The 2023 NFL draft is fast approaching, and as all 32 teams across the league increase their focus, scouts within the organization are doing their due diligence on all prospects.
Thanks to some draft night wizardry from Howie Roseman, the Eagles traded the No. 16 overall pick, No. 19 overall pick, and a 2022 sixth-round pick to the New Orleans Saints for the No. 18 overall pick, a 2022 third-round pick, a 2022 seventh-round pick, a 2023 first-round pick, and a 2024 second-round pick.
Philadelphia has a Super Bowl-caliber offense and needs to reload on defense.
ESPN’s Jason Reid released his latest seven-round mock draft, and we break down all six picks.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (from NO) Nolan Smith, Edge, Georgia
Smith is an undersized edge rusher with an elite change of direction and burst.
The 6-foot-3, 235-pound Smith was on his way to a dominant Senior season before suffering a mid-season pectoral injury that cost him the rest of the year.
Smith plays with power, quickness, and explosiveness off the edge and would mesh well with former Georgia teammates Jordan Davis (DT) and Nakobe Dean (LB).
Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman has been strategic with how he attacks positions in Round 1, anticipating roster needs sometimes a year or two in advance. He has poured resources into the defensive line to supplement the veterans on the roster. Drafting Smith would be another strategic move, as he is a similar player to Eagles edge rusher Haason Reddick. Smith is an explosive outside linebacker who can rush standing up or with his hand in the ground. He would be an addition that fits the mold of what the organization covets.
30. Philadelphia Eagles Bryan Bresee, IDL, Clemson
Bresee has the incredible upper-body strength to slow down opponent run games and work through blockers as an interior pass-rusher.
The Clemson defensive tackle shows up on the game tape, and he displayed his athleticism on Thursday.
6'5"
298 poundsAnd @ClemsonFB DL Bryan Bresee just flew with a 4.93u. 👀
📺: #NFLCombine on @nflnetwork
📱: Stream on NFL+ pic.twitter.com/z7ZvxfVC4B— NFL (@NFL) March 2, 2023
I gave the Eagles outside linebacker Nolan Smith at No. 10, and I’m sticking with the front seven here. Bresee suits the versatility of the Eagles’ scheme. He has played every position along the line but projects best as a 3-technique tackle. His agility and quickness make him capable of playing off the edge in late-down situations, which is what he did frequently in college. Although Bresee must be more consistent, it will help him to go to a team with a veteran defense, which Philadelphia has. He has the potential to be a mainstay next to 2022 first-rounder Jordan Davis.
62. Philadelphia Eagles Marvin Mims, WR, Oklahoma
Mims had 54 catches for 1,083 yards for the Sooners in 2022, and he excels at making tough catches and tracking the football.
I really like Marvin Mims in this draft class 📈
• 10th in Contested Catch Rate
• 9th in Yds per Route Run
• 2nd in YAC per Reception
• 1st in Avg Depth of Target
• 1st in Yds per Reception
(Stats per PFF)
pic.twitter.com/eD3GIy0mBz— Alfredo Brown (@ThePretendGM) February 22, 2023
The Eagles’ underrated need is depth at wide receiver. It’s a top-heavy group with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, but they don’t have much after those two. Mims, who averaged more than 20 yards per catch over the past two seasons, could compete with Quez Watkins for the WR3 spot, creating an intriguing battle for the vertical threat spot.
94. Philadelphia Eagles Ji'Ayir Brown, S, Penn State
The New Jersey native enrolled at Lackawanna College, where he played with future Penn State teammate Jaquan Brisker and earned first-team All-American honors his sophomore year. Brown played in nine games as a reserve in 2020 (six tackles, one for loss, one pass breakup) before breaking out in 2021 while playing next to Brisker.
Brown was a third-team All-Big Ten Conference pick, tying for the FBS lead with six interceptions, posting 73 tackles, and breaking up five passes in 13 starts. Brown was Penn State’s Most Valuable Player in 2022, garnering third-team All-Big Ten Conference honors with a team-high 74 tackles (seven for loss with 4.5 sacks) and four interceptions while also breaking up three passes and forcing two fumbles in 13 starts. He was the Defensive MVP of the Rose Bowl (eight tackles, 1.5 sacks, interception) in Penn State’s win over Utah.
Even after signing Terrell Edmunds, the Eagles need to add another safety to make up for the losses of C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps. Brown is a versatile defender who will play primarily as a free safety. He finished his final season with the Nittany Lions with 56 total tackles and four interceptions.
219. Philadelphia Eagles (from HOU/MIN): Mohamed Ibrahim, RB, Minnesota
Ibrahim finished his collegiate career with a Gophers program-record 53 rushing touchdowns.
Ibrahim, who measured 5-foot-8 and 203 pounds at the combine, amassed 1,665 yards in his senior year, which ranked third in the NCAAF.
248. Philadelphia Eagles: Jeremy Banks, LB, Tennessee
The Cordova, TN native led the Vols in tackles in 2021 with 128 (No. 7 in the nation).
A high-motor player, Banks was a two-year starter and the team’s top pass-rushing linebacker. He logged 53 tackles, 4½ tackles-for-loss, and eight quarterback hurries in 11 games last season. In his career, he made 219 tackles and 18 tackles for loss in 48 games.
