The Philadelphia Eagles had one of the worst late-season collapses in NFL history. While NFL free agency might help Philadelphia reload, the 2024 NFL Draft and our initial Eagles mock draft provide a better guide for how general manager Howie Roseman can rebuild this team.
Philadelphia had plenty of issues on both sides of the ball this season, especially late in the year. With several impact players contemplating retirement and others looming as potential cap casualties, this roster will need to be overhauled.
Before diving into our Eagles mock draft 2024, here’s everything you need to know.
Philadelphia Eagles draft picks 2024
Here are the Eagles picks in the 2024 NFL Draft.
- First Round, 22nd overall
- Second Round, 50th overall
- Second round, 54th overall
- Third round, 97th overall
- Fourth round, 137th overall
- Fifth round, 163rd overall
Related: 4 offseason moves the Philadelphia Eagles should make
Philadelphia Eagles draft needs 2024
Here are the Eagles draft needs ahead of the 2024 NFL Draft.
- Cornerback
- Safety
- Linebacker
- Wide Receiver
- Offensive Line
Here are the 2024 Philadelphia Eagles team needs heading into the offseason.
Related: Philadelphia Eagles coaching candidates
Philadelphia Eagles mock draft: Rebuilding both sides of the ball
1st Round, 22nd overall: Kool Aid-McKinstry, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide
The Philadelphia Eagles had the worst pass defense in the second half of the NFL season. What makes that more embarrassing for the former NFC champions is that it came with massive investments at cornerback and along the defensive line. While a lack of consistency from the pass rush was a slight issue for Philadelphia, the far bigger problem was the secondary.
- Philadelphia Eagles pass defense (Weeks 8-18): 100.2 QB rating allowed, 23 passing touchdowns, 270.4 passing yards per game, 7.3 yards per attempt, 65.3% completion rate
Philadelphia truly needs a No. 1 cornerback. While it’s possible schematic changes and a new defensive coordinator will lead to improved play from Darius Slay, James Bradberry seems to be at the point of no return. At the very least, the Eagles need to build this defense for the future and Kool-Aid McKinstry is a plug-and-play starter.
In 2023, McKinstry played like an All-American. According to Pro Football Focus, Alabama’s young defensive back allowed just a 48.7 percent completion rate across 49 targets faced. Remarkably, he finished with the sixth-best forced incompletion rate (26 percent) among draft-eligible cornerbacks, holding opponents to a 73.1 NFL QB rating when they threw his direction. Plus, defensive backs mentored by Nick Saban should always be targets when they have the physical tools to be great.
2nd Round, 50th overall: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas Longhorns
The Eagles have one of the best receiving tandems in the NFL with A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. Outside of those two, it’s a rotation of players who aren’t good enough to be considered offensive weapons. While this isn’t necessarily an immediate need, a franchise with limited long-term cap space will be challenged to keep DeVonta Smith and roster two of the highest-paid NFL wide receivers.
- DeVonta Smith contract: %6.408 million salary in 2024, fifth-year option in 2025
Selecting Xavier Worthy here is an instance of BPA in the 2024 NFL Draft. The Texas Longhorns standout is a borderline first-round talent. In three years at Texas, he amassed 2,755 receiving yards, averaging 14 yards per reception with 26 touchdowns.
Worthy can win with his seed in all areas of the field. He drew 19.3 percent of his targets 20-plus yards downfield last season, turning 6 receptions into 234 receiving yards and 2 touchdowns. More importantly for a team that struggled to provide quarterback Jalen Hurts with check-down options underneath, Worthy had a 33.6 percent target rate on passes 0-9 yards past the line of scrimmage. Worthy would be an outstanding No. 3 receiver in Philadelphia, potentially replacing Smith as WR2 in 2026.
2nd Round, 54th overall: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon Ducks
With Jason Kelce likely retiring, the Eagles have to consider their options at center. Cam Jurgens, the 51st pick in the 2022 NFL Draft, seems like the favorite to start in 2024. Not only does he have experience in the system, but offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland has been developing him for two years now.
However, Jurgens hasn’t exactly been a standout at right guard since he entered the league. In 2023, he finished outside the top 25 interior offensive linemen in both ESPN’s pass block and run block win rates. Jurgens also was graded as the 31st-best guard by PFF this season and he wasn’t that much better in 2022.
Oregon’s Jackson Powers-Johnson is the best center in the 2024 NFL Draft. He’s an immediate plug-and-play starter who allowed just 1 pressure and earned a 99.9 Pass Blocking Efficiency from PFF this past season. Powers-Johnson projects as the best option for the Eagles at center and his ceiling would be even higher with Stoutland as his coach.
3rd Round, 97th overall: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan Wolverines
Eagles’ running back D’Andre Swift was very productive this past season, earning a Pro Bowl selection after setting a career-high in scrimmage yards (1,263). However, Philadelphia has relied on backfield committees for several years and with Swift a free agent, the lead role could be open.
Michigan Wolverines running back Blake Corum doesn’t offer a ton as a receiving threat, but Philadelphia can balance that out by re-signing Swift or finding another pass-catching back. What Corum brings is the physical downhill runner who takes advantage of the run lanes created by the Eagles’ offensive line. Corum could easily be a 1,000-yard back for Philadelphia, helping the Eagles’ coaching staff return to a more run-heavy approach. Even if Corum doesn’t offer a ceiling as a standout three-down running back, he’s a solid addition at the midway point of this Eagles mock draft.
Eagles 7-round mock draft 2024
Rounding things out, here is our Eagles 7-round mock draft.
- 1st Round, 22nd overall: Kool-Aid McKinstry, CB, Alabama Crimson Tide
- 2nd Round, 50th overall: Xavier Worthy, WR, Texas Longhorns
- 2nd Round, 54th overall: Jackson Powers-Johnson, C, Oregon Ducks
- 3rd Round, 97th overall: Blake Corum, RB, Michigan Wolverines
- 4th Round, 137th overall: Javon Foster, OT, Missouri Tigers
- 5th Round, 163rd overall: Cole Bishop, S, Utah Utes
- 5th Round, 172nd overall: Cam Hart, CB, Notre Dame Fighting Irish
- 5th Round, 178th overall: Michael Barrett, LB, Michigan Wolverines
- 7th Round, 243rd overall: DDelmar Glaze, OT, Maryland Terrapins
