Eagles snag top cornerback prospect in first round of latest NFL mock draft

The Philadelphia Eagles possess the 22nd overall pick in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft, and they could potentially use that selection to secure the secondary. In his latest mock draft for ESPN, NFL analyst Mel Kiper sees the Eagles selecting cornerback Nate Wiggins from Clemson with their first pick.

It appears as though the Eagles plan to bring back both starting cornerbacks from last season -- Darius Slay and James Bradberry -- but both players are over 30, so Philadelphia could still be interested in adding some new blood at the position.

ESPN's Mel Kiper sends Nate Wiggins to the Eagles in his most recent NFL mock draft.

From Kiper:

"This has been an offseason of change for the Eagles, who have new coordinators on both sides of the ball and have seen two stalwarts retire in center Jason Kelce and defensive tackle Fletcher Cox. And after a rough end to their season, coach Nick Sirianni finds himself with a few holes on his roster. I almost slotted in a receiver to add to Jalen Hurts' fantastic set of skill-position talent -- how about Xavier Worthy (Texas)? -- but I see defense as the bigger problem.

That's Kiper's take on why Wiggins would be a great fit in Philly. He continued his thoughts with some numbers:

"Philadelphia ranked 30th in both points allowed per game (25.2) and QBR allowed (55.7), and it was 31st in passing yards allowed to receivers (3,125). Veteran starting corners Darius Slay and James Bradberry are each on the wrong side of 30. Wiggins could step in and play a huge role for a team with Super Bowl aspirations. At 6-foot-1, 173 pounds, he's slender, but he has elite speed. He ran a blazing 4.28-second 40-yard dash at the combine."

Time will tell if the Eagles decide to select Wiggins, or another cornerback, with their first-round selection, or if they decide to go in a different direction. After all, the cornerback position isn't their only area of need. The team could also look to add a linebacker, or even potentially a center following the retirement of Jason Kelce.

After losing in the Wild Card Round last season, the Eagles will be looking to bounce back and make another deep playoff run in 2024 like they did two years ago when they went all the way to the Super Bowl. Drafting wisely could potentially help them out there.