Dream scenarios for the Eagles entering the 2023 NFL Draft’s second night

What the heck? Why not move up in Round 2 and take Alabama’s Brian Branch? That might be the finishing touch.

Every year, there are players with first-round grades who slide and wind up being available on the second day. Just ask Will Levis. Often when that happens, there’s always a team that’s willing to trade up and get their guy on Day 2. The Eagles own the 62nd and 66th overall selections in Round 2 and Round 3 respectively. They own two seventh-rounders and a lot of capital in 2024. They might be willing to make a move.

If they do former Alabama Crimson Tide safety Brian Branch is someone worth making a move for. Here’s a young man that entered the draft and was viewed as the best prospect in the class at the safety position, but no safeties were drafted in Round 1, so yes, he’s still available.

Branch is among the most versatile defenders in the draft. He excels in run defense and coverage. He flies to the football constantly.

His skill set would make for an easy transition from C.J. Gardner-Johnson who recently left to join the Detroit Lions. Branch measured at six-foot-tall at the most recent NFL Scouting Combine. He weighs 190 pounds.  While he only ran a 4.58-second 40-yard dash and collected  14 reps on the bench press, it has been reported that he squats 565 pounds and that he clocked a top speed of 22.3 miles per hour on a GPS system.

This 2022 First-Team All-American notched four interceptions, 27 pass breakups, four sacks, 19.5 tackles for loss, and 172 total tackles in his 40 career games over three seasons. If the Eagles find a willing trade partner, he’d be well worth investing. Doing so would yield three future long-term starters on defense potentially who could contribute right away.