One Last Stab

The NFL Draft is fast approaching, which means the proverbial hay is — for all intents and purposes — in the barn. Sure, there’s still some 30 visits and local days remaining on the docket, but the anticipation of opening night is becoming increasingly palpable.

The Eagles, now possessing eight picks following the recent acquisition of Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, have effectively draft-proofed the roster, guarding against the urge to reach in an effort to backfill a position of need. Instead, the team is positioned to adopt a best player available approach to fortify the roster.

With under two weeks to go until the draft frenzy kicks off, here’s my latest stab at forecasting the Eagles’ selections, in my DiCecco Mock Draft 3.0.

Arizona State OT product Max Iheanachor could be weeks away from hearing his name called by the Eagles at the NFL Draft.

Round 1, pick No. 23: Max Iheanachor, T, Arizona State

(Previous pick in this space: Blake Miller, T, Clemson)

Iheanachor is the third different offensive tackle I’ve mocked in this space, and it was his tools and ceiling that served as the driving force in my thought process. Depending on how the board falls, offensive tackle could wind up being the position that offers the most value at 23, aligning with the Eagles’ need to identify a successor to bedrock right tackle, Lane Johnson.

Utah’s Caleb Lomu garnered consideration here — and Clemson’s Blake Miller and his 54 starts would present a safer option — but Iheanachor profiles as a player on the upswing. The 22-year-old, who arrived at Arizona State via East Los Angeles College, is still relatively new to football but logged 31 starts for the Sun Devils over a three-year span. A 2025 second-team All-Big 12 selection, Iheanachor is athletic and powerful and functions well is space. Iheanachor’s near 34-inch arm length is another positive that should aid his transition. Though he remains a work in progress and his overall game needs refinement, one can assume Iheanachor’s athleticism would be a valued commodity in light of the Eagles’ schematic changes.

Round 2, pick No. 54: Eli Stowers, TE, Vanderbilt

(Previous pick in this space: Chris Brazzell, WR, Tennessee)

The Eagles pieced the tight end room back together this offseason, re-signing Dallas Goedert and Grant Calcaterra and bringing in veteran Johnny Mundt. Cameron Latu, Stone Smartt, E.J. Jenkins and Jaheim Bell round out the group. But Goedert, Calcaterra and Mundt were signed to one-year deals, leaving uncertainty as it pertains to the future of the position. In a class rich with intriguing tight end prospects, the Eagles capitalize on not only preparing themselves for the future, but also for the here and now.

Stowers, 23, is a converted quarterback who played at Texas A&M and New Mexico State before ultimately bursting onto the scene as a mega-talent during his two seasons at Vanderbilt. The 6-foot-4, 239-pound Stowers boasts 4.5 speed, dazzling at the NFL Scouting Combine with eye-popping numbers that also included a 45.5-inch vertical and 11’3” broad jump.

A natural pass-catcher, Stowers is a smooth route runner with plus-ball skills who can work all three levels. Stowers can perhaps best be categorized as an offense weapon who can be moved around formations to generate mismatches. He remains a work-in-progress from a blocking perspective, but the receiving upside is immense. Stowers remains my TE2.

Round 3, pick No. 68: Ted Hurst, WR, Georgia State

(Previous pick in this space: Joshua Josephs, EDGE, Tennessee)

In light of the recent addition of former Packers wide receiver Dontayvion Wicks, the Eagles’ receiver room would appear to be maxed-out capacity-wise. But with A.J. Brown facing an uncertain future and an apparent need for long-term building blocks at the position, the strength in numbers shouldn’t preclude the Eagles from pouncing on an early round wide receiver.

Hurst, who divided his college career between Division II’s Valdosta State and Georgia State, experienced a pre-draft surge on the backs of impressive showings at the Reese’s Senior Bowl and NFL Scouting Combine. At 6-foot-4, 206 pounds, Hurst is a natural separator, using his 4.4 speed to threaten vertically and frame to reel in contested catches. The 21-year-old has also displayed an innate flair for tracking the football. Hurst’s skill set would add another dimension to the Eagles’ passing attack, and the upside is evident. His best football is ahead of him.

2025 stat line at Georgia State: 71 receptions, 1,004 yards, six touchdowns.

Michigan EDGE product Jaishawn Barham could help the Eagles’ pass rush rotation in Year 1 as he develops for down the road.

Round 3, pick No. 98: Jaishawn Barham, EDGE, Michigan

(Previous pick in this space: Eli Raridon, TE, Notre Dame)

The Eagles could still use what I like to call a “headliner” at the position, and I’m hardly suggesting the selection of Barham here changes that. The current pass rush contingent includes Jalyx Hunt, Nolan Smith, A.K. Ebiketie, Joe Tryon-Shoyinka and Jose Ramirez. But Tryon-Shoyinka and Ebiketie are on one- and two-year deals, respectively, and hardly assured anything. And Ramirez faces an uphill climb to latch onto the 53-man roster. With a long-term need at the position apparent, the Eagles pounce on late Day 2 value.

Barham, 22, spent his first two seasons at Maryland before arriving at Michigan. A 2025 Honorable Mention All-Big Ten selection, Barham produced 34 tackles (10 for loss), four sacks, three passes defended and a forced fumble in 11 starts. Measuring in at 6-foot-3, 251 pounds at Michigan’s Pro Day — roughly a 10-pound increase since the NFL Scouting Combine — Barham is a twitchy athlete who fires off the ball with urgency and plays with a seemingly endless supply of energy. As far as his pass rush experience goes, Barham is still fairly green after converting from linebacker. But his athleticism and intriguing skill set suggest he’s merely scratched the surface.

Round 4, pick No. 114 (from Falcons): Genesis Smith, S, Arizona

(Previous pick in this space: Zakee Wheatley, S, Penn State)

I know what you’re probably thinking: Surely the Eagles would address safety before Day 3, right? Well, not necessarily. There’s reason for bullishness when it comes to Drew Mukuba‘s sophomore outlook. And while it remains a position of need, to be sure, the team essentially draft-proofed the roster in free agency by re-signing veteran Marcus Epps. The Eagles also believe Michael Carter II can factor into the equation. Historically, it also isn’t a position the team typically prioritizes. Still, it’s evident the Eagles are thin there, especially when considering that free-agent addition J.T. Gray predominantly projects as a special teams stalwart. The Eagles land value in this scenario, however, with the selection of Smith.

Smith, 21, started 22 games for the Wildcats and boasts appealing range and coverage acumen. He also plays with good anticipation and closes quickly. At 6-foot-2, 202 pounds, the leaner build at such a taxing position might not be for every team, but Smith’s athleticism and coverage ability would pair ideally alongside the ball-hawking Mukuba. A 2025 third-team All-Big 12 selection, Smith registered 77 tackles (three for loss), eight passes defended, a pair of forced fumbles and an interception.

Round 4, pick No. 137: Kaleb Proctor, DT, Southeastern Louisiana

(Previous pick in this space: Chris McClellan, DT, Missouri)

The Eagles this offseason extended defensive tackle Jordan Davis and a lucrative payday awaits Jalen Carter, while Moro Ojomo – who last season produced six sacks – enters the final year of his rookie deal. The Eagles selected Ty Robinson in the fourth round last spring and Byron Young provided quality depth last season, but bringing another cost-controlled option into the fold ensures long-term security.

Proctor, 22, profiles somewhat similarly to Ojomo when it comes to first-step quickness, leverage and violent hands. The 2025 Southland Player of the Year, Proctor last season collected nine sacks – including a two-sack effort against LSU – and 13 tackles for loss, capping a productive four-year career. The 6-foot-2, 291-pounder profiles as an impactful rotational piece who will provide juice as a pocket-pusher. I wouldn’t be shocked if Proctor’s skill set and intangibles propel him into the backend of Day 2.

Miami OG Anez Cooper could be part of the Eagles’ plan to add young depth to the interior OL.

Round 5, pick No. 178: Anez Cooper, G, Miami

(Previous pick in this space: Cole Payton, QB, North Dakota State)

I had the Eagles going quarterback here in the previous exercise, but with three on the roster already entrenched and only eight picks to work with, my focus shifted elsewhere. The Eagles lack for guard depth, and this feels like a good spot to reinforce depth with developmental upside.

Cooper, 22, started 45 games at right guard for the Hurricanes and uses his mountainous, 6-foot-6, 334-pound frame – equipped with a wingspan that hovers around 84 inches – to bully defensive linemen. A 2025 second-team All-ACC selection, Cooper, who plays with an edge, would provide experience, power and nastiness to a relatively barren collection of reserve interior linemen.

Round 6, pick No. 197: Andre Fuller, CB, Toledo

(No change from 2.0 edition)

The Eagles signed cornerbacks Riq Woolen and Jonathan Jones in free agency and roster an abundance of holdovers expected to contend for depth roles, but what’s one more to add to the mix? Fuller, who at the NFL Scouting Combine made mention of Quinyon Mitchell’s influence in shaping his game and preparing for what’s ahead, collected 29 tackles (2.5 for loss), 11 passes defended, an interception and a fumble recovery last season for the Rockets.

Fuller sports a prototypical frame for the perimeter (6-1, 200), plays the position with a physical edge and has demonstrated a habit of competing through the catch. There are areas of his game in need of refinement, such as ball-tracking, but Fuller represents late-round upside who could challenge for a depth position.

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