With the NFL Draft so close, many teams will have to start asking themselves whether they want to make a playoff push or start a rebuild. That question couldn’t be more pressing for the Philadelphia Eagles. A year after nearly winning a Super Bowl, the Eagles floundered in the second half of the season and were trounced in the first round of the playoffs by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
In the offseason, the Eagles lost All-Pro center Jason Kelce as well. With uncertainty about head coach Nick Sirianni as well as quarterback Jalen Hurts, this could be a draft where the Eagles decide to play it safe, trade back, and acquire more picks for the future.
Of course, the extension they handed to DeVonta Smith and the addition of Saquon Barkley could also be indicators that the opposite will happen. They could very well still be in win-now mode, looking to trade up and secure a piece that could help push them over the edge and win a Super Bowl this year. Obviously, we’ll have no way of knowing until all is said and done. However, that uncertainty has led to many different opinions on what the Eagles will do this weekend.
Here are the latest predictions on who the Eagles will pick in the first round.
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Michael Middlehurst-Schwartz writes, “After breaking from his ways to sign Saquon Barkley, Howie Roseman gets back to business with his standard approach. Lane Johnson has already mentored Guyton and could pass the torch at right tackle to his Sooner protégé. Philadelphia also has long planned ahead in its investments along the offensive line.”
The PFF staff writes, “Lane Johnson, 34, isn’t getting any younger and has dealt with injuries in three of the past five seasons. At 6-foot-7 and 340 pounds, Mims is raw but an impressive pass blocker, allowing just one pressure on 168 such snaps last year. A season of him developing behind Johnson should set up the Eagles’ offensive line nicely for the next several years.”
Rang writes, “At first glance, the Eagles would appear to be as loaded at cornerback as any team in the NFL, boasting two quality starters in Darius Slay and James Bradberry and plenty of depth behind them. Nevertheless, Philadelphia allowed 35 passing touchdowns in 2023 (second-most in the NFL to Washington’s 39) with just nine interceptions. With Slay and Bradberry both due millions and on the wrong side of 30 years old, GM Howie Roseman would love to see Arnold — the top corner on some boards — still available.”
Edholm writes, “The Eagles have two second-rounders; Denver has zero. A trade here makes sense for both teams if the Eagles are determined to land one of the two top corners. After Mitchell went off the board one pick before, GM Howie Roseman swoops up to nab yet another Alabama player. Some things never change.”
Chris Simms states, “I think you could argue this is the best player in the draft. Good corners are not easy to find. This guy is special, and I think the Eagles are going to make a move here with their embarrassment of riches.”
According to latest NFL Draft odds from BetMGM, the Philadelphia Eagles are favored to take an offensive lineman. Looking to wager? Check out the best mobile sports betting apps offering NFL betting promos in 2024.
Odds say the Eagles are most likely to take a cornerback (+100) with their first round pick. The next most likely positions are as follows: offensive line (+200), defensive line/edge (+225), and wide receiver (+3000)
Where: Campus Marius Park at Hart Plaza in Detroit, Michigan
When: April 25-27, 2024
Time: 12 p.m. ET/9 a.m. PT
TV: ESPN, ABC, NFL Network
Stream: NFL+, ESPN+, fuboTV
How to watch: Catch the NFL Draft this year with a subscription to fuboTV
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