There is plenty of speculation as to what the Eagles will do with their three first-round picks.
Sure, they can do nothing and use all of the picks, at Nos. 15, 16 and 19, in order to draft three players who can hopefully help them right away.
But that, typically, is not how Eagles general manager Howie Roseman operates.
Last year, Roseman traded down with the Miami Dolphins from No. 6 to No. 12, getting an extra first-round pick this year (No. 15).
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Then he traded back up with the Dallas Cowboys from No. 12 to No. 10, giving up a third-round pick, in order to draft wide receiver DeVonta Smith.
And that was with one first-round pick. Just imagine what he could do with three.
Here, then, are scenarios for using one or more of their picks to move up, stay where they are, or trade back to later in the first or even early in the second round in order to get an extra early-round pick in 2023.
1. Trade up
Who would the Eagles do this for? It would seem unlikely that the Eagles would trade up for a quarterback.
The QB draft class is considered rather weak, with Kenny Picket and Malik Willis considered the top two, and Matt Corral and Sam Howell just behind them.
Then again, the Eagles attended all of their pro days, and that includes Eagles QB coach Brian Johnson taking Pickett out to dinner.
But if the Eagles are going for one of the top quarterbacks, they might have to get into the top 5, and that will cost two of those first-round picks, plus another early-round pick in 2023.
The Texans, at No. 3, traded Deshaun Watson and would need a quarterback. The Atlanta Falcons traded Matt Ryan and have the No. 8 pick. And the Seahawks acquired the No. 9 pick from Denver when they traded Russell Wilson.
The Carolina Panthers at No. 6 could also draft a quarterback.
So even if the quarterbacks aren’t worthy of a top-10 pick, the Eagles would likely have to get into that range to get one.
The Eagles could also trade up for a player at a different position. That likely would be a smaller move, perhaps to the No. 10 or No. 12 range if they feel the player they covet won’t be there at No. 15.
That might cost only one of the first-round picks, plus a day two pick either this year or in 2023. But it might be worth it for cornerbacks Sauce Gardner of Cincinnati or Washington’s Trent McDuffie, or even linebacker Devin Lloyd of Utah.
2. Trade back
This situation makes a lot of sense for a number of reasons.
For one, trading back to the end of the first round or early in the second round should net at least a second-round pick in 2023, or possibly even a first-rounder, depending on how far back they go.
In that scenario, the Eagles can package two picks – their own first-rounder plus the acquired pick – next year to get a quarterback if Jalen Hurts regresses this season. Of course, if Hurts flops, then the Eagles will have a bad season and thus have a top-10 pick on their own.
Would that be high enough for someone like Alabama’s Bryce Young?
Secondly, the Eagles could trade back and still get one of the top wide receivers near the end of the first round or even into the second round. It’s possible that Alabama’s Jameson Williams, who’s recovering from a torn ACL, will be there, along with Arkansas’ Treylon Burks, or even USC’s Drake London.
If the Eagles trade back into the first few picks of the second round, they could get someone like Western Michigan’s Skyy Moore, Georgia’s George Pickens or Penn State’s Jahan Dotson.
It’s also possible that the Eagles could trade back to get defensive end David Ojabo from Michigan. Ojabo was considered a strong possibility for the Eagles at No. 15. But he tore his Achilles during his Pro Day recently and will likely miss most, or all, of the upcoming season.
If the Eagles really like Ojabo, they probably won’t be able to get him with their second-round pick at No. 51. That’s why it would make sense to trade back to take him, knowing they’ll have two other first-round picks to use on players who could contribute right away.
3. Stand pat
There’s also nothing wrong with the Eagles staying where they are. Eagles chairman and CEO Jeffrey Lurie said at the NFL owners meetings that he views the draft as essential to building the roster around a young core.
“I’m obviously thrilled that we have three No. 1s,” Lurie told reporters. “Kudos to Howie (Roseman, the general manager) for putting us in this position. It’s a great asset to have.”
It’s likely that the Eagles will go into the draft having identified six to eight players that they would want to draft in the first round. With three picks, it’s very likely that some of them will be available for their picks.
The likelihood increases if two or three of the quarterbacks get picked before the Eagles’ selection. The way the Eagles see it, the earlier the QBs go, the better.
4. What will they do?
The Eagles will make all three of their first-round selections, considering that they haven’t done much in free agency so far.
But it’s very possible that they will trade up if there’s someone they really want, while also trading back in order to get an extra early-round pick for 2023.
If they trade up, it’ll only be 2 or 3 spots so that it won’t cost them one of their extra first-round picks. If that’s the case, look for them to take someone like Gardner or Lloyd. If they trade back, look for them to draft an injured player in either Ojabo or Williams.
If not for the injuries, both would have been drafted much higher. But with the two other first-round picks, it’s worth the w.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
