The Philadelphia Eagles have eight selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, including four 5th-round picks. Picks 161, 164, and 165 are from the Texans, Brown, and Commanders. Howie is armed with the flexibility to move around the board and acquire talent as he sees fit. I would expect a fun day of trades and talent grabbing on Saturday!
Day 3 talents that should interest the Eagles
Defense:
Aeneas Peebles, DT, Virginia Tech
Peebles disrupts opposing offenses with an impressive swipe and spin attack, showcasing some of the best pass-rushing moves of anyone in the 2025 NFL Draft class.
Aeneas uses active, violent hands and some impressive strength to win reps, which led to a gaudy 27.3% pass rush win rate at Virginia Tech. He is a twitchy athlete but has plenty of strength against the run. Aeneas ran a 4.94 forty, reached 20.47 mph, and had a 1.74 10-yard split at the combine. For a team that wants to add a DT to their roster who has plenty of flexible growth upside thanks to his versatile skillset, Peebles is a great option.
Antwuan Powell-Ryland, Edge, Virginia Tech
APT is an effective and quick pass rusher with a lightning-fast first step. Powell-Ryland displays a non-stop motor and a good bend around the edge. Antwuan has proven to be effective in dropping into coverage, which is something Fangio asks of his edge rushers. While slightly undersized, he sheds blocks well, collapses the pockets, and creates turnovers. He has a beautiful spin move in his arsenal of pass-rushing tricks.
David Walker, Edge, Central Arkansas
He was a sleeper for much of the College season; but that is no longer the case as I illustrated here. Walker has excellent closing speed and displays a high football IQ. His processing of the game is extremely impressive and a trait that will be beyond valuable as he grows. David uses leverage well and can pressure QBs with a hand in the dirt or standing up. He is a dominant tackler who plays with an edge and causes havoc! A scout mentioned that he reminds them of Eagles Edge, Brandon Graham. He is one player Eagles fans need to know in the 2025 NFL Draft.
Jalen McLeod, Edge OLB, Auburn
McLeod has a relentless motor and a knack for getting to the ball. His physicality is reminiscent of Chauncey Gardner-Johnson’s. Jalen is versatile and can cover just as efficiently as he can rush the passer. This is thanks to his blazing speed and awareness. He chases down ball carriers as if they stole from him, Playmaker! Why wouldn’t the Eagles want another Jalen on the squad? It has worked out well so far…
Jeffrey Bassa, Linebacker, Oregon
Jeffrey was Oregon’s defensive QB, calling plays for three years. He is an above-average cover LB, harnessing his former skills from being a saftey. Bassa has elite instincts, reads routes with speed, and has experience as a Gunner on special teams. This year, he was a Senior Bowl show-off! I love fit with the Eagles.
Teddye Buchanan, LB, California
Teddye has elite instincts and the speed to utilize them properly. He has a natural burst to shoot gaps and close space to ball-carriers quickly. Buchanan tallied 5 sacks, 2 forced fumbles, and 114 tackles last year for the Golden Bears. He reportedly met with the Eagles at the combine and would be a great addition to their linebacking room.
Andrew Mukuba, Safety, Texas
Andrew thrives going downhill against the run. He is a strong tackler who hits hard. In Mukuba’s first season at Texas, he showed off great instincts, and equally impressive coverage skills. He was also a YAC killer, which I love. Per sports reference, he had 7 PBUs, five interceptions, 4 TFLs, and one forced fumble last year. Andrew returned to college for another season to prove he was a complete player, mission accomplished.
Jaylen Reed, Safety, Penn State
The Eagles have used one of their 30 visits to meet with Jaylen and safety is a position they may use a day three pick on. Reed was a two-year starter for the Nittany Lions and was versatile during those two years. His responsibilities increased year over year as did his ability to get to the QB and make plays in the backfield. He had 6.5 tackles for loss and 2.5 sacks.
Jaylen also made an impact in the passing game showing off nice coverage and playmaking ability with 3 interceptions, including a pick-six! Many fans believe the Eagles may sign Justin Simmons post-draft, and some signs point in that direction. Even if they do, Reed would be a target in this draft.
Dorian Strong, CB, Virginia Tech
Dorian is an instinctive and twitchy corner with elite awareness and cover technique. Strong uses the sideline to his advantage and relies on his background as a wideout to trust his instincts and stay in-phase. He performed well versus top talent in Mobile at the Senior Bowl and shined in one-on-one drills.
Nohl Williams, CB, Cal
Williams has impressive length and uses it to compete for the ball, picking off 7 passes last season alone. He is fluid and breaks on incoming balls as if he was the intended target. His coverage skills pop with every watch. Nohl is also physically imposing defending the run and tackles well.
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