TEMPE, ARIZONA - FEBRUARY 09: A detailed view of a Philadelphia Eagles helmet lays on the field in a practice session prior to Super Bowl LVII at Arizona Cardinals Training Center on February 09, 2023 in Tempe, Arizona. The Kansas City Chiefs play the Philadelphia Eagles in Super Bowl LVII on February 12, 2023 at State Farm Stadium. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
Just one month remains until the 2024 NFL Draft, or “Moving Day,” as Eagles general manager Howie Roseman likes to refer to it.
Roseman has made eight deals involving first-round picks, with the exception of 2015, when former head coach Chip Kelly took over the team’s draft. By moving up the board, Roseman has been able to acquire players like DeVonta Smith (2021) and Fletcher Cox (2012).
In the draft held next month, these three talents are worth trading up for.
1. TE Brock Bowers | Georgia | Former Eagles tight end Zach Ertz was coming off his first of two Pro Bowl seasons when the team drafted Stanford tight end Dallas Goedert 35th-overall in the 2013 draft.
Goedert hasn’t made a Pro Bowl and has missed eight games over the past two years. With two years left on his contract and an “out clause” after next season, the Eagles could have eyes on Bowers.
In his three years as a Bulldog, Bowers caught 175 passes for 2,538 yards, 26 touchdowns, and five rushing scores. He has been compared to George Kittle of the 49ers, and he might be selected in the top-10 for the first time since 2000, making him the fifth tight end to do so. Roseman might find that too wealthy, but if Bowers drops, he makes sense for someone in their early to mid-teens.
2. CB Quinyon Mitchell | Toledo | In five years as a Rocket, Mitchell had 123 tackles (93 solo), 45 passes defended and six interceptions, five of which came in 2022 earning him First-Team All-MAC honors.
Mitchell was slated to go to Philadelphia 22nd overall in the forthcoming draft by ESPN’s Matt Miller following a great performance at the Senior Bowl in early February. However, Mitchell’s stock has increased when he outperformed every cornerback at the NFL Scouting Combine.
Mel Kiper of ESPN says that Mitchell is now the best cornerback in the draft, ranking him as the 13th-best prospect overall.
In previous mock drafts, the six-foot, 195-pound cornerback has been associated with both the Falcons and the Broncos. At No. 12, a rebuilding team like Denver could be a possibility because they do not have a second-round pick this year.
3. EDGE Dallas Turner | Alabama | Kiper is equally high on Turner, a 6-foot-3, 247-pound physical specimen with a quick first step and elite closing speed. The NFL draft guru ranks him first at his position and the ninth-best prospect overall.
In his three seasons with the Crimson Tide, Turner amassed 120 tackles and 22.5 sacks. In 2023, he was named consensus All-America and SEC Defensive Player of the Year. Turner was the most impressive edge rusher at the combine, finishing first overall in the 40-yard dash with a time of 4.46.
Although the Falcons and Broncos have also been linked to Turner, if no team decides to trade for the versatile pass rusher, Turner would look fine in a rotation with Bryce Huff, Nolan Smith, and possibly Haason Reddick.
