As the 2024 NFL Draft approaches, pro days and 30 visits are in abundance while teams and draft prospects prepare for the big day.
The Dallas Cowboys are the team that perhaps relies more on the NFL Draft than any other team for the development of their roster.
Jerry Jones and the rest of the front office have shown us that they only rely on outside free agents for depth on cheap one-year deals.
It's been many years since they have invested heavily in free agency, and that strategy has fielded competitive teams year in and year out.
The Philadelphia Eagles are right on par with the Cowboys over the past few seasons when it comes to roster talent.
Eagles' GM Howie Roseman is much more active than Jones in trading for top players and acquiring superstars through free agency.
The difference is Roseman has yet to match the scouting and drafting prowess of the Dallas Cowboys, but if he has a draft anything like the mock draft we will be discussing today, he can bridge that gap.
I have already played pretend general manager for the Washington Commanders and New York Giants this week, and today it's time to do the same for the Philadelphia Eagles.
The purpose of this exercise is to use my best judgment to draft a team that will create a roster to pose the biggest challenge to the Dallas Cowboys.
Round 1 Pick 22
Selection: T Graham Barton, Duke
The Philadelphia Eagles start their draft in the first round by taking a player who many in Cowboys Nation wanted to land in Dallas.
Graham Barton, the flexible player from Duke University, possesses all of the traits that the Cowboys covet in an offensive lineman, and he would have filled a need at center.
Instead, Roseman and the Eagles immediately draft their replacement for the retired future Hall of Fame C Jason Kelce while simultaneously keeping him away from their top division rival.
In this mock draft, the Cowboys still ended up with T Troy Fautanu from Washington, but many of us would have preferred to lock up the next Travis Frederick.
Round 2 Pick 50
Selection: CB Ennis Rakestraw Jr., Missouri
With their first of two 2nd-round picks, the Eagles draft what they believe will be the eventual answer to CeeDee Lamb.
Ennis Rakestraw Jr. is a cornerback from Missouri that many consider to have first-round potential.
I can't help but pull the trigger on this pick for them after so many years of struggling to defend from the slot cornerback position, where Rakestraw excels.
They just re-signed Avonte Maddox to a one-year deal, but many speculate James Bradberry could be a post-June 1st cap casualty, and Rakestraw could move out to the boundary to replace him.
Either way, the Eagles would upgrade their secondary with this pick.
Round 2 Pick 53
Selection: WR Keon Coleman, Florida State
For the third pick in a row, I break the hearts of Cowboys fans by sending their division rival a player they hoped would end up in Dallas.
This time it's WR Keon Coleman from Florida State.
Once teams figure out Coleman plays much faster than his workout numbers show, there's no way he should fall out of the top 50 picks.
The Eagles have always fallen short of the Cowboys these past few seasons regarding CB3 and WR3.
With the selections of Rakestraw and Coleman, they draw much closer to evening those lines.
Round 4 Pick 120
Selection: S Cole Bishop, Utah
The Eagles bolster the back of the secondary with their next pick, S Cole Bishop from the University of Utah.
Bishop would be the perfect complement to young S Reed Blankenship on the back end of the Eagles' defense.
They signed CJ Gardner-Johnson to a one-year deal, but Bishop could push for playing time later in the season in preparation for 2025.
Round 5 Pick 161
Selection: LB JD Bertrand, Notre Dame
After addressing the furthest level of the defense in the 4th round, the Eagles then address the middle level with LB JD Bertrand from Notre Dame.
Philadelphia added Devin White in free agency to help mold a very young and unproven linebacker room featuring Nakobe Dean and Nolan Smith Jr.
Bertrand, a three-year starter and two-year captain at Notre Dame, could also throw himself into the mix for playing time.
Round 5 Pick 171
Selection: TE Theo Johnson, Penn State
With their second pick of the 5th round, the Eagles add another weapon to Jalen Hurts' arsenal by drafting TE Theo Johnson from Penn State.
Johnson has freakish physical traits that need polishing before he can make an impact on an NFL field, but if he's able to put it all together, he will be a problem for opposing defenses.
Dallas Goedert has often been hobbled by injury over the past couple of seasons, and the Eagles draft a player with high upside to be his eventual replacement.
Round 5 Pick 172
Selection: DE Braiden McGregor, Michigan
Long-time Eagles' defensive team captain Brandon Graham signed a one-year deal to return to the team for one last hurrah.
He has been the vocal leader of the defense since he was drafted 13th overall in the 2010 NFL Draft, and now the Eagles draft a young player at the same position from the same school.
Braiden McGregor is the last of three 5th-round picks for the Eagles, and he shares Graham's young potential to be a force on the edge.
Round 6 Pick 210
Selection: LB Steele Chambers, Ohio State
The Eagles spend their final pick of the 2024 NFL Draft on a linebacker who can immediately contribute on special teams and add depth at the position.
Steele Chambers from Ohio State is the pick and a running back turned linebacker.
Chambers only has three years of experience at the linebacker position, but his time as a running back gives him a natural feel for gaps and running lanes.
He is a developmental player who could turn into a solid pro.
Results
Pro Football Focus gave me an “A-” for this Eagles mock draft, and I have to agree with that assessment.
By playing pretend general manager for the Eagles, I was able to draft players who could immediately improve the team and simultaneously challenge the Cowboys the most.
The additions of playmakers at CB3 and WR3 after adding another potential Hall of Fame center in the first round would make the Eagles the early favorites in the NFC.
