It seems like Eagles general manager Howie Roseman always finds a way to address immediate needs in free agency, meaning that the Eagles don’t necessarily have to draft for a particular position.
But that might change at safety after both starters − Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps − left in free agency. Gardner-Johnson signed with the Detroit Lions on Sunday night while Epps signed with the Las Vegas Raiders last Wednesday.
Roseman was mostly able to fill the other needs.
Originally, cornerback was a big concern with James Bradberry set to become a free agent, followed by Darius Slay tweeting that the Eagles were going to release him. Then the new league year began, and Roseman re-signed Bradberry, then restructured Slay’s contract and added Greedy Williams as the top backup.
Even at a position where the Eagles lost a star player, like at defensive tackle with Javon Hargrave signing a 4-year deal worth as much as $84 million with the 49ers, Roseman managed to keep Fletcher Cox, with young players like Jordan Davis, Milton Williams and Marlon Tuipulotu expected to take on bigger roles.
It was the same at running back as Rashaad Penny was signed to essentially replace Miles Sanders, who went to Carolina.
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Even with Gardner-Johnson leaving, there’s a chance Roseman will either sign or trade for a starting-caliber safety instead of relying on a rookie to start right away.
After all, Gardner-Johnson didn’t become an Eagle until the end of August when Roseman traded for him.
It’s the same at linebacker where both starters T.J. Edwards and Kyzir White left. Nakobe Dean is penciled in for one spot, but the Eagles can once again go the veteran free agent route for the other starter, like they did last year with White.
The Eagles still only have six picks, and none in Rounds 4, 5 and 6. It’s almost a certainty that Roseman will make some kind of trade to address that.
Here, then, is version 2.0 of an Eagles-only mock draft:
Round 7, No. 248
Blake Whiteheart, TE, Wake Forest
This pick comes from the Vikings in the Jalen Reagor trade from last summer (the Eagles are also getting a conditional fourth-round pick in 2024). And as last season showed, there is a big dropoff at tight end from Dallas Goedert, who missed five games with a shoulder injury, to the likes of Jack Stoll, Grant Calcaterra and Tyree Jackson. Whiteheart, who had 24 catches for 295 yards last season, might not be the answer, either. But it doesn’t hurt to find out.
Mock Draft 1.0: SirVocea Dennis, Pittsburgh
Round 7, No. 219
SirVocea Dennis, LB, Pittsburgh
With Dean and a veteran who’s not on the roster yet likely starting, the Eagles would be drafting for depth and special teams help. Dennis, who’s 6-feet, 226 pounds, can provide both. He would join a group that includes Shaun Bradley, Christian Elliss, Kyron Johnson and Davion Taylor.
Mock Draft 1.0: Jalen Redmond, DT, Oklahoma
Round 3, No. 94
Tyler Steen, Tackle, Alabama
The Eagles need to replenish their depth on the line after losing starter Isaac Seumalo, who signed late Saturday night with the Steelers, and Andre Dillard in free agency. In addition, Jack Driscoll entering the final year of his contract. Steen, at 6-foot-6, 321 pounds, began his career as a defensive tackle at Vanderbilt before finishing as a left tackle at Alabama. He can serve as a swing tackle behind Jordan Mailata and Lane Johnson, with the potential to develop into an eventual starter under offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland.
Mock Draft 1.0: Steen
Round 2, No. 62
Zach Charbonnet, RB, UCLA
The Eagles would seemingly no longer need a running back with Penny’s signing, along with Boston Scott re-signing, and Kenny Gainwell and Trey Sermon all back. But Penny and Scott signed one-year deals. Charbonnet, at 6-foot-1, 220 pounds, projects as a three-down back who can share the load with Penny this season, sort of like Miles Sanders did as a rookie with Jordan Howard. Then Charbonnet, who averaged 7.0 yards per carry last season with the Bruins and ran a 4.53 at the Combine, can become the main back in 2024.
Mock draft 1.0: Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia.
Round 1, No. 30
Myles Murphy, Edge, Clemson
The Eagles kept this unit together, with Brandon Graham re-signing and Derek Barnett returning from a torn ACL. They’re joining Haason Reddick, who had 16 sacks last season, and Josh Sweat, with 11. But like at running back, Graham and Barnett will be in the final year of their contracts, and Graham turns 35 next month. That means Murphy, who was originally projected to go higher in the first round, could spend a year developing before replacing either Graham or Barnett in 2024.
Mock draft 1.0: Bijan Robinson, RB, Texas.
Round 1, No. 10
Brian Branch, safety, Alabama
This is the pick from the New Orleans Saints in the draft-pick swap last spring.
There’s the possibility that the Eagles could trade back a few spots to draft Branch, who was teammates with current Eagles wide receiver DeVonta Smith and left guard Landon Dickerson in 2020. Branch would seem to fit the Eagles’ requirements as a smart safety who can also play nickel, kind of like Gardner-Johnson.
At 6-feet, 195 pounds and a 4.58 time in the 40, Branch has the size and speed to thrive at both nickel and safety. That would be more enticing to the Eagles than a cornerback now that Gardner-Johnson is gone.
Gardner-Johnson’s departure would also take the Eagles out of drafting Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter if he were to fall to the Eagles at No. 10.
Carter could conceivably fall farther than that, perhaps to the Eagles at No. 30. But it doesn’t seem like the Eagles would take him there either.
Carter, originally thought to be one of the top picks in the draft, entered pleas of no contest last week to charges of racing and reckless driving from an incident in January in which two people in another car were killed. Carter was also sentenced to 12 months of probation. On the field, Carter had a bad Pro Day last week, where he couldn’t finish his testing because of cramping issues, a sign that he’s not in top shape.
Besides, with Cox as the only veteran returning in the rotation at defensive tackle, the Eagles would more likely go the low-cost free veteran free agent route as opposed to relying on another drafted player.
Mock draft 1.0: Murphy.
Contact Martin Frank at mfrank@delawareonline.com. Follow on Twitter @Mfranknfl.
