We've heard Howie Roseman say this about the Philadelphia Eagles and their roster-building style so often that we find ourselves making the same statement. Good teams can never have enough good defensive linemen. Or, was it the other way around?
Now that we think about it, his statement referenced a question about the offensive line. Anyway, you get the idea. Maybe the better point is this. Great teams win in the trenches, and we expect Philly to do so as long as this regime is in place.
If you haven't had your fill of cliches, here's another. Most quarterbacks at every level of football hate immediate pressure up the middle. No one knows that better than our Birds, so as another NFL Draft nears, we expect Philly to address their needs at the defensive line's interior.
By the end of April, many expect the Eagles to fill some holes at edge rusher and add some depth along the O-line. Maybe we'll see an interior defender added in Round 3 or 4. Having Jalen Carter, Jordan Davis, and Moro Ojomo in the fold for a few more years seemingly allows them to add to other cupboards early.
Once we put a bow on Round 2 of the 2025 NFL Draft, we assume there's a chance that the best defensive tackle prospects will be long gone. Mason Graham, Kenneth Grant, and Walter Nolen will have all heard their names called by the time we're moving through the end of the second round of picks.
Derrick Harmon, Darius Alexander, T.J. Sanders, and Tyleik Williams may have also found their new homes in the NFL by then. We could be off by a name or two. Maybe not... But, if we've nailed our theory, here's a ranking of the best options that should be available.
Jot these names down if you haven't already done so.
Must read: Ranking most realistic EDGE options for the Eagles at pick 32
Shemar Turner, Texas A&M Aggies
Shemar Turner has been solid for the Aggies. Still, the chances of him consistently dominating at the next level seem slim.
He'd be a nice prospect for Clint Hurtt's tutelage however, and as part of a rotation where he isn't under any immediate pressure, he could do well. We really like his teammates, two edge rushers, Nic Scourton and Shemar Stewart.
Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee Volunteers
If you like interior defensive linemen who put pressure on the QB, Omarr Norman-Lott is your guy. He may be a better pass rusher than run defender, but he's decent at doing either.
Alfred Collins, Texas Longhorns
Six-foot-five and 320 pounds. This is certainly the quintessential Howie Roseman selection. Place him next to Jordan Davis in obvious running situations, and no one will ever be able to run on the Eagles with any consistency ever again.
C.J. West, Indiana Hoosiers
West is one of the shorter D-tackles at six-foot-two, but his 317-pound frame causes issues. He's more of a wide-bodied defender better suited for the 4-3 scheme than a nose tackle in the 3-4.
NFL coaches will love that he provides meaningful snaps in both obvious running and passing situations. He notched two sacks in 2024 to go along with his 42 total tackles,
Joshua Farmer, Florida State Seminoles
Farmer is a six-foot-three, 305-pounder who plugs running lanes and does well when asked to rush the passer. He notched four sacks in 2024 after collecting five in 2023.
Jamaree Caldwell, Oregon Ducks
Philly has experimented with the prospect of adding a backup nose tackle behind Jordan Davis. They gave up on Olive Sagapolu and Noah Elliss, but Jamaree Caldwell could fill the void (if Howie and company are interested).
Keep an eye on guys like Jordan Phillips (Maryland), Deone Walker (Kentucky), Aeneas Peebles (Virginia Tech), and J.J. Pegues (Ole Miss). Caldwell will get many looks because of his size though.
He didn't notch any sacks in 2024 at Oregon, but during his previous two NCAA seasons at Houston (2022 and 2023), he collected 8.5 sacks in 20 games. With proper coaching, he could be trouble as part of a rotation like the one we see in the City of Brotherly Love.