Eagles draft: Four players to target in the end of Round 1

The Eagles are heading back to the Super Bowl for the second time in three seasons, bolstered by the acquisition of Saquon Barkley and a strong 2024 draft class led by defensive backs Cooper DeJean and Quinyon Mitchell. In fact, players over their last three draft classes have been difference-makers for one of the most successful stretches in franchise history.

Although the Eagles are Super Bowl-bound, there are three positions that they could target in April’s NFL draft: defensive end, defensive tackle, and tight end, while possibly considering a replacement for 34-year-old right tackle Lane Johnson, even as he continues playing at an All-Pro level.

Tight end Dallas Goedert has been banged up over the last two seasons, but the Eagles might be out of range for the two top tight ends in this class: Penn State’s Tyler Warren and Michigan’s Colston Loveland. Meanwhile, the Eagles could lose defensive linemen Josh Sweat and Milton Williams to free agency, and Brandon Graham is nearing retirement.

The Birds won’t be drafting until the 31st or 32nd pick. With that in mind, here are four players the Eagles could consider taking at the end of Round 1.

Over the last couple of seasons, no defensive line has oozed talent in college football more than Texas A&M’s. There are three potential draft picks who played on its defensive line this season, including Scourton, who transferred in from Purdue last offseason. Scourton, along with his teammate, Shemar Stewart, will be competing in Mobile, Ala., this week at the Senior Bowl.

At 6-foot-4, 285 pounds, Scourton is a bit heavier than your average edge rusher. But he has an explosive first step and a nice tool kit of pass-rush moves, including a lethal spin move and speed-to-power conversions. He added some weight to his frame in the offseason and didn’t look as explosive as he did with the Boilermakers early in the season, but his motor and finishing ability stood out against Arkansas, Missouri, and LSU, the latter of which have early-round tackle draft prospects.

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Scourton entered the season in the top edge rusher discussion, but his inconsistencies defending the run and a step back in production have him in the mid-to-late first-round discussion. His power profile style of pass rushing could make him an eventual replacement for Graham and differs in the approach of other Eagles edge rushers Sweat, Nolan Smith, Bryce Huff, and Jalyx Hunt.

With Williams’ Eagles future uncertain, the defensive line needs another player to complement Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter in the interior. Michigan’s Mason Graham headlines the deep defensive line class, but several other players should intrigue the Eagles in the late first-round, early second-round range. One of those players is Mississippi defensive lineman Walter Nolen, a highly touted recruit who started his career at Texas A&M before transferring to the Rebels last offseason.

Nolen, 6-3, 305, is incredibly slippery and explosive for his size. Primarily lining up as a three-technique on a talented Ole Miss defensive line that should have four players drafted, Nolen has the ability to kick out to defensive end on passing downs to rush the passer with some effectiveness. He particularly thrives, though, at the 3-tech, using his quick yet heavy hands to get into the chests of offensive linemen. When he explodes upfield on running downs, he can completely shut down plays before they even get started and finished with career highs in tackles for loss (14) and sacks (6½).

His pad level needs to improve, but the potential from the former five-star high school recruit is formidable. Though he may play himself out of the Eagles’ range if he has a dominant Senior Bowl, Nolen is the type of core defensive tackle who can make the Birds’ interior defensive line formidable for the next couple of seasons.

Johnson continues to age like fine wine at the end of the Eagles’ right side of the offensive line, but bringing in reinforcements and potential developmental players would continue to reaffirm the organization’s commitment to building through the trenches. Texas tackle Cameron Williams, at 6-5, 335, would be a worthy contender to fit that description.

Williams is not the most fleet of foot, but he can pop out of his stance and get to the apex of his kick slide to engage a pass rusher. He has a strong initial punch, the ability to drive defensive linemen backward on down blocks, and has excellent grip strength. He’s at his best in the run game, when he can get downhill and uses his massive frame to thwart all styles of pass rushers, though speedy edge rushers can turn the corner on him.

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Williams has a tendency to play over his toes and lunge as a run and pass blocker at times, but the right tackle will be just 21 on draft day and has just 16 career starts. He’s a moldable building block for the future and can learn, grow, and develop under offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland and be an understudy to Johnson. In a tackle class that isn’t particularly deep, getting a future contributor at the end of Round 1 would be great value for the Eagles.

Tuimoloau and fellow edge rusher Jack Sawyer were phenomenal in the Buckeyes’ college football title run, and have been standout players for the last three seasons. Tuimoloau, who collected 6½ of his 12½ total sacks in the College Football Playoff, should particularly be intriguing for the Eagles, with his size, explosiveness, pass-rush toolbox, and high motor to chase down plays from behind.

What makes him stand out is how stout he is in defending the run. He embraces contact, faces pulling guards and tackles with authority, and uses his length to hold his ground against offensive linemen. His disruptiveness allowed his teammates to generate pressure as well.

Tuimoloau’s change of direction and agility won’t blow you away, but his consistency down-to-down raises his floor as a prospect. Of the edge rushers in the first-round range, none might be as impactful as Tuimoloau could be with the Eagles, and at 6-5, 269, he’d be a nice Graham replacement.