Eagles could follow familiar formula in 2024 NFL Draft

Howie Roseman has made several moves up the board in Round 1. The acclaimed GM has done so in four of the past five years, making deals to acquire Andre Dillard (2019), DeVonta Smith (2021), Jordan Davis (2022) and Jalen Carter (2023). It would naturally come as little surprise if the Eagles made another climb to land a preferred target.

They are looking into such a move, with ESPN.com’s Adam Schefter indicating the team has been calling around gauging what it will take to make a move up from No. 22. Many around the league believe the Eagles could target a cornerback in Round 1, per Schefter and CBS Sports’ Jonathan Jones.

Philly’s 2023 plans did not produce the same kind of success on defense that 2022 brought. The unit cratered as the season progressed, leading to a shocking collapse after a 10-1 start. The team replaced DC Sean Desai with Matt Patricia, a move that produced no noticeable improvement.

Cornerback age is certainly an issue for the NFC contender, and Tuesday is not the first connection for the team to address this spot early. Darius Slay turned 33 this offseason, and James Bradberry will be 31 soon. The Eagles reached new deals with both last year. The team also circled back to Avonte Maddox, whom it cut in March. The veteran slot, going into his age-28 season, has battled injuries over the past two years.

The Eagles have 2023 pickup Isaiah Rodgers reinstated, giving them a younger option alongside 2023 fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo. But the team could use a true heir apparent to train behind Slay and Bradberry. The team brought in Iowa’s Cooper DeJean for a late visit after a meeting with Alabama’s Kool-Aid McKinstry. Mel Kiper Jr.’s ESPN.com big board lists DeJean, despite a broken fibula in 2023, as this draft’s top corner (No. 14 overall) while slotting Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell (20) and Alabama’s Terrion Arnold (21) in Philly’s range.

More buzz about the Eagles making a move to fortify their O-line in the long term also is emerging, with Jones and SI.com’s Albert Breer adding tackle is an area to keep an eye on here. The Eagles have been connected to acquiring a possible Lane Johnson heir apparent for a bit. Johnson has not indicated he is on the verge of retiring, but the 12th-year RT is going into his age-34 season.

As the selections of Dillard, Cam Jurgens and Landon Dickerson have shown, the Eagles are big on making early investments to keep their O-line a top-flight unit. The team could look for O-line help in Round 2, but this strong tackle draft could prove tempting for a team big on this sort of move.