‘Air’ To The Throne?

With most Pro Days having come and gone, and with official 30-visits well underway, the calendar turns to draft month, traditionally a four-week period of speculation and intrigue among NFL circles.

The Philadelphia Eagles, currently stocked with eight draft selections, find themselves in a position of power.

The defending Super Bowl champions, picking last, have sufficiently draft-proofed the roster to where it’s tough to identify a glaring sore spot. As such, the Eagles should comfortably be able to adopt the best-player-available approach.

The team is also armed with four fifth-round picks, which could be used to maneuver the draft board or even for future assets.

Operating, for now, under the assumption that the Eagles pick at 32, there will be a number of notable options on the board who would be positioned to help the Eagles in 2025.

Here are five logical fits should the Eagles stand pat at 32:

Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss

Fortifying the interior defensive line will likely be a priority for the Eagles, as they must replace the seismic void created by the free-agent departure of Milton Williams. For reference, Williams accounted for 48 percent of the defensive snaps. Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo each accounted for 37 percent, and it remains to be seen if either – or both – are equipped for a larger workload.

Nolen, an explosive interior disruptor with nimble feet and heavy hands, should realistically come off the board mid-to-late first round. The prospects of pairing Nolen with Jalen Carter – coupled with the team’s longstanding philosophy of bolstering the trenches – should be enticing enough for the Eagles to pounce if within striking distance.

GETTY IMAGES: If drafted by the Eagles, Minnesota OT product Aireontae Ersery could take over at RT when Lane Johnson’s career is over.

Aireontae Ersery, OT, Minnesota

The Eagles tend to stay ahead of the curve, and the best player available at 32 could very well be the succession plan to aging All-Pro right tackle Lane Johnson. Ersery, more than Oregon’s Josh Conerly or Purdue’ Marcus Mbow, fits the bill of a traditional tackle with plus athleticism and three years of starting experience.

Ersery (6-6, 330) logged all but one of his nearly 40 starts at left tackle, and while he offers some flexibility, his best fit is likely to be at right tackle. Ersery has the length, power and athleticism teams seek, but also plays with an apparent mean streak.

The Eagles signed veteran tackles Kendall Lamm and Matt Pryor in free agency, but it’s unlikely both will stick. Selecting Ersery and enrolling him a couple years early at Stoutland University would position the Eagles for a seamless transition post-Johnson.

EDGE Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College

The Eagles did well to adequately restock a barren cupboard of pass rushers in free agency, inking Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche each to one-year deals to complement holdovers Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt, but the room could use another young developmental piece to offset the potential of one of Ojulari, Uche or Bryce Huff failing to meet the mark in training camp.

Ezeiruaku, in 12 games (11 starts) last season, compiled 16.5 sacks and 20.5 tackles for loss. The 6-foot-2, 248-pound edge rusher from Williamstown, N.J., possesses the required length, pairing with his explosiveness off the snap, change of direction and natural bend.

He’ll probably have to add some size to his frame and develop his play strength, but as a depth option, the onus wouldn’t fall solely on Ezeiruaku to generate pressure. He’d be afforded the time to learn and develop. The team values its pass rush, and Ezeiruaku falls right within their range.

G/T Donovan Jackson, Ohio State

The Eagles have Tyler Steen, Kenyon Green and Trevor Keegan as young interior options on the offensive line, but if the team seeks a surefire upgrade, Jackson at 32 would be a natural fit. Adding to the allure of Jackson is his positional versatility – he can play tackle, as well – though he’s likely destined to start along the interior.

Jackson (6-4, 320) exhibits adequate fluidity to go along with mauler-like power. He’s also typically dialed in on the technical side. While Steen proved to be more than serviceable last season when pressed into service and would be a solid start at right guard, and although the Eagles have two other developmental players at the position, the opportunity to add a plug-and-play prospect who presumably carries greater upside may be too tempting to bypass.

Mason Taylor, TE, LSU

Dallas Goedert future aside, the Eagles lack for depth at the position and sorely need a developmental tight end. Goedert’s successor isn’t currently on the roster, though that’s widely expected to change in a matter of weeks. Taylor is a much-discussed riser who might very well sneak his way into the back end of the first round.

The son of Hall of Fame defensive end and Miami Dolphins legend Jason Taylor, Mason reminds me a bit of Zach Ertz in his ability to run savvy routes and find the soft spots in zone and separate from defenders. But for as natural of a pass catcher as Taylor is, his blocking prowess isn’t as impressive.

Though willing, Taylor needs to get stronger at hold up better at the point of attack. There are a few other tight ends later who would fit the bill, but there’s a world in which Taylor and the Eagles find themselves at the right time and place.