Eagles 7-round mock draft: Round 2 trade-up for a speedy receiver (2024)

Draft week is finally here. After weeks of speculation and analysis, it’s time to make a final projection of how this year’s NFL Draft will play out for the Philadelphia Eagles.

They’re a team entering a new era of player leadership. Jason Kelce and Fletcher Cox have retired. A young core whose early success yielded a Super Bowl LVII appearance has been infused with a talent-laden free-agency pool and, together, they already form a top-five roster, according to a projection model by The Athletic’s Austin Mock.

General manager Howie Roseman oversees a personnel department that considers roster decisions with a full view of the future in mind. But this is a team capable of immediately competing for an NFC title. Skillful selections in the upcoming draft could further solidify that sentiment by fortifying weaknesses (mostly on defense) that may otherwise complicate the franchise’s hopes for 2024.

Is that too much to suggest? Roseman once again referenced the paradox of expecting too much of an incoming rookie. “This is the only profession,” Roseman said last week, “where you take someone out of college and you expect them to be great, and, if they are not great, you criticize them for not being great.”

But the Eagles are in no need of a savior. They are a battered battalion in need of new recruits. With that in mind, let’s take one last crack at what calls might be made.

Round 1, No. 22: Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

I couldn’t help but make this pick. I’ve made it before, more than a month ago. My reasoning hasn’t changed. The Eagles fielded the NFL’s second-worst passing defense in 2023. If they don’t make a significant offseason investment at cornerback, they likely 1) believe James Bradberry will bounce back after regressing last season, 2) have faith in unproven youngsters like Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks and Isaiah Rodgers, and 3) have confidence that defensive coordinator Vic Fangio’s system is better equipped to minimize explosive pass plays.

That’s too many unpredictable variables for me. Why not instead shore up the position with a premier player who seems to fit the “dog mentality” the Eagles say they’re looking for in a defender? DeJean is “one of the best tackling defensive backs in the class and shows playmaking skills in coverage,” The Athletic’s Dane Brugler wrote in “The Beast.” DeJean, who returned a punt for a touchdown in 2023, also has a knack for creating turnovers in a way the Eagles lacked last season. He totaled seven interceptions and three defensive touchdowns at Iowa.

But I should add that I tried notto make this pick. The Eagles firmly believe the foundation of their team is their offensive and defensive lines, and there’s still no certainty who they’ll play at right guard. Cam Jurgens will play center (among other blatant signs, the Eagles moved Jurgens into Kelce’s old locker). The organization must also consider a succession plan for All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson, who’s entering his age-34 season and is under contract through 2026.

That makes this draft cycle’s overabundance of offensive tackles particularly alluring. Brugler mocked Georgia’s Amarius Mims to the Eagles at No. 22. But I find myself disagreeing with the notion that there’s more value in letting an inexperienced albeit freakishly gifted athlete (who’s never played guard) make use of the organization’s developmental philosophy behind Johnson, when the same philosophy can be applied to DeJean. He could contribute immediately while benefitting from the mentorship of six-time Pro Bowler Darius Slay, who remains under contract through 2025.

Identifying a successor for Johnson is indeed important. The Eagles are 14-22 when he doesn’t play. But they were also 1-4 last season when Slay wasn’t on the field, which allowed opponents to exploit Philadelphia’s inability to wield Slay’s flexibility for important coverage matchups. It can also be argued that the Eagles already have a stopgap guard and future tackle in 2023 third-rounder Tyler Steen (who moved into Jurgens’ locker). I couldn’t find a logical trade partner for a more flexible upgrade like Washington’s Troy Fautanu. The Seattle Seahawks (No. 16) seem to be interested in adding a second-round pick, and parting with No. 50 or No. 53 appears too costly.

Round 2, No. 42 (from Texans): Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas

Eagles trade pick No. 50 along with a 2026 fourth-rounder and a swap of No. 120 for No. 123 to Texans for No. 42

Let’s try this trade a different way. As stated previously, GMs often trade with those they’ve dealt with before. Roseman and Texans general manager Nick Caserio have been draft-day trade partners four times in the last two cycles. But in this mock trade, instead of securing a defensive back, the Eagles move up to opportunistically snag Worthy in a scenario in which the speediest wideout in NFL combine history (4.21 seconds in the 40-yard dash) falls to the second round.

Rumors persist that Worthy may be a Day 1 pick, but Brugler and Mock have the All-American falling out of the first round. The Eagles can further equip offensive coordinator Kellen Moore, who already has one of the NFL’s most dynamic duos (A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith), with the No. 3 receiver the offense was missing in 2023. Moore’s system usually fields three receivers who log at least 38 receptions in a given season. Worthy’s versatility as an inside-outside option can supply Jalen Hurts with more options across the passing grid.

Round 3, No. 71 (from Cardinals): Dominick Puni, G, Kansas

Eagles trade pick No. 53 to Cardinals for Nos. 71 and 90. They later also trade pick No. 90 to Dolphins for third- and fifth-round picks in 2025

After considering the options available late in the second round, it became sensible to sell pick No. 53 for future draft capital. The Eagles only have six picks in 2025. So, in search of trade partners, I first settled on the Arizona Cardinals. GM Monti Ossenfort and coach Jonathan Gannon are entering their second year together, and it’s reasonable to suggest the Cardinals will use their surplus of 10 draft picks in 2024 to trade up for players who can help accelerate their rebuild.

Roseman and Dolphins GM Chris Grier have also hashed out deals before. The Eagles traded their No. 6 overall selection to the Dolphins in 2021 and picked up that year’s No. 12 pick and a 2022 first-rounder. They once again work with the Dolphins to add to their 2025 arsenal of picks.

I briefly considered using the No. 53 pick to trade up for Kansas State’s Cooper Beebe. He’s a two-time All-American whose versatility makes him a fit for the Eagles. But Philly’s draft capital was running low, and, even as a faux general manager, I guess I have to consider the possibility of getting fired. So, I exercised some frugality and foresight and picked from a sizable pool of Day 2 offensive linemen. Puni’s initial obscurity as a no-star signee with Division II Central Missouri, plus his relation to a football family (Buffalo Bills edge rusher A.J. Epenesa is Puni’s cousin), also seemed like character qualities the Eagles valued in Kelce.

Brugler: “Puni will get himself in trouble bending at the waist or letting his pads rise, but he plays big, powerful and sends a harsh message with his hands while staying controlled through contact. He can play tackle, if needed, but projects best as an NFL starting guard or center.”

Round 4, No. 101 (from Panthers, via Texans):Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson

Eagles trade Nos. 123, 161 and 171 to Panthers for No. 101

I still like this trade. I don’t think GMs like going into Day 3 with as vast a gap as the Eagles would have from pick No. 71 to No. 123. So, again, the trade was just about positioning. And,again, Trotter made sense considering the uncertainties the Eagles still have at linebacker.

Trotter, the son of a former Philly icon and four-time Pro Bowler, was a two-time All-American who would supply some competitive heat behind Nakobe Dean and Devin White. Roseman, when asked specifically about the unique situation of evaluating Trotter, acknowledged that he’s “biased toward our hometown players” and “biased toward the people who have a legacy with this franchise.”

“I do think it’s a plus,” Roseman said. “It’s a plus to bring someone in this atmosphere who understands what it’s like. This is the best atmosphere in the National Football League.”

Round 5, No. 172: Javon Solomon, Edge, Troy

Even if all goes well for the Eagles at edge rusher in 2024, they still could use more depth. The Athletic’s Bruce Feldman placed Solomon on his 2023 “freaks list” for bench-pressing 420 pounds, deadlifting 615 and having just 7 percent body fat. The 6-foot-1, 246-pound outside linebacker led the FBS with 16 sacks last season and also totaled 18 tackles for loss. He’d give Fangio yet another explosive weapon along the edge with top speed that was logged at 21.63 mph.

Brugler: “Solomon has a unique collection of traits in a smaller-framed body, but he is disproportionally long with the bend, burst and motor that make him a pass-rushing pest. He can play on special teams and earn a rotational role on defense, like how James Houston is deployed by the Detroit Lions.”

Round 6, No. 210: Evan Williams, S, Oregon

The only designated safeties on the Eagles’ roster suffered season-ending injuries in 2023. C.J. Gardner-Johnson (torn pectoral), Reed Blankenship (groin) and Sydney Brown (ACL) should form a formidable rotation when healthy. But the Eagles know to bolster their depth in the secondary after fielding 10 different starting configurations last season. Williams missed eight games himself due to various injuries across five seasons. Still, his “physical, rugged demeanor” and “strong football IQ,” per Brugler, suggest he’s a good late-round option for the Eagles, although “he has a tough time locating the ball downfield, and his coverage busts lead to big plays for the offense.”

Brugler: “Williams doesn’t have playmaking instincts in the deep half of the field, but he is an energetic field presence with a trigger and toughness that are easy to appreciate. He projects as a backup strong safety and core special-teamer in the mold of (Los Angeles Chargers safety) Alohi Gilman.”

(Top photo of Xavier Worthy: Tim Warner / Getty Images)