As years have passed, we have seen Howie Roseman attack the NFL Draft in different ways every April. The Philadelphia Eagles have made trades on the first night. They've traded up. They've drafted for present needs and to stock the roster's cupboard to ensure a bright future.
We have no issue with any of that and applaud Philly's vice president/general manager for being adaptable.
For the second time in franchise history, the Birds enter another NFL offseason as the defending and reigning Super Bowl Champions. As we turn the page from February to March, the NFL Combine provides our next stop on the calendar.
Regardless of what happens in free agency, the Birds must add an edge rusher at some point. We can give up on landing Abdul Carter, but there are several young stars in the making who are realistic options.
Here are the ten best edge rushers who figure to be available when the Eagles are on the NFL Draft's clock with the 32nd overall selection.
Brandon Graham hasn't announced his retirement at this story's release, but we can't simply assume he's playing next season. We also have to mention Josh Sweat. His next contract figures to be massive, and it's possible Philly could lose him in free agency.
The Eagles signed Bryce Huff last offseason, and unfortunately, that decision hasn't paid off yet. Let's make long stories short. Philly needs to address its needs at edge rusher early in the NFL Draft.
Though we hate guessing, we'll do so anyway. The Eagles pick 32nd in Round 1. We're going to assume the top three pass rushers will be off the board by then.
That means we can cross Abdul Carter (Penn State Nittany Lions), Mykel Williams (Georgia Bulldogs), and James Pearce Jr. (Tennessee Volunteers) off our wish lists. That being said, here are ten potentially available pass rushers ranked from best to worst.
1. Mike Green, Marshall Thundering Herd
Some of you may have Mike Green as a top-15 player and one of your top three prospects at edge rusher. We wouldn't discredit you for doing so. He's special and will pay dividends for any team that lands him.
2. Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M Aggies
Shemar Stewart doesn't excite many with his stat line, but he's consistent. He racked 1.5 sacks in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He's high on everyone's draft board because of his skill set though. He's big, explosive, and strong.
We trust him in Vic Fangio's hands.
3. Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College Eagles
At six-foot-two and 247 pounds, Donovan Ezeiruaku seems undersized for the NFL, but he's about ten pounds heavier than Nolan Smith. We said the same about the latter.
Ezeiruaku gets to the QB though. He stacked 80 tackles, 16.5 sacks, 21 tackles for loss, and three forced fumbles last season. He's someone who could rise on this list.
5. Jack Sawyer, Ohio State Buckeyes
Jack Sawyer landed with Philly during a recent Pro Football Focus mock draft. Some might view him as the Big Ten's second best pass rusher behind Abdul Carter. Heck, that's how we view him. He notched 59 tackles, nine sacks, three forced fumbles, five pass breakups, and an interception to help push Ohio State to the College Football Playoff National Championship.
5. J.T. Tuimoloau, DE, Ohio State Buckeyes
The guy on the other side of the Buckeyes defensive formation wasn't too shabby either. J.T. Tuimoloau notched more sacks than Sawyer, 12.5 to be exact. You can't go wrong with either player.
6. Bradyn Swinson, LSU Tigers
Bradyn Swinson can beat just about anyone around the edge. He has the strength to overpower tackles at the point of attack. He notched 8.5 sacks, 59 tackles, and two forced fumbles for the LSU Tigers in 2024.
7. Landon Jackson, Arkansas Razorbacks
Landon Jackson made a lot of people nervous with a mixed week of practice at the Senior Bowl, but he played very well in the game. That was a nice exclamation point after a season where he notched 6.5 sacks.
8. Jared Ivey, Ole Miss Rebels
Jared Ivey is one of the bigger prospects on this list. He stands at six-foot-five. He tips the scales at 279 pounds.
He's probably a Day 2 prospect who will rise. Don't be shocked if he rises on a few boards during the pre-draft process.
9. Princely Umanmielen, Ole Miss Rebels
Princely Umanmielen would be higher on this list if not for reported questions about 'character concerns', but that's one of the real reasons Philly employs Dom DiSandro.
If there's any validity to the claims, Big Dom will figure that out. The resume is impressive though. He notched 10.5 sacks, 34 tackles, and a forced fumble in 2024.
10. Nic Scourton, Texas A&M Aggies
Nic Scourton, like his collegiate teammate Shemar Stewart, had a ball in his first and lone SEC season. He notched 10 sacks for the Purdue Boilermakers in 2023, five more in 2024, and should be on everyone's minds as we move towards April.
Honorable mention: Jordan Burch, Oregon Ducks
Jordan Burks didn't pan out as the South Carolina Gamecocks hoped from 2020-2023. He moved over to the Pac-12's Oregon Ducks and put it all together during his program's first season in the Big Ten. He notched 8.5 sacks last season, but his six-foot-six, 295-pound frame probably suggests he'd be a better fit to play inside at the next level.