The Philadelphia Eagles enter the 2023 NFL Draft in the luxurious position of holding two first-round draft picks — owning the 30th pick and also the 10th pick, which they had acquired from the New Orleans Saints in a trade last year.
With that kind of draft capital, could the Eagles potentially move up in the draft?
Rob Ellis and Eliot Shorr-Parks of Audacy’s Go Birds! Podcast ran through different scenarios and options that the Eagles could have on draft night — with both open to move up if it lands them an impact player who can immediately make a difference.
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“Ten definitely has to be an impact right away,” Shorr-Parks said. “…I think the importance of getting somebody at 10 is so critical, I would definitely be open to packaging 30 to get up to five. … If you get up to the fourth or fifth pick and Will Anderson or Jalen Carter is still on the board? I’m all in for trading that 30th pick.”
Both Shorr-Parks and Ellis believe the defensive line and pass rush is a necessity to address despite the return of some veteran players, such as Fletcher Cox.
Between Anderson — an outside linebacker from Alabama — and Carter — a defensive end from Georgia — the latter seems most likely to fall in the draft due to questions surrounding his alleged involvement in a car crash that resulted in the death of his teammate, Devon Willock, and Georgia staff member Chandler Lecroy.
Carter, who at one point was considered a potential option as the No. 1 overall pick, has since been sentenced to 12 months probation and a $1,000 fine after pleading no contest to a misdemeanor reckless driving charge, but it remains to be seen how it will impact his draft stock.
Should both pass rushers go off the board early, though, then the Eagles may turn their attention to Texas running back Bijan Robinson.
“If they do stay there…for me, all roads always lead back to Bijan for me,” Shorr-Parks said. “This is a guy who can come in and literally change the offense and take it to another level. The value of taking a running back [that high] we can debate, but there’s no reason not to have a ton of value in [a running back].
“Miles Sanders touched the ball 19 times a game last year. That’s a lot…they lost Miles Sanders. That sometimes goes a little under-discussed because he was undervalued in this city, in my opinion, but he was a very reliable and good No. 1 running back and now they don’t have someone there.”
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