Dream NFL Draft targets for Eagles to build an impenetrable defense around Jalen Carter

If you're like the rest of us, you have a lot of dates circled on the Philadelphia Eagles offseason calendar. The free-agency frenzy is no doubt on your mind. We imagine the upcoming NFL Scouting Combine is also on your must-watch list, but that's simply an appetizer for the 2024 NFL Draft.

The goal for every professional football franchise is to blend a healthy mix of young prospects and veteran leadership. Philly has that. You've heard of this Jalen Carter fella, right? Barring injury, he's going to be great for a very long time.

Philly will have options in the selection meeting for surrounding him with some more defensive weapons. We've constructed a list of a few future stars that come to mind though. Admittedly, some of these guys would be dreams come true, but at the same time, they might be more realistic additions than we're thinking.

Jared Verse (FSU) or Laiatu Latu (UCLA): We'd honestly take either guy

There's no way the Eagles are landing Dallas Turner. We can give up on that fantasy. Plus, the football gods wouldn't allow that to happen after Philly pulled off the coup of all coups by landing Jalen Carter in 2023.

But, let's say, on draft night, our prayers were answered and some guys slid as Round 1 went on. There's probably no way that Laiatu Latu or Jared Verse wind up being available for the Birds once Philly is on the clock at 22, but we'll throw them on our draft boards anyway.

Both would give the Birds an elite edge rusher. In 2023, they combined for 22 sacks (13 for Latu and nine for Verse). Add Chop Robinson (Penn State), Chris Braswell (Alabama), and Jonah Elliss (Utah) as backup plans to your imaginary draft boards if the guys we want aren't available.