Eagles 7-Round Mock Draft: Philly Trades Down Twice, Still Adds Multiple Starters

In the final mock draft for Philadelphia, the Eagles trade down twice and still snag multiple potential starters in the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Eagles came oh so close to making it a second Super Bowl title in six seasons. Alas, this outcome was not in the cards for Philly, as they dropped a tightly-fought contest with the Chiefs in February. Now, the franchise is back to square one and must continue adding pieces to the roster to ensure further contention.

The first — and arguably most important — step came when the Eagles inked franchise quarterback Jalen Hurts to a massive $255 million deal. Following an MVP-caliber performance in 2022, Hurts cashed in but did so in a way that allows Howie Roseman to remain aggressive in searching for upgrades.

Most of the free agency moves are best considered as depth additions but bringing back both starting cornerbacks (Darius Slay and James Bradberry) while also keeping veterans Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham in the City of Brotherly Love is a win for the front office.

Armed with an extra first-rounder, thanks to a savvy trade with New Orleans at last year’s NFL Draft, the Eagles can afford to be aggressive by trading up the board or play the long game by trading down and accumulating more day two picks and future assets. Knowing the way Roseman thinks, the latter could be more likely.

Eagles 7-Round Mock Draft: Philly Trades Down Twice, Still Adds Multiple Starters

In the final mock draft for Philly, we explore the trade-down option at No. 10 overall. But that’s not all! Without further ado, let’s kick things off with… a trade!

A Trade!

Eagles Send:
•No. 10 Overall

Steelers Send:
•No. 17 Overall
•No. 49 Overall
•2024 Third-Round Pick

Round 1, No. 17 (via PIT): Myles Murphy, EDGE, Clemson

The Eagles do what the Eagles do best and add an extra top-50 pick (and a future day-two selection) for a simple trade-down on day one. After allowing the Steelers to come up for an elite cornerback, Philly looks to the front seven for an instant impact player.

Myles Murphy is chiseled from stone and checks every box physically. He is powerful and converts this raw power into speed effortlessly. Murphy could add some more pass-rushing moves to his arsenal, but he was productive at Clemson and should find ways to get home against NFL linemen, especially with the stacked supporting cast around him.

Another Trade!

Eagles Send:
•No. 30 Overall

Titans Send:
•No. 41 Overall
•2024 Second-Round Pick

Round 2, No. 41 (via TEN): Kelee Ringo, DB, Georgia

Howie Roseman cannot help himself. Following another trade down, the Eagles find themselves with three second-round picks in 2024 and an extra third-rounder. At No. 41 overall in this mock draft, Philly takes a chance on a once highly-heralded prospect.

Georgia’s Kelee Ringo has shortcomings in his game, primarily in man coverage when left on an island with twitchy receivers. With the Eagles, Ringo could step into the vacated CJ Gardner-Johnson role, utilizing his hard-hitting mentality and superb athleticism to make plays on the ball against bigger pass catchers from the slot.

Round 2, No. 49 (via PIT): Jahmyr Gibbs, RB, Alabama

The Eagles won’t take a running back on day one, but on day two of this mock draft, the value is too good to pass up. Alabama’s Jahmyr Gibbs is not the typical bell cow behind center. But in today’s NFL, he is more than capable of handling the bulk of the workload.

Gibbs is at his best in space, using an awe-inspiring shiftiness to make defenders look silly. When he plants his foot in the turf and re-accelerates, there are few people on this planet capable of corralling him. Gibbs is a better runner between the tackles than credited with, but the impact he brings as a pass catcher sets him apart from the pack.

Round 2, No. 62: Gervon Dexter, DL, Florida

The Eagles snagged Myles Murphy earlier in the mock draft, but they are not stopping there. Florida’s Gervon Dexter is a sleeper in the middle of day two, with the only real knock on him being his lackluster motor. When Dexter is locked in, he is nearly impossible to block.

The former Gator regularly wrecks the pocket and stuffs gaps when he leverages his size effectively. All it takes is unlocking his consistency, which shouldn’t be an issue with a locker room full of veterans holding him accountable.

Round 3, No. 80 (via PIT): Tyler Steen, OL, Alabama

The strongest unit on the roster is undoubtedly the offensive line, even after the departure of Isaac Seumalo in free agency. Cam Jurgens is set to take over the vacated right guard spot, but drafting Tyler Steen provides immediate competition at guard and a potential long-term replacement for Lane Johnson at right tackle.

Steen is an athletic offensive lineman, showcasing an easy ability to get to the second level on tape. His footwork is inconsistent in space, but kicking inside to guard should alleviate some of the concerns in this area. Steen’s hand usage is solid, and he did well keeping Bryce Young’s blindside clean in 2022.

Round 3, No. 94: Owen Pappoe, LB, Auburn

The Eagles lost TJ Edwards and Kyzir White in the linebacker room, but 2022 third-round pick Nakobe Dean is poised to take over the MIKE linebacker role. With Haason Reddick entrenched as the SAM, that leaves a void on the weak side. Auburn’s Owen Pappoe is the perfect third piece in the starting lineup.

Pappoe missed more tackles than you’d like to see on tape, but these were due to over-aggression rather than sloppy form. The former Tiger plays with loads of emotion each snap and it translates to earth-shattering hits to pass catchers and ball carriers alike. Pappoe has the traits to be elite in coverage, and his mentality will allow him to make a difference in run support.

Durability is the only concern, but at the end of day two, there isn’t a more talented player on the board.

Round 7, No. 219 (via MIN): Matt Landers, WR, Arkansas

Eagles fans, can I interest you in a 6-foot-4, 200-pound wide receiver with 4.37 speed? Matt Landers is an older prospect and incredibly raw in terms of fundamentals, but his hands are like magnets, and the way he tracks a pass downfield is second to none. Landers meshes well with AJ Brown and DeVonta Smith, giving Jalen Hurts another weapon late in the mock draft.

Round 7, No. 248: Brayden Willis, TE, Oklahoma

Dallas Goedert has the TE1 spot on lock, but the depth behind him is “okay” at best. Oklahoma’s Brayden Willis is elite after the catch, using unprecedented athleticism at the position to stretch the field vertically and horizontally. Willis is a great foil for the chain-moving Goedert.