On The Offensive

The Eagles’ offseason is now in full swing, with the Senior Bowl in progress and the NFL Scouting Combine weeks away. Offensive coordinator search aside, the Eagles also have pressing needs on both sides of the ball from the standpoint of roster configuration, as well as difficult decisions to make when it comes to retaining their own vast pool of pending free agents.

While this exercise begins a tad earlier than a season ago, and stocks are sure to rise and plummet in the coming months, here’s a look at my DiCecco Mock Draft 1.0.

Alabama OT Kadyn Proctor could help the Eagles have a succession plan to Lane Johnson.

Round 1, pick No. 23: Kadyn Proctor, T, Alabama

The Eagles, a team that historically builds through the trenches, must prepare for the post-Lane Johnson era — whenever that time should come. Fred Johnson, who answered the bell in Johnson’s nine-game absence, will be a free agent. The nine-game sample size might have been enough to entice a team to commit to Johnson as a starter, but if not, retaining Johnson to ensure capable depth should be among the priorities. But the Eagles need their tackle for the future, and find themselves in an ideal spot to pounce.

Proctor (6-7, 366) doesn’t even turn 21 until June, but he provides an imposing frame, heavy hands and the power to anchor.

Round 2, pick No. 54: Omar Cooper Jr., WR, Indiana

With significant resources invested on the offense, the pendulum is primed to swing for the Eagles — and soon — necessitating a need to follow a similar model on the defense.

The wide receiver group beyond A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith under contract for next season are Darius Cooper, Johnny Wilson, Britain Covey, Danny Gray and Quez Watkins. Jahan Dotson is slated to become an unrestricted free agent. There’s a need to add another dynamic piece to complement the current group, and the Eagles find themselves in a prime position in the second round to do so.

Cooper Jr. (6-0, 204) proved to be a key cog in the national champion Hoosiers offense, collecting 937 receiving yards and 13 touchdowns on 69 receptions. Compactly built, physical and exceptional at churning out yards after the catch, Cooper Jr. also offers inside-outside versatility and has won his share of contested catches. He’d provide a tangible boost in the explosive play category.

Ohio State TE Max Klare’s blocking prowess, soft hands make him an ideal fit for the Eagles’ offense.

Round 3, pick No. 68: Max Klare, TE, Ohio State

This feels like a year for the Eagles to have a succession plan for Dallas Goedert — a pending free agent — and with the position being relatively light compared to past drafts, the third round is the proper spot to take a difference-maker off the board.

Klare (6-5, 243) spent his first three seasons at Purdue before finishing his career with the Buckeyes, reeling in 43 receptions for 448 yards and two touchdowns. He brings alignment versatility, reliable hands and an ability to play through contact. What stood out to me is Klare’s route-running prowess and knack for finding the soft spots in zone. Like Goedert, Klare profiles as a chain-moving security blanket for Jalen Hurts.

Best case scenario: The Eagles are able to reach an agreement with Goedert for one more season, with Klare functioning as his understudy before fully assuming the reins next season.

Round 3, pick No. 98: Dani Dennis-Sutton, EDGE, Penn State

A familiar talking point last offseason, the Eagles lack for depth at the edge. Deadline acquisition Jaelan Phillips performed well, and should be a priority — market depending — as he’s headed for free agency. So, too, are Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari, both of whom inked one-year deals last March, while Brandon Graham’s future is unclear.

Patrick Johnson, whose practice squad contact expired earlier this month, wasn’t among the group signed to a reserve/future deal. He just signed Wednesday with the New England Patriots’ practice squad.

If you’re keeping score, the only players who will definitively be part of the Eagles’ 2026 plans are Jalyx Hunt and Nolan Smith, so I wasted little time addressing the need here.

Dennis-Sutton, listed at 6-foot-5, 253 pounds, produced consecutive 8.5-sack seasons, is a lengthy power player who sets the edge with violence. His developmental upside is intriguing.

Round 4, pick No. 122: Domani Jackson, CB, Alabama

With All-Pros Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean in the fold, the Eagles already have more at the cornerback position than most teams, though that shouldn’t preclude a swing to bolster the group. Perhaps veteran Adoree’ Jackson, who eventually settled into the much-maligned No. 2 cornerback spot opposite Mitchell, is retained on another modest deal for insurance purposes, but I went with upside on the Jackson selection.

Sporting a hulking 6-1, 197 pounds frame, Jackson carries appeal due to his blistering speed and ability to physically challenge receivers at the line of scrimmage. His collegiate career began at USC, but Jackson spent his final two seasons playing for the Crimson Tide, collecting a pair of interceptions along with eight passes defended over his 28 games in Tuscaloosa. There are some durability concerns to parse through, and his ability to consistently make plays on the football has revealed itself throughout his career, but this is a high-upside talent for newly minted DBs coach/pass game coordinator Joe Kasper to mold.

Round 4, pick No. 13: Michael Taaffe, S, Texas

The Eagles are razor-thin at the safety position. Complicating matters is that Reed Blankenship, a homegrown success story, is set to become a free agent and should garner interest around the league. Second-year pro Drew Mukuba demonstrated notable signs of growth throughout the season and will reprise his role as a starter next season, but he’ll be returning from a season-ending ankle fracture. And Sydney Brown, a 2023 third-round pick, hasn’t exactly run with the opportunities he’s been given.

Taaffe (6-0, 189) was a one-time walk-on for the Longhorns who offers experience (53 games, 36 starts) and plus-ball skills. He also covers a ton of ground for the position, arguably a necessity in the modern era. Perhaps most important, especially in a Vic Fangio scheme, would be that Taaffe possesses a high-level football IQ, intangibles that both Blankenship and Mukuba also share.

Getting another center, like Bryce Foster from Kansas, could help the Eagles upgrade their needed iOL depth.

Round 5, pick No. 151: Bryce Foster, C, Kansas

The Eagles could use more interior depth along the offensive line, as the current pool is relatively shallow. For perspective, the only reserve holdovers are Drew Kendall, Willie Lampkin, and Jake Majors while veteran Brett Toth — who performed well last season when pressed into service — is set to hit free agency. But while Kendall could moonlight at guard, Lampkin and Majors profile more as centers.

To be clear, Foster (6-5, 310) enjoyed a decorated career at center for the Jayhawks, but boasts a skill set that suggests he could offer guard versatility. Foster is an athletic, fluid mover with adequate play strength who would give offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland another young prospect to shape.

Round 5, pick No. 19: Cole Paton, QB, North Dakota State

The Kyle McCord experience was short-lived – the Syracuse signal-caller recently signed a reserve/future deal with the Green Bay Packers after spending his rookie campaign on the Eagles’ practice squad – but the Philadelphia quarterback factory continues to churn. In Payton (6-3, 233), the Eagles would be getting a tough, dual-threat quarterback with intriguing arm talent. Payton, who didn’t become a full-time starter until last season as a fifth-year senior, passed for 2,719 yards, 16 touchdowns and four interceptions. He also averaged 5.7 yards per carry. He’ll enter the league with a minimal sample size and fairly raw, but there are tools there worth developing.

— Andrew DiCecco (@AndrewDiCecco) is a Staff Reporter/Content Producer for InsideTheBirds.com.