With the 2023 NFL Draft just weeks away, mock drafts are releasing left and right. Analysts and experts are predicting all 31 picks for the first round. While many teams in the top ten have a recurring predictions in mocks, experts are disagreeing which way the Eagles will go. This has led to an Eagles mock draft roundup of how experts are predicting the team’s first round will shape up.

The Eagle are entering this year’s draft with six picks, but that is subject to change. Key losses in free agency have the team’s brass searching for replacements on the defensive side of the ball. Javon Hargrave singed with San Francisco 49ers, CJ Gardner-Johnson signed with Detroit Lions, Marcus Epps signed with Las Vegas Raiders, TJ Edwards signed with the Chicago Bears and Kyzir White signed with the Arizona Cardinals. These departures have led to beliefs that the team will plausibly address the defense in round one.

Chad Reuter, NFL Network

Pick 23: Adetomiwa Adebawore, DT, Northwestern

“Whether the Eagles employ Adebawore at 3-technique or on the edge, the ultra-athletic 282-pounder will play with leverage and hustle to the ball.”

Pick 38: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

Pick 62: Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M

Pick 87: Henry To’oTo’o, LB, Alabama

Pick 94: Zach Harrison, EDGE, Ohio State

Pick 109: Braeden Daniels, OT, Senior

Analysis

To kick thing this Eagles mock draft roundup, we dive right into Chad Reuter’s four-round mock draft on NFL.com. In Reuter’s mock draft, he has the Eagles moving back twice in the first round, ultimately collecting more picks for the later rounds. Right now, the Eagles are entering the draft with six picks, so it definitely likely that this could happen. Eagles executive vice president/general manager Howie Roseman is known for his draft day trades. He’s made three trades on draft day in the past two years. With their lack of picks currently, I’d expect some movement in the first round.

Reuter projects the Eagles to select Northwestern’s Adetomiwa Adebawore with their singular first round pick. Adebawore lit up the combine. The result of trading back left the Eagles with two second-round picks, which they use to address needs. With their first second-round pick, they take running back Jahmyr Gibbs and safety Antonio Johnson. Gibbs is often being mocked to the Eagles at pick 30, so grabbing him at pick 38 feels like a steal. On the other side of the ball, Johnson fills a need in the secondary that was left by Gardner-Johnson, who departed to the Lions on a one-year, $6 million contract.

Draft Haul Grade: A

Daniel Jeremiah, NFL Network

Pick 10: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

“The Eagles always focus on the line of scrimmage, and Van Ness has the versatility to play inside or outside. Brandon Graham and Fletcher Cox both were re-signed this offseason, but they’re playing on one-year deals.”

Pick 30: Felix Anudike-Uzomah, EDGE, Kansas State

“The Eagles double down on defensive linemen. Anudike-Uzomah is a gifted edge rusher and posted excellent numbers over the last two seasons. GM Howie Roseman doesn’t believe you can have too many pass rushers.”

Analysis

Jeremiah gives the Eagles two gifted edge rushers at picks ten and 30. Lukas Van Ness has been linked to the Eagles, as they have recently brought him in for a Top 30 visit. But this is the first of Felix Anudike-Uzomah being linked to the team. While I believe they could look that direction with their first pick, I can’t envision the team spending both picks on the same position. There are too many other needs.

Draft Haul Grade: C

Bucky Brooks, NFL Network

Pick 10: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Geogia

“The freak athlete could serve as an apprentice to Brandon Graham for a season before cracking the lineup as a full-time starter and disruptive playmaker on the edges.”

Pick 30: Mazi Smith, DT, Michigan

“The Eagles’ defensive-line rotation is loaded with players possessing A-plus athletic traits and imposing physical dimensions. At 6-3, 323 pounds, Smith is a freak athlete with heavy hands and impressive body control.”

Analysis

Brooks fills the Eagles’ defensive needs in round one, as he addressed the defensive line with both picks. Recent buzz surrounding Nolan Smith now projects him to be selected within the top ten picks. The ultra-athletic edge rusher has received multiple comparisons to Eagles’ Haason Reddick. Roseman could fall in love with the idea of Smith and Reddick forcing constant pressure on the outside.

Brooks’ next pick is an athletic DT that has been rising throughout the draft process. Mazi Smith not only fills a hole on the defensive front, but also gives the Eagles rotational depth alongside Jordan Davis.

Draft Haul Grade: A-

Todd McShay, ESPN+

Pick 10: Lukas Van Ness, EDGE, Iowa

“Van Ness has the arm length and foot speed to dominate off the edge, and I love the versatility that comes with his game. He’s arguably even more effective rushing the passer as a 3-technique. Philadelphia lost Javon Hargrave and re-signed Fletcher Cox to only a one-year deal, so I could see Van Ness and Jordan Davis wreaking havoc from the interior. GM Howie Roseman loves building up the trenches, and Van Ness can make an immediate impact there after 14 sacks over two seasons at Iowa.”

Pick 30: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State

“Let’s double-dip on pass-rushers for the Eagles in Round 1 (they landed Van Ness at No. 10). It was one of the team’s biggest strengths last season with an NFL-high 70 sacks, but Philly could use more depth there. Brandon Graham re-upped with the Eagles, but he’s 34 years old. Robert Quinn might be out the door after he was acquired last November. With long arms and plenty of explosion, McDonald hunts quarterbacks. He picked up 27 sacks and 35.5 tackles for loss over the past three seasons and could be a Day 1 contributor as a rotational pass-rusher before developing into a starter off the edge to replace some of the aging players in this unit.”

Analysis

Like Jeremiah, McShay doubles down on edge rushers in the first round. However, his selection at 30 differs, as McDonald is a new face mocked to the Eagles. Despite being recognized as an undersized pass rusher, McDonald rushers the passer equivalently to his counterpart selected at ten.

Draft Haul Grade: C+

Ryan Wilson, CBS Sports

Pick 10: Devon Witherspoon, CB, Illinois

“The Eagles could choose to go EDGE here, but the top three are already off the board, and maybe even running back Bijan Robinson is a consideration. Instead, Philly restocks the secondary with Devon Witherspoon, who will be in the running for CB1. He played at 180 pounds during the fall but he came in at 185 and blazed a 4.40 at a recent workout, solidifying his place as one of the best defensive players in this class.”

Pick 30: BJ Ojulari, EDGE, LSU

“Ojulari, whose brother played at Georgia and currently plays for the Giants, had a solid campaign for LSU — and he has many of the same explosive qualities that made his brother so hard to block for the Bulldogs. Ojulari could end up being better than Azeez, and that’s saying something.”

Analysis:

Early in the draft process, Devon Witherspoon was the most commonly mocked player at pick ten. Those projections have cooled off a little bit, in part to the Eagles retaining their James Bradberry and Darius Slay. Still, Wilson has the Eagles opting to select the feisty coverage corner from Illinois. His play style and attitude should fit in Philadelphia nicely, and he could provide youth to an aging group of cornerbacks.

With their second pick, Wilson projects the Eagles to address the pass rush position. The team recently hosted Ojulari for a Top 30 visit, per reports from Aaron Wilson. So, the interest is definitely there.

Draft Haul Grade: B-

Eagles draft: Could front office opt for OL depth?

Takeaways

Based off the collection of picks, it is evident among experts that the Eagles could address the defensive side of the ball with both first-round picks. In the five mock drafts reviewed, all of the first round picks were used for defense. It’s fitting though, as most of the Eagles’ departures in free agency affected the defense.

Nonetheless, as the countdown continues, more rumors will continue to swirl, and more mock drafts will continue to drop. Right now, it seems apparent that the Eagles will go the defensive route at least once in the first round. And that’s if they decide to keep both picks. We’ll have to wait and see.

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