his body on a routine basis. As far as a long-term project at slot receiver goes, you won’t find much better value than this.
He put up 795 yards during his final season as an Aggie, ending his 5-year career with 2,407 in total along with 19 touchdowns.
The Eagles then traded picks 164 & 201 to the Colts in order to move up to pick 155. Is Jeremiah Trotter Jr. on the way?
With pick 155 the Philadelphia Eagles select…
Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
He gets a chance to play for the same team his Father became a legendary player for. That’s a special kind of moment.
The Eagles needed linebacker help and Trotter Jr. was realistically touted as one of the best in the class. He fell deep into the depths of the Draft and it’s not really hard to see why, but on the other hand, there’s an unbelievable case to be made for adding a valuable pick here.
The Birds add a player who hits hard and encompasses a lot of the same traits that made his Father such a legendary player, but he’s also incredibly raw when it comes to play-recognition and positioning.
He’s absolutely a work in progress, but that’s exactly what the team should be looking for at the bottom of the fifth round and if he can be coached up, there’s no reason he can’t become a much better player than he is now.
Stoutland University’s latest student
at 6’6, 320 lbs, Keegan has 37 starts under his belt at Michigan, with all of them coming at Left Guard. He helped push a dominant rushing attack to three Big 10 crowns as well as a National Championship.
Keegan is someone that doesn’t fit the new mold of Eagles draft pick in the traditional sense. He’s not an athletic freak, but he is renowned a vocal leader and someone that brings a surprising level of technical prowess to the table to combat his athletic limitations.
According to PFF, he only allowed one QB hit in 2023 and didn’t give up a single sack. That has to count for something.
The latest enrolment to Stoutland University has arrived!
Dylan McMahon, OL, NC State
The Eagles love finding hidden gems on the offensive front and will be hoping that Dylan McMahon is another. The NC State product defines the term versatile, with his starts being divided between both guard spots and 11 at center in his final season.
At 6’3, 299 lbs, he’s a little undersized and might need to bulk up over the next couple of years. With that said, he’s a former team captain, and another monster athlete.
