Happy 2024 NFL Draft Day! The Philadelphia Eagles will pick 22nd in the first round tonight after falling to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs this past season. The Eagles will greatly miss two of their core pieces on the field, and in the clubhouse as both center, Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox hung up their cleats in the offseason. Philadelphia has eight picks going into the draft, which starts tonight at 8 p.m. with the first round, while rounds two through three take place Friday beginning at 7 p.m. and the remaining rounds (4-7) on Saturday starting at noon. General Manager Howie Roseman is always cooking up something during draft season, so certainly look out for him to trade up and/or down throughout the three days from Detroit. Let’s get into it.
Round 1, Pick 22: Cooper DeJean, DB, Iowa
This has been a popular pick for the Birds around draft circles and among the Philly faithful, and where there’s smoke, there’s fire. With a new defensive coordinator in Vic Fangio for this season, the Eagles should target athletic and versatile defenders. DeJean fits that bill to a tee as he is this draft’s Swiss army knife and would boost the Eagles' aging secondary. The Eagles severely lack depth at both cornerback and safety, and DeJean could help with both as he is listed at cornerback but has experience at safety. On top of that, the former Iowa defensive back can play in multiple schemes.
Round 2, Pick 53: Xavier Legette, WR, South Carolina
The Eagles already have a dynamic receiver duo in A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith but are always looking to add more weapons for Jalen Hurts. Legette has a skill set similar to Brown's, as he has a remarkable ability to win 50-50 balls and turn in big plays and a strong knack for running after the catch. Alshon Jefferey also came out of South Carolina as a big-bodied receiver with impressive contested catch skills who succeeded in Philly after being traded there. Hurts can take advantage of mismatches on the outside with Legette and give the offense an embarrassment of riches all over the field.
Round 2, Pick 62: Marshawn Kneeland, EDGE, Western Michigan
*Trade alert: Eagles trade picks 50 and 210 to the Baltimore Ravens for pick 62 and pick 93.
The Eagles trade back 12 picks while receiving a third-round pick. With their new pick, they target their defensive line, which is consistently built up with monsters. Kneeland is no different than any of the other scary pass rushers the Eagles either currently have or have had in the past. At 6’3”, 267 pounds, the Western Michigan alum possesses 34 1/2” long arms and has a high motor while consistently around the ball and in the backfield to impact the play. Kneeland checks many boxes for the Eagles, and with Brandon Graham going into his final season, they need to continue to build the edge.
Round 3, Pick 93: Andru Phillips, CB, Kentucky
With the third-round pick that the Eagles received from the Ravens, they once again go after the secondary. After re-signing slot corner Avonte Maddox, Philadelphia can work at adding to the depth of that position with Phillips, who could be thrust into the competition from day one as a rookie. Injuries were a concern for Phillips at Kentucky, but he is a top-slot corner when he is healthy. There are several parallels between his and Maddox’s game, and the injuries are one of the aspects. Maddox has been solid while on the field for the Birds but has struggled to stay healthy.
Round 4, Pick 120: Brandon Coleman, iOL, TCU
There is no Eagles draft without them building the trenches, especially after losing their anchor to retirement. Coleman is a versatile interior lineman who is described as having elite athleticism and working well against the run and pass. The Birds have loved versatile linemen of late, and seasoned Cam Jurgens will be Kelce’s replacement while he plays guard positions. Coleman can play both guard positions and bring success to both.
Round 5, Pick 161: Tommy Eichenberg, LB, Ohio State
After acquiring former New York Jet linebacker Bryce Huff in free agency, the Eagles have built a solid linebacking core, including Nakobe Dean and Devin White. They could add to the depth through the draft, while Eichenberg led Ohio State in total tackles with 80 in 2022 and 120 in 2023. The former Buckeye is a hard-hitting run-stopper with extraordinary leadership abilities and a high football IQ. He will likely not enter the starting realm immediately but could be a key special teamer in his rookie year.
Round 5, Pick 171: Christian Jones, OT, Texas
Another versatile lineman, Jones can slide to either tackle position, which would give Philly depth behind Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson. Jones is viewed as a developmental type of tackle with strong attributes and measurables but some downfalls that need a lot of work for him to make it as a starter. Sitting him behind the two aforementioned elite tackles could do wonders for his development.
Round 5, Pick 172: Joe Milton, QB, Tennessee
The Eagles clearly have their franchise quarterback in Hurts despite his struggles last season but are always looking to add depth to the “Quarterback Factory.” The other quarterbacks on the roster behind Hurts are Kenny Pickett, who they traded for from the Steelers, Tanner McKee, and Will Grier. Joe Milton was a reasonably dynamic shot caller while at Tennessee and is worth taking a shot on during day three. He showcased his crazy arm strength during the pre-draft process and is also very athletic and mobile, a similar body of work to Hurts. When you have a quarterback like Hurts, having someone behind him who can come in and play to the same play style is important. Milton has the chance to develop into a solid backup, and it’s tough not to see Roseman not being attracted to his skillset.
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