The Eagles will have many options in the 2025 NFL Draft, including trading down to acquire more picks for this season or moving up and using some of their 2026 draft capital if a player is in range for them to jump up like they have in the past for Jordan Davis, Jalent Carter, etc. Some of these players listed would have to fall from their projected draft spots, but that happens every year to a handful of top players.
Day One targets for Eagles
Derrick Harmon, DT
Harmon has a lot of raw talent. He is powerful, quick, and a force inside, penetrating the backfield and creating pressure. Derrick uses leverage well and excels with a bullrush. Harmon sheds block quickly, pursues ball carriers, covers gaps, and is a reliable tackler. A versatile player who can contribute in week one! Harmon’s toolbox, floweth over. He can be seen assaulting OLs with one of the best interior pass rushes in the class. He has proven his draft stock by winning against top talent and beating double teams. One-on-one is a no-go. He would maybe require a move up to 22, to get in front of the Packers who have a need at DT and interest.
Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss
Nolen is a versatile defensive lineman who can play NT or DT. He faces double teams as often as Jale Carter and wins more than he loses. He has an explosive first step and a nonstop motor. Walter is a Pocket Killer and a nightmare for opposing Quarterbacks. He consistently collapses and disrupts both the pass and run lanes. Nolen is active on the line, using his strong hands to shed blocks, and will be a force against the run in week one.
Mykel Williams, Edge, Georgia
Williams is explosive off the snap and has a repertoire of pass rushes. He sets the edge well, gets off blocks, and plays all along the line. Mykel diagnoses plays quickly and brings a lot of traits to the field. For such a young player, 20 years old, he has an expansive toolbox of skills. Williams is a player if you trust the traits, around whom you build a defense. He is a Blue Chip, 1st round, top-tier prospect. He likely would require a move-up, but he might be worth the investment. It will be fascinating to see where he is drafted since most teams interested are weighing production versus potential in their assessment and ranking on the draft board.
Donovan Ezeiruaku, Edge, Boston College
Donovan is uber-athletic and twitchy. His bend and flexibility in attacking off the Edge are the first things you notice when watching his film. He may have the best bend I have seen all year watching film. Ezeiruaku has a big bag of pass-rushing tools and has showcased the art of setting OLs up with a pass rush to force them to set up outside while he disguises his true intentions of bursting inside to pressure the Quarterback. He closed out his College stay impressively by totaling 19 pressures and six sacks in his last two games.
Jalon Walker, Edge, OLB, Georgia
I have Walker as a top 5 player in this draft and if he fell within range to move up for, I would attack. Jalon is fundamentally sound and disciplined against the run, above average for the position in coverage, and developing into an elite pass-rusher. His explosiveness and lower body bend are rare and those elite intangibles coupled with his instincts and rapid processing will be desirable for teams early in the draft. The athleticism and ability to mirror QBs and attack with a violent cross-chop and elusive swim move will give offensive coordinators many sleepless nights.
Maxwell Hairston, CB, Kentucky
Maxwell is fast! Hairston shocked everyone with his 4.29 40-yard dash. He also showed an impressive vertical with a 39.5 jump. His footwork during the drills was particularly impressive. With the recent release of BP Slay, the Eagles could be interested in adding another ball-hawking, aggressive, athletic, cost-effective corner to the team, joining Quinyon and Cooper in the Eagles No-Fly-Zone. Hairston has the skills to cover space, and the agility to change direction quickly, while displaying an elite back-pedal, and mirroring receivers. Hairston fights for every ball and allows no easy receptions! He drips CB finger wag swag and is a vibe setter who would be a welcomed addition for the Eagles.
Will Johnson, CB, Michigan
A twitchy, fluid, lean, mean, ballhawk machine! Will plays off receivers, processes quickly, & has BIG-play ability. Johnson had nine career picks at Michigan, 3 returned for TDs, and is a YAC Killer part deux. Quinyon is my original YAC killer, but Will allowed 3 yards after the catch per reception and deserves his attention in the conversation and as a round-one talent. A physical, versatile, shutdown corner with CB1 vibes! If he falls in the draft, Howie could be looming.
Malaki Starks, Safety, Georgia
Malaki sheds blocks and creates space with aggressive hand usage. He hits ball carriers with bad intentions and is always in pursuit. Starks has shown his ability to read plays and a QBs eyes to get into the correct position and make a stop. His excellent range, quick feet, fluid hips, ball skills, and tracking ability are why he could be the first safety off the board and another first-rounder drafted from Georgia’s feared defense.
Jihaad Campbell, LB Alabama
Fluid, agile, twitchy, with an impressive burst. Jihaad’s acceleration to attack ball carriers is rare, and he lays the wood when he gets there and makes a tackle. Campbell will need to improve to maintain lanes & anchor at the NFL level, as he has all the physical traits to succeed. Jihaad uses his long arms to eliminate passing lanes and displays elite recognition and awareness. He is versatile and can play any of the LB spots. Campbell is also an excellent blitzer who has demonstrated his big-game-changing ability.
Emeka Egbuka, WR Ohio State
The Eagles may not seem like a destination for a first-round wide receiver, but if a player of his skill fell to them, he would be hard to pass up. Egbuka finds space with elite coverage concept knowledge, advanced footwork, and technical route running. He is reliable and fearless over the middle. Emeka is a twitchy athlete who gets open quickly in tight spaces and runs with a desire to score every time the ball is in his hands. He is a top 3 WR in class and has the skill to impact a team’s offense in 2025 from week one.
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