Mel Kiper’s First 2024 Mock Draft Is About the Philadelphia Eagles’ Offensive Line
In last week’s Super Wild Card round matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2023 season came to an abrupt end.
The team’s focus will now shift to the upcoming summer, which will include the 2024 NFL Draft and free agency.
With numerous needs on both sides of the ball, the Eagles are expected to have nine picks in this spring’s draft.
The defense, which faltered miserably in the last stretch, is something that many supporters feel the team should improve with its first-round pick at No. 22 overall.
To the surprise of some fans, ESPN’s NFL Draft expert Mel Kiper has Philadelphia selecting offensively with their first pick in his first mock draft.
Eagles Rumors: In the NFL mock draft, Philadelphia selects an offensive tackle at pick number 22.
In Kiper’s first mock draft on ESPN.com (subscription needed), he projects the Eagles to choose Oregon State offensive lineman Taliese Fuaga and build up the trenches.
Kiper highlights how the offensive line is aging, particularly with All-Pro center Jason Kelce about to retire and Lane Johnson starting at right tackle.
Fuaga is a “top-tier talent,” according to the NFL Draft expert, and he can play both inside at guard and outside at tackle.
Cam Jurgens would probably be the obvious choice to take Kelce’s place if he retires this offseason, giving the Eagles an opening at right guard.
Pro Football Focus rated 6-foot-6, 330-pound Fuaga as the top run blocker in the nation this season (90.7).
On paper, the Eagles would rank Fuaga at No. 22, especially given their penchant for attacking the trenches and using early draft money.
But the Eagles’ needs in the secondary and at linebacker are more urgent.
It will be intriguing to observe what the mock drafts predict the Eagles will do once we pass the East-West Shrine Game, the Senior Bowl, and the NFL scouting combine, though, as draft season is finally getting underway.
Given that they were among the NFL’s oldest teams this season, Philadelphia has to win on the majority of their selections.
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