Could The Eagles Trade Up In The Draft?

Jan 7, 2013; Miami, FL, USA; Alabama Crimson Tide defensive back Ha

It had been only rumored a couple of months ago that the Eagles were trying to trade for defensive end/linebacker Dion Jordan from the Miami Dolphins. Details of the trade were uncertain, but according to a recent report, those details came out.

The Eagles attempted to package a second-round draft pick and linebacker/defensive end Brandon Graham in exchange for the number three overall pick that struggled much of last season.

Given that the Eagles would be wiling to give up that second round pick for a player that they would be interested in, could the Eagles trade up to get a player that they have an eye on.

The Eagles have a glaring need in the secondary as well as a hole at the receiver position with the controversial release of DeSean Jackson. While the Eagles sit at 22 overall, the chances of them getting the top safety, a top cornerback, or a top receiver are pretty slim.

This is especially true at safety where it would be very unlikely that both Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix and Louisville’s Calvin Pryor, fall down to 22. The same holds true at wide receiver and cornerback. Yes, the Eagles could still draft one of those positions at 22, but if they want one of the drafts best such as a Mike Evans or Darqueze Dennard, the Eagles are going to have to make a move.

Which direction the Eagles go, will all depend on what happens early in the draft especially in the 13-15 range. If the Rams take Clinton-Dix like many mock drafts have them doing, the Eagles would almost be forced to trade up to 14 with Chicago to get a top safety, as the Steelers or Cowboys could very well take Pryor.

If the Rams do pass on Clinton-Dix, then the Eagles may be able to wait it out and see if one of the safeties do fall, but in the long run, if the Eagles want a safety, my guess is that they are going to have to trade up at some point to do so.

If the Eagles do end up trading up, that would be the most likely situation in which they would do so. However, if Mike Evans were to fall past 13, the Eagles could also fill their need at wide receiver trading up to get, arguably the draft second best receiver while also getting good value as most have Evans going in the top 10, but he could certainly drop.

The last situation that would make some sense for the Eagles to trade up would be if they have their eye on Darqueze Dennard, the cornerback out of Michigan State. Although Dennard could drop to them at 22, three of the four mock drafts on nfl.com have Dennard going to the Steelers at 15. The Eagles do have a need for a top cornerback, and Dennard could be that guy. If general manager Howie Roseman and Kelly fall in love with this kid, the Eagles could definitely try to trade ahead of Pittsburgh to get their guy.

The last time the Eagles traded up in the first round was in 2012 when they traded up from 15 to 12 to take defensive tackle Fletcher Cox, and so far that move has worked out. However, last year, the Eagles mysteriously traded up in the 4th round to take quarterback Matt Barkley , they also traded up in the sixth round, but then traded back from the selection, and then finally their last trade up occurred in the seventh round when the took defensive end Joe Kruger.

Trading up in the first round is a lot more risky as there is a lot more at stake. More picks have to be given up and more then is expected up that player. The Eagles could definitely make a move on draft day, but we will just have to wait and see when the draft finally arrives on May 8.