We’re inside of a week from the first round of the draft, and it remains anyone’s guess as to which direction the Eagles will head in with their two picks.
The Eagles hold pick Nos. 10 and 30 in next week’s draft. They received the No. 10 pick in a trade with the Saints last year, and it sounds like just about anything could be on the table -- including a trade.
But even after their hugely successful 2022 campaign, the Eagles have some needs. They could bolster the secondary or interior defensive line, and Philly at least sounds open to the idea of taking a running back in the first round. Football analyst Ross Tucker said Friday on the WIP Morning Show that he thinks the Eagles might take an offensive lineman.
“I’m kind of at this point leaning offensive line," Tucker said. "If Christian Gonzalez, the corner from Oregon, is there – or even if Jalen Carter, the D-tackle from Georgia is there – I’m pretty sure the Eagles would take them. I don’t think they’re going to be there. I think they’re going to end up taking either Peter Skoronski from Northwestern or Paris Johnson from Ohio State.”
The Eagles have a strong collection of linemen already, but Tucker pushed back against the notion that it’s not an area of need.
“There are three offensive line roles the Eagles need," Tucker said. "They need a starting right guard potentially, they need depth this year – like a guy that can play tackle and guard this year – and they need a long-term answer at right tackle with Lane saying he wants to play two more years.
“What I like about Skoronski and Paris Johnson, those guys actually can be all three. You can get all three with one guy. They can start at right guard, they can give you depth at tackle if (Jordan) Mailata or Lane (Johnson) go down, and they could be the heir apparent for Lane at right tackle.”
Both Johnson and Skoronski played tackle in college, but Skoronski projects as a long-term guard in the NFL.
“I think Skoronski is the better guard and would be the better guard,” Tucker said. “Johnson I think has a better ability to be like a Pro Bowl offensive tackle – so, what's more important to you? The guy that probably starts at guard the next two years, or having a tackle that’s like a Lane-type, Mailata-type for 10 years? That’s probably more Paris Johnson.”
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