Eagles Mock Draft Roundup: The big week is finally here

Nobody knows what the Birds will do

The NFL Draft is finally here this week. One last mock draft Monday, until we start on the 2025 mocks next Monday. I’m kidding.

For weeks we’ve run through mock drafts and they usually fell in line with a prospect of the week, almost always a cornerback. For a while it was Quinyon Mitchell, then it was Kool-Aid McKinstry. Nate Wiggins and Cooper DeJean each got a run. Now we are days away from the draft and no one is quite sure what the Eagles will do, there is no consensus.

Jonathan Jones, CBS

16 – CB Quinyon Mitchell, Toledo

GM Howie Roseman is a regular draft-day-trader-upper, so why would 2024 be any different? Seeing the first corner go off the board, he makes a move quickly to get ahead of Jacksonville and get Mitchell.

This could be the move. The steam is picking up on the Eagles moving up. Seattle has no 2nd round pick, their wait from 16 to 81 isn’t the longest scheduled gap but it’s not ideal and the Seahawks usually move around the draft. In this mock Terrion Arnold goes at 15, I can see Howie Roseman trading for Mitchell in that scenario.

Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News

22 – OT Amarius Mims, Georgia

The Eagles should think about getting a cornerback even if Mitchell is off the board but they could also stash some needed tackle depth in this potential successor to right tackle Lane Johnson, who turns 34 in May.

I am on board with Mims. I would not at all be surprised if that is who they move up for.

Dane Brugler, The Athletic

7 rounds!

22 – OT Amarius Mims, Georgia

This would be an ideal landing spot for the inexperienced Mims. After making just eight starts at Georgia, he can earn his graduate degree from “Stoutland University” (under the watchful eye of Eagles O-line coach Jeff Stoutland) before taking over for Lane Johnson as the right tackle of the future. The Athens-to-Philadelphia pipeline remains fruitful.

50 – LB Junior Colson, Michigan

53 – S Javon Bullard, Georgia

120 – WR Jalen McMillian, Washington

161 – EDGE Xavier Thomas, Clemson

171 – CB MJ Devonshire, Pittsburgh

172 – G Gottlieb Ayedze, Maryland

210 – WR Ryan Flournoy, SE Missouri State

The second round picks are a reach. Multiple WRs in one draft isn’t out of the ordinary for Howie Roseman, he took Jordan Matthews (2nd round) and Josh Huff (3rd round) in 2014; Mack Hollins (4th) and Shelton Gibson (5th) in 2017; and Jalen Reagor (1st), John Hightower (5th), and Quez Watkins (6th) in 2020. With only AJ Brown and Devonta Smith under contract for 2025, and this draft deep at WR, two are in play.

Josh Edwards, CBS

Another 7 rounder!

22 – EDGE Jared Verse, FSU

Philadelphia always values the offensive and defensive lines in the first round. The Eagles are often a franchise positioned to take value when it is presented to them and that is exactly what Jared Verse represents at this stage of the first round.

50 – CB Max Melton, Rutgers

53 – WR Troy Franklin, Oregon

120 – LB Jeremiah Trotter Jr., Clemson

161 – G Layden Robinson, Texas A&M

171 – TE Erik All, Iowa

172 – DT Marcus Harris, Auburn

210 – S Daijahn Anthony, Ole Miss

In a vacuum no problem with Verse at 22 but with Terrion Arnold and Amarius Mims are on the board here. I like the Melton, Franklin, and All picks, and Robinson makes sense. Marcus Harris weighed 286 at the Combine, the fourth lightest DT, if the Eagles draft a DT it’s probably one with bulk to who can play backup NT.

Chad Reuter, NFL

Yet another 7 rounder!

16 – EDGE Jared Verse, FSU

53 – G Zak Zinter, Michigan

120 – WR Brenden Rice, USC

161 – CB Kalen King, PSU

171 – WR Anthony Gould, Oregon State

172 – TE Dallin Hooker, Colorado State

210 – OT Frank Crum, Wyoming

Trading up for Verse would be a shock. Zak Zinter is not going in the 2nd round. Rice and Gould both fit the profile of speedy reserve WRs that the Eagles like. Kalen King, no thank you.

None of these 7 rounders have the Eagles taking a RB. The Eagles are taking a RB.

NBC Sports Philadelphia Staff

CB Nate Wiggins, Clemson

I don’t mind national mock drafters who have to spit them out on a weekly basis mocking Wiggins. The locals though, do better.

Kurt Popejoy, DraftWire

CB Terrion Arnold, Alabama

The Eagles get a nice upgrade at cornerback here with Arnold who is a gifted athlete.

I have a hard time seeing Arnold being available at 22.

Chris Trapasso, CBS

22 – EDGE Chop Robinson, PSU

Howie Roseman loves drafting defensive linemen in Round 1, and Robinson and Nolan Smith can star as the explosive, bendy rushers in Philadelphia for the next decade.

50 – CB Ennis Rakestraw, Missouri

The Eagles should be thrilled if this cover man ends up slipping. Rakestraw makes plays as a fearless, aggressive tracker of downfield receivers.

53 – EDGE Adisa Isaac, PSU

After landing Bryce Huff in free agency, Isaac can give Philadelphia a little more pop in Vic Fangio’s 3-4 defense along with Josh Sweat.

The Eagles already have a Chop Robinson type in Nolan Smith, they don’t need another. Every year there are players who end the season as top 50-ish picks and then the draft rolls around and they’re not a top 50-ish pick. Rakestraw is one of those players this year, as he didn’t test well, is small, and has had injuries. The tape is good, but in a crowded field someone will suffer. Isaac is a reach at 53. This is a bad edge rusher draft, no thank you to taking both Penn State ends.

I will end with the worst one I’ve seen all year:

Austin Mock, The Athletic

A mock drafter named Mock, this is heaven. The mock draft, not so much.

DT Jer’Zhan Newton, Illinois

It wasn’t long ago that Newton was considered the top defensive tackle in this draft class. He’s slipped a little during the draft process but still comes in as a top-25 prospect on our big board. The Eagles love drafting premier positions in the first round, and Newton fits the bill. Throw in the fact they just lost Fletcher Cox to retirement, and this pick as his replacement is easy to defend.

The Eagles are not taking a DT in the 1st round. With 5 DT draft picks on the roster, and the back of the draft lacking in NT types, I’d be surprised if they take one at all. Several other picks in this draft are really bad, such as the Patriots not drafting a QB or trading their pick, the Bills taking an OT, and the Falcons taking a CB. Time to update your projection model Austin.