Will the Eagles make a trade-up in the first round this Thursday? NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah believes so.
Daniel Jeremiah of NFL Network is a former Eagles scout as well as one of the country’s best draft commentators.
So he understands how Howie Roseman’s thinking operates.
“I would say this: He’s going to trade,” Jeremiah stated on the most recent episode of Takeoff with John Clark. “He is not going to stay. My guess is that I’ll go 70% up and 30% back. I would say he is more likely to trade up than down, but he never trades back.
Roseman, the Eagles’ longstanding general manager, has never been hesitant about making first-round moves, frequently moving up and down the board. The Eagles are ranked 22nd in this year’s draft, but it would not surprise anyone if they do not select a player at that spot. That is how Howie usually does it.
In fact, Roseman has traded up on draft day each of the last three years, acquiring Jalen Carter in 2023, Jordan Davis in 2022, and DeVonta Smith in 2021.
What position does Jeremiah keep returning to for the Eagles in 2024? Cornerback.
Sure, Roseman has never picked a cornerback in the first round, and the club hasn’t done so since 2002, but some of it is due to circumstance. The Eagles certainly care about this position. And Jeremiah knows the importance of a first-round cornerback, as well as the evident necessity.
“There’s some intriguing corners outside the first round but I do think there’s a drop-off from those top handful of guys,” he said. “If I were to lean in one direction, it would be towards the corner. Where we stand today as we approach the draft, if I had to bet on the Eagles, it would be one of Alabama’s corners. Whether that’s where they are or whether they need to move up a little bit.
Several cornerbacks are expected to be first-round picks later this week, including Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo, Terrion Arnold and Kool-Aid McKinstry from Alabama, Cooper DeJean from Iowa, and Nate Wiggins from Clemson.
Jeremiah loves the Eagles’ trade-up and the cornerback position. So Clark asked Jeremiah for his prediction for the Eagles on Thursday night, which he combined:
“I’m going to say that the Philadelphia Eagles, they’re picking 22, I’m going to say it’s a very small move up, maybe it’s to get ahead of the Jags (at 17),” he said. “I’m going to say the Philadelphia Eagles, as we sit and discuss today, they end up getting up to pick No. 16, they make that swap and get ahead of the Jacksonville Jaguars and they take Terrion Arnold, the corner from Alabama.”
Arnold, 21, was a two-year starter at Alabama before really breaking out in 2023, surpassing teammate McKinstry in the draft rankings. Arnold (6-0, 189) recorded five interceptions and 17 pass breakups last season before performing admirably in the combine. He is Jeremiah’s ninth overall prospect in this year’s class.
The Eagles currently have Darius Slay, James Bradberry, Kelee Ringo, Eli Ricks, and a few others at cornerback. But Slay and Bradberry are both over 30, and Bradberry is coming off a dismal 2023 season. The Eagles have a short- and long-term need at cornerback. And obtaining one of the top players in this class appears to be an ideal conclusion.