The Eagles addressed many of their most pressing needs, both in free agency and by keeping some key players from last season’s Super Bowl team who could have either left or retired.
That has given the Eagles an opportunity to draft − drum roll − the best player available without necessarily considering position.
That, in turn, opens up a wide range of possibilities for the Eagles, perhaps paving the way to draft a running back in the first round for the first time since 1986, or a safety in the first round for the first time ever.
But just minutes before the draft started, the Eagles made a trade to settle a tampering charge against the Arizona Cardinals when Arizona hired former defensive coordinator Jonathan Gannon as its head coach.
TRADE UP:2023 NFL Draft: Why Eagles traded up in 1st round for controversial Georgia DT Jalen Carter
2023 NFL Draft:3 things to know about Eagles 1st-round pick and Georgia DT Jalen Carter
According to ESPN, the Eagles sent Arizona its third-round pick at No. 94 and a fifth-round pick in 2024 in exchange for Arizona’s third-round pick at No. 66.
The Eagles have two picks in the first round, at No. 10 and No. 30, and four in the first three rounds. The problem is after the third-round pick, the Eagles won’t have another until the seventh round, when they have two. So you can expect plenty of activity as the three-day draft extravaganza kicks off Thursday night.
Here, then, is your one-stop shop for every pick the Eagles make in the 2023 NFL draft, with analysis and a grade on each pick.
Round 1, No. 9: Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
from Chicago
The Eagles kept with their past history of fortifying the lines, this time going for the Georgia defensive tackle in Carter. The Eagles traded up one spot with the Chicago Bears to get perhaps the most talented player in the draft. But there are red flags with Carter, most notably pleading no contest to reckless driving and racing in a fatal crash involving another car, and a poor Pro Day.
But the Eagles have his former teammates from Georgia in defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean. The Eagles made a risky pick based that could pay off if Carter lives up to his ability.
Round 1, No. 10: traded to Chicago
from New Orleans in a 2022 draft-pick swap
Round 1, No. 30
Round 2, No. 62
Round 3, No. 66
from Arizona in a tampering charge
Round 3, No. 94: traded to Arizona
Round 7, No. 219
from Houston through Minnesota for Jalen Reagor
Round 7, No. 248
DRAFT NIGHT:Philadelphia Eagles and 2023 NFL Draft: Here’s everything you need to know
THE HURTS FACTOR:Jalen Hurts’ unique response to NFL-record contract isn’t only reason why Eagles signed him
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
