It’s draft season! I’ve been busy watching a bunch of these prospects, so in the lead-up to the 2024 NFL Draft, I’ll be releasing my rankings. Before you read ahead, please keep in mind the following!
- I have ranked these players based on the Eagles’ needs and scheme fits. Therefore, the round grade I have given considers that. For example, I may have had a 2nd round grade on a player like Trey Benson if the Eagles badly needed a running back, but I have pushed him down the board after the signing of Barkley.
- Please focus more on the tiers rather than the list. I use tiers when I have similar grades on players, and there might not be a lot of difference between players if they are in the same tier.
- I try to watch as much film as I can on these guys, but I also rely on others for stats and other data. Huge credit to PFF and Dane Brugler for some of the stats and measurables used in the pieces.
- I may mention off-the-field and injury issues in the reports, but I don’t really factor that in when ranking these prospects. However, I may mention it in the summaries.
- If I haven’t ranked someone, that’s because I haven’t watched them! If you’d like me to watch someone in particular, feel free to comment and I’ll try to get to them before the draft.
Previously
Running Backs / Wide Receivers / Tight Ends / Offensive Line / Defensive Line
EDGE Defenders
Tier 1
1. Laiatu Latu, UCLA, 6-4 3/4, 259
Summary: Laiatu Latu is an outstanding prospect who knows exactly how to rush the quarterback with elite hand quickness and athleticism. Everything he does is ridiculously fast and he looks so well-coordinated as an athlete.
Eagles Thoughts: If the medicals cause him to drop and the Eagles are OK with him, this would be an insane steal at 22. If he starts falling I would be thinking about moving up because I think he’s that good. This is ‘my guy’ in this draft class.
2. Dallas Turner, Alabama, 6’2, 247
Summary: Dallas Turner is an outstanding EDGE prospect who doesn’t have a huge weakness. He’s a bendy pass rusher who can also play the run and has the athleticism to drop into coverage occasionally.
Eagles Thoughts: He would be a great EDGE who has the athleticism to rush and cover but I expect him to be gone a while before the Eagles pick at 22.
Tier 2
3. Jared Verse, Florida State, 6-3 7/8, 254
Summary: Jared Verse has all the tools but still needs to put it all together to hit his upside. He’s an aggressive jacked pass rusher who wins with speed to power, and a very strong run defender but is a little more stiff than the other top prospects. I love how he plays in college but worry a little about how it translates to the NFL.
Eagles Thoughts: I worry a little bit about Verse at 22 because I’m not sure he’s fluid or bendy enough to win on the edge consistently, but he would give the Eagles another high-motor player on the edge who is excellent in run defense too. I wouldn’t hate it at 22 but I have more of a late 1st round grade.
4. Chop Robinson, Penn State, 6-2 7/8, 254
Summary: Robinson is more of a gifted athlete rather than a great pass rusher at this stage, and he will need a good coaching staff to improve his ability to get pressure consistently. If he doesn’t win immediately he will struggle (I’ve seen someone describe him as first bend or bust which sums up his pass rushing right now).
Eagles Thoughts: I can see several teams (including the Eagles) being extremely impressed by his athleticism. I think he would fit as an EDGE who can rush as well as drop. The traits are outstanding so the question is why did it not translate into better production? Taking him at 22 would be a bet on the traits.
Tier 3
5. Darius Robinson, Missouri, 6’5, 285
Summary: Darius Robinson is the most interesting EDGE defender in this class and NFL teams are going to see him differently depending on their scheme. He’s almost too big for an EDGE, but this allows him to win with power and rush the quarterback, and be very good against the run.
Eagles Thoughts: If the Eagles see him as a versatile EDGE who can also play at 5 technique in odd fronts, then he could have real value in the Fangio scheme. I think 22 is too high but I wouldn’t be shocked if the Eagles see him as a unique talent that will fit the Fangio scheme well. He would also give the Eagles a much-needed physical run defender at EDGE.
6. Chris Braswell, Alabama, 6-3, 251
Summary: Braswell is an explosive EDGE rusher whose game is built on power and physicality, rather than athleticism and pass-rushing technique. He’s an excellent athlete but he’s a little straight-line fast, and I worry about his ability to bend the edge.
Eagles Thoughts: I think Braswell may need some time to develop, but you can’t teach the burst and physicality that he has and I would consider him in round 2.
7. Marshawn Kneeland, Western Michigan, 6’3, 267
Summary: Kneeland is a high-motor physical EDGE who fits more as a 4-3 defensive end. He can run through offensive linemen but doesn’t have much else in his arsenal if this fails. He needs some work, but you can’t teach his physicality and competitiveness.
Eagles Thoughts: I doubt this is the kind of EDGE the Eagles are looking at, as he’s not someone you want dropping into coverage or playing wide in a 5-man front. But the Eagles are really light at EDGE, and if they wanted a base DE in a 4-man front, Kneeland would fit. I would look his way around the 2nd, but I expect him to go earlier.
8. Bralen Trice, Washington, 6-3 4/8, 245
Summary: Trice is a big, powerful physical EDGE defender who isn’t a top-tier athlete and also has shorter arms for the position. He’s going to be a tough competitive player who will get pressure but will likely never be an elite player. He’s a bit of a splash player who has some worrying plays where he doesn’t turn the corner well enough and gets caught up field in run defense. He’s a bit of a high-floor, low-ceiling player to me.
Eagles Thoughts: I’ve seen Trice mocked around round 2 which feels about right. He’s a high-floor tough physical player though who wouldn’t be a bad pick in the 2nd and could help the Eagles on all 3 downs, although don’t expect him to bend the edge too well.
Tier 4
9. Adisa Isaac, Penn State, 6’4, 247
Summary: Isaac is someone whose traits are better than his production right now as he wasn’t a brilliant pass rusher. But he could develop into a solid starter as he has strong athletic traits, great arm length, and explosiveness. The upside is really high.
Eagles Thoughts: I like Isaac as a rotational EDGE rusher who can play in the Eagles’ odd fronts, and the athletic potential means I would consider him towards the end of day 2 (although I think the film shows a day 3 player right now).
10. Jonah Ellis, Utah, 6’2, 248
Summary: Ellis doesn’t look like he has the traits to be a successful pass rusher right now, so any pick will be based on his age, upper body strength, and counter moves that he has flashed. He needs to significantly improve his physical profile though but he’s extremely young and athletic, so he’s going to go higher than the film suggests.
Eagles Thoughts: I’ve seen some mocks have Ellis as a round 2 player, but I think that would be incredibly risky and I would be waiting until rounds 3/4. Anything higher than this would be a pick based on projection and age.
11. Austin Booker, Kansas, 6’4, 240
Summary: Austin Booker possesses a great frame, with long arms and good movement skills, but is incredibly raw and has a lot to learn before he can start in the NFL. He is a bet on traits over production.
Eagles Thoughts: Booker has the traits that interest me, but it would be a huge risk to take him on day 2 so I would wait until day 3 before I considered taking him.
Tier 5
12. Gabriel Murphy, UCLA, 6-2, 247
Summary: Murphy is more of a standup rotational pass rusher who will need to develop his game to win quickly, rather than relying on great hand usage and counter moves which take too long to set up. He is a versatile defender who could be deployed as the EDGE in 5-man fronts or possibly as an off-ball linebacker at times.
Eagles Thoughts: He makes sense as a rotational athletic rusher who could be added toward the beginning of day 3.
13. Xavier Thomas, Clemson, 6’2, 244
Summary: Thomas was previously seen as a potential 1st round pick before struggling with a foot injury. He has explosive traits, can bend the edge, and flashes some nice pass-rushing traits, but he doesn’t excel at any one thing and is now 24.
Eagles Thoughts: If Xavier Thomas falls to the middle of day 3, I would consider him as a rotational pass rusher who can bend the edge and be a decent backup for the Eagles.
As always, thank you for reading. If you want more detailed notes on each player (strengths and weaknesses) then I’m thinking of releasing my entire document this year. Keep an eye out for this and let me know if this is something you are interested in!
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