Eagles Mock Draft Roundup: Projecting Philly's Pick at No. 30
Quite a bit of time, understandably so, has been dedicated in this year's NFL Draft cycle to what the Philadelphia Eagles will do with the No. 10 overall pick.
However, they also have their own original first-round pick, which comes in at No. 30.
While trading down is always a legitimate consideration late in the first round -- the Eagles did as much in 2018, trading the No. 32 pick to the Baltimore Ravens who selected Lamar Jackson -- it's also an opportunity to get a fifth-year option on a second prospect.
Should the Eagles retain the 30th selection, here's what experts think Howie Roseman and company might do with the pick.
Charles Davis of NFL Media: Jalin Hyatt, WR, Tennessee
Since Jalen Hurts took over as the starting quarterback for the Eagles, the franchise has made major investments at the wide receiver position, using the No. 10 overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft on DeVonta Smith and then trading a first rounder to the Titans last year to acquire A.J. Brown. For the second year in a row, Davis suggests that the Eagles could look to the state of Tennessee for help at the receiver position. This time around, it would by Hyatt, who averaged 18.9 yards per reception in his final season for the Volunteers.
Kyle Yates of Pro Football Network: Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
Smith has been a popular name to mock to the Eagles over the past month, and it's hard to argue with doing so. Brandon Graham, a first-round pick all the way back in 2010, could pass the baton to Smith. The former Georgia Bulldog would be reunited with both Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean if selected by the Eagles.
Justin Melo of The Draft Network: Deonte Banks, CB, Maryland
At times it seemed unlikely, but Darius Slay and James Bradberry will return as the starting cornerback duo for the Eagles in 2023. With that said, Slay is now 32 and Bradberry will turn 30 in August. Sometimes, it makes sense to draft a cornerback a year too early, rather than a year too late.
Brad Spielberger of Pro Football Focus: Adetomiwa Adebawore, EDGE, Northwestern
This past weekend, we wrote about a rumor that Roseman "absolutely loves" Adebawore, so it's not shocking to see him here. Spielberger has an interesting explanation for Adebawore's relatively pedestrian college stats -- 24.5 tackles for a loss, 12.5 sacks and four forced fumbles in four seasons at Northwestern -- saying that he "belong as a three-technique interior defender at the next level," rather than being an edge defender.
Dane Brugler of The Athletic: Brian Branch, S, Alabama
Branch was a force in his final collegiate season, earning First-Team All-American honors after recording 14 tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, three sacks and two interceptions for the Crimson Tide. Both C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps departed in free agency, so safety is one of the biggest positions of needs for the Eagles.
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