Eagles full seven-round NFL Mock Draft: NFL Combine edition

The NFL Combine approaches. The offseason is in full swing, and mock drafts are aplenty. With pro football’s most important scouting event on the horizon, everyone has their theories on where the next crop of potential stars will wind up. The Philadelphia Eagles have been linked to the 2023 class’s best running back. Lines have also been drawn connecting them to cornerbacks from both the Big Ten and Pac-12. They’ve also been given edge rushers and an offensive tackle.

There have been no Pro Days, nor has a drill been run in the aforementioned scouting combine. Who gives a darn? That won’t stop us!

Consider this our first way-too-early projection. Something tells us that the names will shuffle a few more times before the end of March.

How about some way-too-early guesses on what the Eagles might do with the six picks they have in the 2023 NFL Draft?

It’s doubtful that vice president/general manager Howie Roseman will just sit idle and wait on the Eagles’ turn in the coming draft six times. Does he ever? One can make the argument that it will be a miracle if he doesn’t finagle his way around the first round with the two picks he has. As a matter of fact, we expect him to

Maybe the Eagles trade down and collect more choices at some point. That sounds about right, but until news of that breaks, here are a few ideas of what we’d try if we were Howie Roseman for a day.

In our mock, the first nine picks fall as follows:

1. Chicago Bears: Jalen Carter, defensive tackle, Georgia
2. Houston Texans: C.J. Stroud, quarterback, Ohio State
3. Arizona Cardinals: Will Anderson, EDGE
4. Indianapolis Colts: Bryce Young, QB, Alabama
5. Seattle Seahawks: Peter Skoronski, OT, Northwestern
6. Detroit Lions: Christian Gonzalez, cornerback, Oregon
7. Las Vegas Raiders: Anthony Richardson, QB, Florida
8. Atlanta Falcons: Tyree Wilson, EDGE, Texas Tech
9. Carolina Panthers: Jaxon Smith-Njigba, WR, Ohio State

Round 1, pick 10 (from N.O. Saints)

Something tells us that Howie Roseman would have moved on the 2023 class’s best offensive lineman had he been available. Peter Skoronski is someone who played offensive tackle at the collegiate level that may grade out as a guard at the professional level. He’s also a day-one starter in an Eagles uniform if Philly loses Isaac Seumalo.

With that being said, in this mock, Philly does what they almost never do… draft a cornerback in Round 1. That isn’t a bad idea when said corner is as talented as this young man.

Some see Devon Witherspoon as a top-ten draft choice. Some see him as the best cornerback in this year’s class behind Oregon’s Christian Gonzalez. Others grade him higher than Gonzalez. Taking all of that into account, and with Gonzalez off of the board in our mock, the former Illinois star is our choice for Philly at ten.

One could make the argument that the Eagles are probably more likely to draft a potential Lane Johnson replacement here as, lately, they have drafted for the future, and they haven’t taken a defensive back in Round 1 since 2002 (Lito Sheppard). Still, if there was ever a year to splurge on a big-time name at the position, this would be the year. This could potentially give Philly a ten-year starter.

Round 1, pick 30

Tuli Tuipulotu is the younger brother of Eagles reserve Marlon Tuipulotu. He’s also one of the EDGE prospects in this year’s class.

Some grade Myles Murphy (Clemson) and Isaiah Foskey (Notre Dame) higher. Almost everyone sees Will Anderson (Alabama) and Tyree Wilson (Texas Tech) as the top two prospects at the EDGE position. Regardless of where you stand on that and whether or not you agree, Tuli in an Eagles jersey gives them a force to be reckoned with.

In 2022, he collected 46 tackles, 13.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, and three passes broken up for the USC Trojans. The Birds would be lucky to have him.

Here are guesses on what the Eagles might do with their final five picks.

Two picks down. Five to go. Let’s add a few more prospects to Philly’s draft class.

Round 2, pick 62

For most of you living on the East Coast, it was probably hard to stay up past 10 p.m. EST to watch Pac-12 home games. That means you may have missed a ton of what Zach Charbonnet was doing. Here’s how his final run with the Bruins turned out: seven yards per carry average (195 totes for 1,359 yards), 321 receiving yards on 37 receptions, and 14 rushing TDs.

He’s speedy, has good hands, and rarely goes down on first contact. He could be an effective three-down starter at the professional level.

Honestly, our gut tells us that he won’t be available at 62, but for checks and balances, we ran three mock draft simulators. He was available every time, so for now, we’ll anoint him as Philly’s second-round draft choice. They’d be lucky if that’s how things turned out.

Round 3, pick 94

Byron Young is a projected third-rounder that cut his teeth at one of the NFL’s long-time farm systems, the Alabama Crimson Tide. He racked up 47 tackles and 3.5 sacks during his final run in Tuscaloosa, and at six-foot-three and 292 pounds, he’d give Philly another space eater in the middle of their defense. We all know they love adding those.

Round 7, pick 221 (from Texans)

Jason Taylor has been graded as everything from a sixth-rounder to a post-draft quality rookie free agent. Honestly, we wouldn’t be shocked if he’s taken in Round 5, but just for kicks, let’s mock him as a seventh-rounder for now and see what happens, shall we?

He tallied 99 tackles and six picks in 2022.

Rund 7, pick 250

Jones spent 2022 starting at right tackle for the Longhorns, but his best fit might be to move inside at the next level. He struggled versus better competition (see the Texas Longhorns’ game versus Bama), but he could thrive under the tutelage of Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland. It was fun to watch him clear running lanes for Bijan Robinson.

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