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Ranking The Eagles 7 Biggest Needs Heading Into The Draft

Placeholder Shilloutte User Image By and Dylan MacKinnon
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - OCTOBER 09: General manager Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia Eagles during the NFL game at State Farm Stadium on October 09, 2022 in Glendale, Arizona. The Eagles defeated the Cardinals 20-17.

You hate to say the Eagles are going into a draft with major needs. Preferably, you have no glaring holes to fill and can draft the best player available. That may not exactly be a luxury for them this year though.

The defense is still a work in progress, and even the offense has some dents that need to be addressed. When you are coming off a season like the Eagles had last year, there are going to be flaws that need to be sorted out. And even after a very busy free agency period, they still have some obvious flaws heading into the draft.

Does that mean you reach to fill a need? No. That is what gets you in serious trouble. the eagles did that with Jalen Reagor, and it burnt them. They did it with Marcus Smith, and they paid the price for it. Even when you have major needs, you still need to stick to your draft board.

The Eagles Need To Target The Player Who Helps Them The Most

INDIANAPOLIS, IN - MAR 02: General Manager, Howie Roseman of the Philadelphia speaks to reporters during the NFL Draft Combine at the Indiana Convention Center on March 2, 2022 in Indianapolis, Indiana.

That said, if you have two players at the top of your board, and one is a bigger need than the other one, the tie goes to the one you need more. It’s why I don’t like the term “best player available.” I prefer to say “best value available.” Which player will add the most present, and future value, to your team?

The best player on the board might be a QB. But what value would that QB add to the Eagles right now? Just because someone is the “best player” does not mean they are the one who would help you the most. You need to balance both who the best player is, and who will help your team the most. need plays a part in that.

So what needs do the Eagles have heading into Thursday night? Should they focus more on defense, or is offense the place where they need the most help?

For More Draft Content, Check Out The Following Articles:

Here Are The Eagles 7 Biggest Needs Heading Into The Draft:

 

  • 1) Cornerback

    For me, corner is far and away their biggest need. Apart from Darius Slay, they don’t have any other guys I can say I trust to be a starting outside corner. There are guys with potential, like Kelee Ringo and Eli Ricks. But I would not be comfortable banking the 2024 season on those guys being ready to start.

    Does that mean they have to take a corner in the 1st round? No. But I do think they pretty much have to leave the draft with a good corner prospect. It is a very good position this year, with multiple starter quality guys at the top of the board. Even into the 2nd round, there might be guys like Max Melton available. If they went O-Line, or D-Lineat pick 22, then got Melton at pick 50, I would be happy. But if they go into day 3, without adding a corner, I am going to be very worried about their defense next year.

    They still could make a trade after the draft. But is not guaranteed there will be a guy available, and that they will be the team to land him. The simplest way to address the need is to spend one of your top picks on a corner.

    James Palmer on Twitter: "The #eagles have hosted pretty much all of the top CBs in this year's draft. They've really done their work on the position and at #22, could be in a good spot to land one. The Eagles have not drafted a CB in the 1st round since Lito Sheppard 26th overall in 2002 from Florida / Twitter"

    The #eagles have hosted pretty much all of the top CBs in this year's draft. They've really done their work on the position and at #22, could be in a good spot to land one.

  • 2) Offensive Line

    O-Line may not be an immediate need. There are 4 starters set in stone. And at RG, Tyler Steen is a viable option. But they could improve at RG still, and they need to start thinking about the future at RT.

    A tackle, who could play RG for the time being, would be ideal to grab at some point in this draft. Does it need to be round 1? I don’t think so. The Eagles have done some of their best work at O-Line outside the 1st round. Landon Dickerson and Cam Jurgens were 2nd round picks. Jordan Mailata was a 7th-round pick. Jason Kelce was a 6th-round pick. It is the position they are best at evaluating.  Which gives me more confidence they can address it on day 2 or 3.

    Still, they should, and in all likelihood will, come out of this draft with an Offensive Lineman. It is just a matter of what pick they use to do so.

    97.5 The Fanatic on Twitter: ""They have shown their history... If it is close between two prospects, they will go O-Line, or D-Line." -@DZangaroNBCS with @975BestShowEver 📸-Wesley Hitt/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/dXVzu8R2DQ / Twitter"

    "They have shown their history... If it is close between two prospects, they will go O-Line, or D-Line." -@DZangaroNBCS with @975BestShowEver 📸-Wesley Hitt/Getty Images pic.twitter.com/dXVzu8R2DQ

     

  • 3) Linebacker

    As of now, the Eagles Linebackers will be Nakobe Dean and Devin White. Two guys with huge upsides, but also huge question marks. Not to mention it is only a 1 year deal for white. even if he plays great next year, he is not a long-term answer.

    Their LB play was terrible last year. Dean was injured most of the year, and no one else played well enough. It killed them on a week-to-week basis as teams picked them apart over the middle of the field. And at least so far, they have brought in no sure things to address the need.

    A LB in round 2 won’t exactly be a sure thing. But if you land a Junior Colson or an Edgerrin Cooper, you are far more comfortable with the linebacker room than you are right now. They can’t go into another season with huge question marks in the linebacker room.

    Marcus Mosher on Twitter: "The @PFF stable metrics for Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper are INSANE:98th percentile run stop %97th percentile run defense grade96th percentile coverage grade95th percentile forced inc. %95th percentile box cov. grade pic.twitter.com/CAf32Yn1p8 / Twitter"

    The @PFF stable metrics for Texas A&M LB Edgerrin Cooper are INSANE:98th percentile run stop %97th percentile run defense grade96th percentile coverage grade95th percentile forced inc. %95th percentile box cov. grade pic.twitter.com/CAf32Yn1p8

     

  • 4) Safety

    Adding CJ Gardner Johnson was a great move. His playmaking ability, and his penchant for hard hits, were such an asset in 2022. We saw the fall off at Safety for the Eagles last season. Bringing him in makes me comfortable that they have at least 1 starting caliber safety.

    The issue is who the other Safety will be. Reed Blankenship was not impressive in year 2. That doesn’t mean you give up on him, because he has upside. But I don’t know if I can trust him as the other starter next season. The same goes for Sydney Brown.

    I really like Brown, and think he will be a very good safety. but he will miss the start of the season, and has question marks as well. Adding another quality Safety would go a long way to making me more comfortable about the Eagles secondary next year.

    NFL on Twitter: "SYDNEY BROWN 99-YARD PICK-6! @Eagles📺: #AZvsPHI on FOX📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/6ZTtVKPu9a / Twitter"

    SYDNEY BROWN 99-YARD PICK-6! @Eagles📺: #AZvsPHI on FOX📱: Stream on #NFLPlus https://t.co/sFjqko01pD pic.twitter.com/6ZTtVKPu9a

  • 5) Edge Rusher

    Edge Rusher didn’t need to be a need, but Howie might have made it one. He traded away a sure thing in Haason Reddick, to bank on riskier plays in bryce Huff, Nolan Smith, and Josh Sweat.

    This could be Sweat’s last season with the Eagles, and he only has 1 double-digit sack season. Huff also only has 1 and was a rotational player last year. We don’t know for sure if he will hold up in a full-time role. And Nolan Smith is all upside after riding the bench for most of last season.

    Those 3 could be a deadly pass-rush rotation. But that is no sure thing. And only 2 of them are long-term answers. Edge Rusher is not a pressing need. But adding another 1 to the mix certainly wouldn’t hurt.

    Dylan MacKinnon on Twitter: "Josh Sweat, Bryce Huff, and Nolan Smith have 47.5 combined sacks over the last 4 seasons.Haason Reddick alone has 50.5 in that same time. 9 combined seasons, vs 4. Sweat and Huff each only have 1 double digit sack season. Reddick has 4. Nolan Smith has 1 career sack. / Twitter"

    Josh Sweat, Bryce Huff, and Nolan Smith have 47.5 combined sacks over the last 4 seasons.Haason Reddick alone has 50.5 in that same time. 9 combined seasons, vs 4. Sweat and Huff each only have 1 double digit sack season. Reddick has 4. Nolan Smith has 1 career sack.

  • 6) Tight End

    Tight End is a sneaky need. Brent Celek and Zach Ertz were both 28 when the Eagles the next Tight End. Dallas Goedert is 29, and missed time in 3 straight seasons with injuries. And when Goedert did miss games, the Eagles got pretty much nothing out of the other TEs.

    It is something to keep an eye on. with everyone healthy, they don’t need another pass-catching option right now. But the depth behind those main options is nearly nonexistent.

    I won’t be shocked if they take a TE in the 2nd round. It is not a lock, and there may be better uses of that asset. But TE is a need, and they might start looking for Goedert’s replacement soon.

    Big 12 Conference on Twitter: ".@TexasFootball - Ja'Tavion Sanders' 18-yard touchdown 🔥#Big12FB x @OldTrapper x @TexasLonghorns pic.twitter.com/vMN8KJbZO1 / Twitter"

    @TexasFootball - Ja'Tavion Sanders' 18-yard touchdown 🔥#Big12FB x @OldTrapper x @TexasLonghorns pic.twitter.com/vMN8KJbZO1

  • 7) Slot Wide Receiver

    In the same vein as the Tight ends, a slot WR is also a sneaky need. AJ Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and Saquon Barkley should be enough. But if any of them miss a game, which Barkley and Goedert are known to do, suddenly they can get in trouble.

    Finding a slot R, on day 3, would be a very good idea. Quez Watkins didn’t work out, but targeting a guy like him was the right idea. Go get some speedy WR from a smaller school, and see if he turns into something. Someone like Jacob Cowing, who showed blazing speed at Arizona last year.

    CBS Sports on Twitter: "Jacob Cowing is making quite a debut for @ArizonaFBall. THREE TD. pic.twitter.com/zIyUKDHAQE / Twitter"

    Jacob Cowing is making quite a debut for @ArizonaFBall. THREE TD. pic.twitter.com/zIyUKDHAQE

  • 8) Running Back

    Saquon Barkley will get the bulk of the carries, and the ones he doesn’t get will go to Kenny Gainwell. The 3rd RB will likely ride the bench most games. But with Barkley’s injury history, and Gainwell not being an every-down back, they need a solid 3rd option.

    That could be a late day 3 pick, it might even be a UDFA. but they need someone behind Barkley and Gainwell, who could handle 10 carries a game in the event Barkley misses a game. Someone like Isaac Guerendo out of Louisville.

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