Eagles Draft: Top 10 Day 2 Targets - Another Georgia Pick?

PHILADELPHIA - Lost in the mix of a productive Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft for the Philadelphia Eagles was the shuffling of the board on Day 2 tied to the tampering of the Arizona Cardinals.

The Cardinals got their hands caught in the cookie jar when it came to the timing of their first contact with Jonathan Gannon, Arizona's new head coach and the former defensive coordinator in Philadelphia.

The Eagles were able to reach what was described as a “settlement,” moving from the back end of the third round (No. 94) to the front end (No. 66) by also sending along a 2024 fifth-round pick to Arizona all because Cardinals GM Monti Ossenfort had an itchy trigger finger and got Gannon on the phone after the NFC Championship Game instead of waiting until Super Bowl LVII was finished.

As an aside to that the news that Gannon was going to become the next head coach of the Cardinals was floating around Phoenix the day before the big game so Ossenfort, a rookie GM, will likely learn to be a little savvier moving forward.

All of that bookkeeping means that the Eagles’ Day 1 shock-and-awe campaign that landed talented Georgia defenders Jalen Carter and Nolan Smith resets for Day 2 with Philadelphia starting at Nos. 62 and 66, bridging the second and third rounds with plenty of needs.

The most obvious issues are at safety and linebacker on defense with the latter likely relegated to Day 3 status. Offensively, the organization could use an upgrade at WR3, a young runner as an insurance plan for the oft-injured Rashaad Penny, and depth on the offensive line.

Here are the Top 10 targets to keep an eye on:

Brian Branch, S, Alabama - A perfect fit for the Vic Fangio-inspired defensive scheme the Eagles use as a mirrored player who can handle both safety and slot work, Branch is unlikely to last until No. 62 but Howie Roseman has proven time and time again that impactful players are the goal so if Branch starts to slide a bit more, raise the antennas.

Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia - The joke around the NovaCare Complex is that you can replicate the Eagles draft board by just stacking the remaining available Georgia players. While facetious, Philadelphia really likes the lengthy Ringo and he would have been in the mix if they traded out at No. 30 and into the second round. Ostensibly out of reach at No. 62, if Day 1 taught you anything it’s to wait and see how things unfold.

Darnell Washington, TE, Georgia - Yes Georgia again. When all the Bijan Robinson hype was at its peak in Philadelphia, a former Eagles’ scouting executive scoffed “That’s not what they believe (in). If you really want to improve the running game (which was already top five in the NFL and No. 1 out of 11 personnel by the way) find a third receiver or No. 2 tight end who is a threat in the passing game. That will help Jalen [Hurts] manipulate the numbers and spacing.”

Enter the widely athletic and physically impressive Washington, who would team with Dallas Goedert to give the Eagles two significant seam threats at the tight end position.

Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma - In that same vein, Mims would be an immediate upgrade in the slot from Quez Watkins, which would also enable the veteran wideout to play outside the numbers more as the top backup to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, Watkins’ more natural habitat as a player.

Kayshon Boutte, WR, LSU - The Eagles are taking some chances so why not take a flyer on Boutte, a high-end developmental slot prospect whose effort has been questioned in the past? The Eagles have already shown the sentiment that their locker room can help young players reach their potential.

Dawand Jones, OT, Ohio State - The Eagles did extensive homework on Jones in the pre-draft process and he would be the perfect heir-apparent to star right tackle Lane Johnson. A longshot to reach 62, Jones’ perceived lack of versatility has already pushed him out of Day 1, though.

Zach Charbonnett, RB, UCLA - The Bruins star would be a perfect addition to a committee approach that will be lifted by the plus-one aspect that Hurts provided to the running game,

Steve Avila, OL, TCU - When asked about a potential “Jeff Stoutland guy” Avila was one of the names former Eagles scout and lead NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah pegged. A player with guard/center versatility Avila excels in gap schemes and would be a perfect fit when it comes to surfacing blocks the way Stoutland teaches things.

Julius Brents, CB, Kansas State- The Eagles really like Brents’ length and leaning at the feet of Darius Slay and James Bradberry would be a nice luxury for any outside cornerback prospect.

Antonio Johnson, S, Texas A&M - We will bookend things with another safety in Johnson because the Eagles could use an immediate potential starting option to push Terrell Edmunds and Reed Blankenship. Johnson projects as the coverage-first safety with the range the Eagles' defensive philosophy demands.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen