PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — 94WIP Hall of Fame journalist Ray Didinger gave the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2022 NFL Draft excellent reviews, saying General Manager Howie Roseman was aggressive and smart.
Didinger praised the Eagles' first and third-round picks, Georgia defensive tackle Jordan Davis and linebacker Nakobe Dean.
"I had seen a lot of Georgia this year," Didinger told KYW Newsradio.
"I had seen their team and I said on numerous occasions, it was the best college defense I ever saw. They were that good. And the two key guys really were Jordan Davis in the middle of that defensive line and Nakobe Dean running sideline-to-sideline, hitting everything that moved. The Eagles now have both of those guys and I think that their defense is going to be better for it."
The Eagles traded up to draft Davis, a fast, athletic and big defensive tackle, 13th overall.
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Dean dropped to them in the third round, presumably because of a pectoral injury. Dean earned a first-round grade from Didinger.
Roseman believes Dean will have a chip on his shoulder for being passed over as much as he was. Didinger, who earned a first-round grade from Didinger, called the selection more of a steal than a risk.
"Nakobe Dean was one of my favorite players in the entire draft," Didinger said.
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Didinger also liked the Eagles’ trade for established wide receiver A.J. Brown in a deal with the Tennessee Titans. Brown is 24 years old and compiled 1,000-yard seasons in his first two years, which included a Pro Bowl nod in 2020.
"[Eagles wide receiver] DeVonta Smith was a guy that I think everybody kind of felt good about drafting [in 2021] and had a good rookie year,” said Didinger. “I think he's only going to get better, but they really needed that other receiver on the other side."
Before, Smith was sharing the field with wide receivers Jalen Reagor and Quez Watkins.
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Reagor has been a disappointment since being drafted in the 2020 first round and Watkins is better as a third and fourth option than a second.
Brown is also very close with Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts, whom Brown referred to as his best friend in an exclusive airport interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia's John Clark.
After the Eagles traded for Brown on night one of the draft, Hurts posted video of him face-timing Brown and celebrating the move.
All and all, Roseman said the Eagles are better now than they were when they lost to the Buccaneers in the Wild Card round of the playoffs.
As Didinger put it, "I think they're significantly better."
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