After winning Super Bowl LII and then suffering consecutive playoff defeats, the Philadelphia Eagles went through a mini rebuild in 2020 that helped transform them into one of the best teams in the NFL. Coming off a runner-up finish in Super Bowl LVII, Philadelphia needs the 2023 NFL Draft to hoist the Lombardi Trophy again.
The NFL Draft has been very good to Philadelphia in recent years. DeVonta Smith, Landon Dickerson, Nakobe Dean, Kenneth Gainwell, Jalen Hurts and Miles Sanders are just a few of the standouts and emerging players who helped the Eagles finish near the top of the NFL standings. Now, Howie Roseman is tasked with assembling another top draft class to get Philadelphia over the final hurdle next season.
Before diving into our Philadelphia Eagles mock draft, here’s a rundown of everything you need to know before draft day for Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Eagles draft picks 2023
Here are the Eagles’ draft picks in the 2023 NFL Draft.
- Round 1: 10th overall
- Round 1: 30th overall
- Round 2: 62nd overall
- Round 3: 94th overall
- Round 7: 219th overall
- Round 7: 248th overall
Related: 2023 NFL Draft order
Philadelphia Eagles draft needs 2023
Following NFL free agency, here are the Eagles’ draft needs in the 2023 NFL Draft.
- Safety
- Linebacker
- Wide Receiver
- Running Back
- Edge Rusher
- Offensive Line
Related: Philadelphia Eagles interested in top offensive weapon in 2023 NFL Draft
Philadelphia Eagles mock draft
First round, 10th pick: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
The Philadelphia Eagles could go in a variety of directions with the 10 pick and there are some temptations to select one of the top cornerbacks on the board. However, Roseman has a history of prioritizing the trenches and Peter Skoronski’s positional versatility feels like an ideal fit.
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Skoronski, the 6-foot-4 offensive lineman, played nearly 2,400 snaps at left tackle during this career at Northwestern. However, some teams believe his shorter arms are a sign that he needs to move inside to guard. Philadelphia loves offensive linemen who could be moved around, which means Skoronski checks off a nice box and could fulfill one of two needs on the offensive line.
If Skoronski is moved inside to guard, the Eagles might have a perennial Pro Bowl selection. At Northwestern, Skoronski developed outstanding technique and it pairs beautifully with his athleticism. Drawing NFL comparisons to Zack Martin from NFL.com, Skoronski could start at right guard in his rookie season.
First Round, 30th pick: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
As mentioned above, Roseman’s preference for dominating in the trenches is a huge influencing factor in our Eagles mock draft. With Philadelphia’s additional first-round pick, it addresses a pass rush that needs to start having better long-term plans for the future.
Will McDonald is an excellent athlete for his size – 6-foot-4 – bursting off the line with a level of explosiveness that can make him dangerous as a situational pass rusher. He lacks the strength, discipline and technique to be a factor as a run defender, but the Eagles don’t prioritize stopping running backs. Snagging McDonald at the 30th pick, Philadelphia adds another dynamic pass rusher to add to its arsenal of disruptors of the pocket.
Second Round, 62nd pick: Nathaniel ‘Tank’ Dell, WR, Houston
While some consideration was given to drafting a wide receiver earlier, reaching for a player isn’t really necessary. While the 2023 NFL Draft receiver rankings capture that this isn’t a particularly strong class at the position, Nathaniel Dell is a value pick at the end of the second round.
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Dell is the definition of an offensive weapon. While his size (5-foot-8) is far from ideal for a wide receiver in the NFL, the explosiveness he displays on the field is rare. He knows how to create separation, a skill that few pass-catchers of his age have. With that ability, he creates a quick throwing lane for his quarterback and then his YAC ability is put on display. Philadelphia loves explosive players who can do remarkable things in the open field and drafting Dell would just be strengthening the arsenal of weapons around Hurts.
Third Round, 94th pick: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
While we didn’t head into our Eagles mock draft with the intention of selecting multiple players nicknamed ‘Tank’, it’s a fun outcome that also doesn’t stray from the strategy. Day 2 of the 2023 NFL Draft is when Roseman can really start adding depth and versatility to the offensive personnel, which is where Tank Bigsby comes in.
While our expectations are high for Rashaad Penny in 2023, his injury history is more than enough evidence to not bank on him staying healthy. There’s also no way the Eagles’ coaching staff will feel comfortable putting the 5-foot-9 Kenneth Gainwell into a featured role.
Enter Bigsby, one of a few running backs expected to be drafted in Round 3 who could handle a prominent role almost immediately. Standing at 6 feet, Bigsby moves well for his frame (210 pounds) and his ability to make quick decisions and then cut and get upfield rivals anyone in the 2023 draft class outside of Bijan Robinson. Quite Frankly, Bigsby could be Philadelphia’s short-yardage and goal-line back as a rookie and take on an even larger role if Penny does down.
Related: 2023 NFL power rankings
Philadelphia Eagles 7-round mock draft
- 1st Round, 10th overall: Peter Skoronski, OL, Northwestern
- 1st Round, 30th overall: Will McDonald IV, EDGE, Iowa State
- 2nd Round, 62nd overall: Nathaniel Dell, WR, Houston
- 3rd Round, 94th overall: Tank Bigsby, RB, Auburn
- 7th Round, 219th overall: Stetson Bennett, QB, Georgia
- 7th Round, 248th overall: Brandon Hill, S, Pittsburgh
