The Philadelphia Eagles have been one of the NFL’s most active teams from the outset of free agency.
They added big name free agents like RB Saquon Barkley and LB Bryce Huff. They also added LB Devin White and brought back DB Chauncey Gardner-Johnson and added depth pieces like LB Zack Baun, G Matt Hennessy, and LB Oren Burks.
How these moves impact their draft plans remain to be seen, but I took a stab at predicting it.
Here’s our second Eagles 7-Round Mock Draft of the off-season.
TRADE
EAGLES send: 2024 1st Round Pick (22), 2024 5th Round Pick (172), and EDGE Haason Reddick to BRONCOS in exchange for 2024 1st Round Pick (12) and 2024 5th Round Pick (145)
The Eagles make a splash and trade up into the top-15 of the draft. They do so by sending their first round pick, along with a day three pick, and LB Haason Reddick to the Denver Broncos.
After re-structuring Josh Sweat‘s contract, it seems like Reddick is the odd man out.
Denver recoups a first rounder later on in the draft (where they’re able to select QB Bo Nix) and pass rusher Haason Reddick.
Denver hasn’t had a pass rusher record double-digit sacks in a single season since 2018. Simply put, they don’t have a difference maker at the position. Reddick changes that, as he’s racked up 27 sacks over the last two seasons.
Baron Browning, Jonathon Cooper, and Nik Bonitto each are nice pieces, but they don’t equate to the pass rusher that Haason Reddick is.
Round 1 – Pick 12: Quinyon Mitchell (CB), Toledo
The Eagles trade up and select a cornerback who many consider to be the best at the position in the 2024 draft.
The six-foot, 195 pound Mitchell is a feisty cornerback. Mitchell’s physicality, aggressiveness, and instincts are the things that stick out the most when you watch him.
He’s adept in both man and zone coverage, who possesses true 4.3 speed. He showcases that speed with excellent short area quickness and an explosive downhill trigger.
Over his three years as a starter at Toledo, Mitchell amassed 116 total tackles, 6 interceptions, 45 pass break-ups, and allowed a 54.7 passer rating when targeted.
He showcases excellent route recognition and instincts (evidenced by his 45 pass break ups), as well as a willingness to be physical both in run support and at the catch point.
Mitchell’s fit projects in Vic Fangio’s defense very well, as he rarely aligned in press man at Toledo and he excels when he’s able to keep his eyes on what’s happening in front of him (both on the quarterback and receiver he’s facing).
Round 2 – Pick 50: Edgerrin Cooper (LB) – Texas A&M
In the second round, the Eagles snag a player they’ve had their eyes on throughout the draft process. They spoke with him at the East-West Shrine Bowl, NFL Draft Combine, and will have him in Philadelphia for a Top 30 prospect visit.
Simply put: They like Cooper, and for good reason.
The six-foot-two, 230 pound Cooper is a mad-man on the football field. Cooper is a physical linebacker who plays with reckless abandonment and absolutely flies around the field.
The Texas A&M product looks like a heat seeking missile on blitzes, has the range and athleticism to stick with tight ends and running backs, and can be utilized as a QB spy.
Cooper is as sure of a tackler as they come and he possesses an explosive downhill trigger. He’s a dynamic mover who’s pursuit skills are absolutely next level.
He is a hand-in-glove fit for the Vic Fangio’s zone heavy scheme, which places an emphasis on linebackers who can communicate in coverage and have the necessary athleticism and range to cover the middle of the field.
TRADE
EAGLES send: 2024 2nd Round Pick (53) to CARDINALS in exchange for 2024 3rd Round Pick (66) and 2024 4th Round Pick (104)
The Eagles trade back to the top of the 3rd round and also pick up an early third round pick from the Cardinals who acquire a second 2nd round pick (while still possessing two third rounders in the top 100).
Round 3 – Pick 66: Marshawn Kneeland (EDGE) – Western Michigan
After trading away Pro Bowl EDGE rusher Haason Reddick, the Eagles select a EDGE rusher who possess an NFL frame, a high motor, and versatility.
Off the bat, Kneeland’s motor and seemingly relentless level of effort pop off the screen. You routinely see him chasing on the backside of run plays or hustling across the field.
He isn’t a traditional pass rusher per se, as he wins predominantly with power. But where he makes up for it is his explosive first step, violent hands, and again a relentless motor in the run game.
Kneeland also brings some added versatility as he’s aligned off the ball, outside the tackle (hand in the dirt and stand up) and over the tackle during his collegiate years.
With the Eagles, Kneeland brings seemingly the one thing their EDGE/OLB room lacks at the moment: a consistent presence against the run. Kneeland, at six-foot-three, 275 pounds, would also being some size to a room that includes a ton of sub 250 pound rushers.
Round 4 – Pick 104: Jamari Thrash (WR) – Louisville
The Eagles use the second of their picks acquired from the Cardinals on a separator with refined route running skills.
Thrash is an elusive mover who excels after the catch. He’s a wide receiver’s wide receiver. He isn’t the burner that a guy like Xavier Worthy is, but he’s a quick and nuanced separator.
He’s shown a keen understanding of finding holes in zone coverage and eluding his matchup in man coverage. Again, Thrash isn’t a burner, but he’s more of an accelerator/separator.
The six-foot, 188 pound Thrash is a bit reminiscent of guys like Chris Olave or Puka Nacua before him. Thrash is smart, he’s consistent, and he’s reliable.
With the Eagles, Thrash slots in as the third receiver. A consistent and versatile receiving threat who Kellen Moore can utilize over the middle of the field, down the field, or on underneath screens.
A name that feels apt here is Michael Gallup, who excelled under Kellen Moore.
Round 4 – Pick 120: Zak Zinter (G) – Michigan
The Eagles address the interior of the offensive line with their next pick, Zak Zinter.
Zinter likely wouldn’t have been available, if not for a gruesome lower body injury (resulted in a broken tibia and fibula) that he suffered in late November.
Zinter is a force in both the run and pass game. His hands are like pad locks and he is a MACK truck coming downhill as a puller.
The 6-foot-6, 309 pouns Zinter is a nasty and violent blocker. There is little to no passiveness in his game. Zinter plays to break the will of his opponents.
As stated, Zinter has been hindered by his recovery from his injury, nevertheless, he is an enticing and tantalizing prospect. Zinter will likely miss most, if not all, of his rookie season.
That just so happens to be the perfect situation for the Eagles who recently added former Atlanta Falcons guard Matt Hennessy who has started 22 games in his three year career.
Having the chance to be around an NFL program for a year, receive NFL medical treatment, and be coached by the best offensive line coach in pro football, in Jeff Stoutland, would be a heaven-sent situation for a guy like Zinter.
Round 5 – Pick 145: Beau Brade (SAF) – Maryland
The Eagles address the safety position with their first fifth round pick.
Beau Brade is a physical force. The six-foot, 203 pound Brade is a contact hunting, aggressive defensive back. His click and close ability is evident as soon as you turn on the tape.
He’s a versatile defender who has played a ton of snaps over the course of his college football career (1,555 over the last two seasons). Brade has been used in a variety of alignments (in the slot, down in the box, and as a deep safety). He’s been used in single high and as a split field safety.
But for all of his positives, Brade also has some drawbacks. His eyes sometimes get caught in the wrong spot and his aggressiveness causes him to overpursue at times.
Brade would slot in with the Eagles as their 3rd or 4th safety behind Reed Blankenship, Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, and Sydney Brown (when he returns from injury). He could potentially slide in at safety if/when Gardner-Johnson rotates down into the slot.
Round 5 – Pick 161: Myles Murphy (DT) – North Carolina
With the retirement of Fletcher Cox, the Eagles will have to address defensive tackle at some point in the 2024 draft.
They do so here with the 161st overall pick, selecting North Carolina’s Myles Murphy.
Murphy is a disruptor with prototypical NFL size at six-four, 309 pounds. He’s a forceful attacker who’s hand usage is very good. His power is his most enticing trait by far.
Murphy shined at the Shrine Bowl where he showcased his twitchiness and sheer power at the point of attack. It was also at the Shrine Bowl where Murphy spoke with the Eagles.
Murphy adds depth to a defensive line that possesses a ton of pedigree with Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter.
Round 5 – Pick 171: Tip Reiman (TE) – Illinois
The Eagles elect to address the tight end position with the selection of Illinois’ Tip Reiman.
Reiman’s size is the thing that immediately popped off the screen to me. At 6-foot-5, 271 pounds, Reiman has the prototypical size for a number two tight end in today’s NFL.
He’s a very solid inline blocker, who also possesses intriguing pass catching ability.
Reiman’s 4.64 40 yard dash time makes him an interesting target for Kellen Moore who utilizes his 2nd tight ends a ton.
Round 6 – Pick 210: Frank Gore Jr. (RB) – Southern Mississippi
The Eagles close out the 2024 draft with the selecting of the son of (former Eagles legend) Frank Gore.
The 5-foot-8, 208 pound Gore Jr. is a patient and versatile weapon out of the backfield. He can catch the ball out of the backfield, and he is (like his father) a really compact and consistent runner of the football.
After signing Saquon Barkley and (seemingly) letting Boston Scott walk in free agency, the team needs a sort of spark plug/change of pace guy at the position and they get that with Gore Jr.
Cover Image Credit: Scott Winters/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
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