I think it is more than fair to say the Philadelphia Eagles draft was the best of the weekend in the 2023 NFL Draft. The Eagles lost a few players this offseason in free agency which could have made a negative impact on the upcoming season. Those concerns should all but be answered with the players the Eagles were able to acquire through the draft. They came away with a haul of talented players that could fill in missing spots right away and make a big difference in not only getting back to the Super Bowl, but potentially creating the NFL’s next dynasty.
Philadelphia Eagles Draft May Make a Dynasty
Eagles Draft Picks: First Round
Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
In some type of Philly miracle, Jalen Carter fell to the ninth pick of the 2023 NFL Draft, where the Eagles made a deal with the Chicago Bears to swap picks nine and ten. Carter by many accounts is a generational prospect as a defensive tackle. He was part of what many regard as the best college football defense of all time in 2021. Not only was he a contributor to that defense as a sophomore, but he was the best and most impactful player on a team that won back-to-back championships at Georgia. His game film looks like a highlight reel, flashing quickness and power that dominated offensive lines every game in college.
Sources had concerns about Carter’s character leading up to the draft and that may have been the reason he fell. Carter will surely need some time to grow up and become a true professional, but Philadelphia is a city for second chances. Being around good influences in veterans like Fletcher Cox, and familiar faces in Georgia teammates Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis will surely help that process.
Pairing him up with Jordan Davis, however, will create one of the best defensive tackle duos in the league. Solidifying the defensive line even after veterans Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham retire will ensure that the Eagles are a force on the defensive line with Hasson Reddick and company for the next few years, at a minimum.
Nolan Smith, EDGE, Georgia
With the hype around the Eagles landing Carter, the pick of Nolan Smith is going a little bit by the wayside, and it shouldn’t. Many people, including myself, thought that Nolan Smith could be a potential option for the Eagles with the 10th pick if the top prospects were gone. So, being able to land him with the 30th pick of the draft is a steal with lots of upside attached as well. NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believes Nolan Smith has upside that matches his new teammate Hasson Reddick. While Smith has some work to do to get to Reddick’s level as a pass rusher, the versatility of Nolan Smith will bring great value.
Smith is small for an edge-rusher at 238 pounds, but he is great against the run. He has freaky power coupled with insane athleticism and some length that makes him a nightmare to block. Able to disengage and re-engage off blocks effortlessly against offensive linemen, and there is a chance he may play a bunch of snaps as a stand-up linebacker. He is more than athletic enough to play in that role and be an underrated force in the rotation of edge-rushers for the Eagles. There may not be a super-defined role right away for Nolan Smith, but his versatility and pure athleticism can provide a lot for the Eagles in many ways.
Third Round
Tyler Steen, OL, Alabama
The Eagles decided to get out of the second round and have two top picks in the third round instead. The first Eagles pick in the third round saw them take Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Steen. Steen struggled at points this past season for Alabama due to his lack of length. However, he has all the makings of a good NFL guard with size, some quickness, and the intelligence to see twists and stunts coming.
Assuming the Eagles go with Cam Jurgens at the opposite guard spot this year, Steen will have some time to develop his technique further. If he improves, particularly in the run-blocking aspect, he can be a good guard that fits right into the Eagles line once Kelce retires.
Sydney Brown, Saf, Illinois
The Eagles grabbed super-talented safety Sydney Brown with their second third-rounder. Brown was a part of a talented Illinois secondary, and what he can bring to the table is very clear. He is a different player than former Eagles safety Chauncey Gardner-Johnson, as he is not going to be playing in the slot corner role or covering receivers too much man-to-man. Brown is someone that you see all over the field during the course of a game. He has reckless abandon and flies around delivering big hits and making plays on the ball in coverage.
Brown does have some missed tackles over his career, but it should not be a concern once he gets to training camp and starts hearing the coaches. He has all the tools, and his athleticism is noticeable watching him play. He will be a thumper in the run game, rangy in zone coverage, and even provide sticky coverage against tight ends man-to-man. This is an exciting player that could play right away for the Eagles. He has the traits to be an upgrade over current listed starters, Reed Blankenship and Terell Edmunds, as well as former starter, Marcus Epps.
Fourth Round
Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia (Again)
A few players slipped in the 2023 NFL Draft compared to some of the mock drafts leading up. Fourth-rounder Kelee Ringo was a player that was thought to be gone by the end of Round 2. Yet, the Eagles managed to trade up towards the top of the fourth round and select another former Georgia Bulldog. One of the amazing things about General Manger Howie Roseman is his ability in balancing when to focus on team needs in the draft, and when to take the best player available. For the latter, Roseman loves believing in physical traits, and Ringo has plenty to spare.
Kelee Ringo is a 6’-2” cornerback at 207 pounds and ran an impressive 4.36 forty-yard dash at the NFL Combine. It takes him a little bit of time to get going, but once he gets going Ringo can run with anyone. He is also a very physical corner, able to knock around receivers at the line of scrimmage and disrupt their routes.
Some believe Ringo does not have enough change-of-direction ability or explosiveness to play corner, and his build translates more to safety. Whatever position Ringo is going to play in the NFL, he was too talented to be on the board in the fourth round. He is now in a position where he does not need to make an immediate impact for the Eagles. Ringo will have the time to develop into a better corner or a great safety over the next couple years.
Eagles Draft: D’andre Swift Trade
Right after the Eagles selected Kelee Ringo, news broke out via Adam Schefter that the Detroit Lions traded running back D’andre Swift and a 2023 seventh-round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles. In exchange for a fourth-rounder in 2025 and a seventh-rounder in 2023, Swift is returning to his hometown Philadelphia.
Swift is a talented back that has real shiftiness and quickness to make defenders miss and enough size, power, and contact balance to break arm tackles. Up to this point in his career, people have been a little underwhelmed with his production. Injuries have a lot to do with that, and it never seemed like he had the coaching staff’s full trust in Detroit.
Swift, if anything, solidifies the Eagles backfield going into the season. Yes, he and new teammate Rashaad Penny both have had durability concerns over the years. But the chance for them to be behind an offensive line like the Eagles have should be scary for the rest of the NFL. While the Eagles do not have a clear-cut starter or workhorse now, what they do have is depth at the position. Swift, Penny, Kenneth Gainwell, and Boston Scott make up a good running back room that gives the team a little bit of everything. They all have talent in their respective areas, and the Eagles are going to have the luxury now to pick and choose the best situations for each player to be on the field.
Building A Juggernaut
Howie Roseman did it again with this Eagles draft, he not only seems to get instantly better from the draft every year, but also pick up players with high potential for the future. Jalen Carter has the chance to become an NFL superstar, much in the same way Fletcher Cox was for years. Adding in Nolan Smith’s potential impact in a variety of ways defensively, this front seven should scare the rest of the teams in the league. Even after losing Javon Hargrave in free agency, the defensive line might be even better than last year’s.
Sydney Brown is a dependable player that will compete for the starting job right away at camp and will likely be an upgrade over any Eagles safety on the roster and be a playmaker. Kelee Ringo and Tyler Steen are likely developmental pieces, but with high upside to contribute whenever they are ready.
All in all, this is the type of draft that gives a team a boost in the short term, solidifies the future, and brings an even higher upside in the future with it. The Eagles were already one of the best teams in the NFL, but to add what they did, it’s hard not to think they’ll be at the top for a while. But of course, nothing matters if the run doesn’t end in Super Bowl rings. The Eagles need to be able to handle their business early next year and find their footing for the playoffs. However, this upcoming season could be the start to a historical run for the Eagles and the NFL.
