ESPN: The Eagles deal with the New Orleans Saints to obtain their future quarterback.
The Philadelphia Eagles, who recently won Super Bowl LIX with former second-round selection Jalen Hurts, are not searching for their next quarterback.
They probably wouldn’t want to make room for other teams, especially rival NFC clubs, to get their next franchise quarterback, though.
However, this is precisely what they are expected to do in Lance Zierlein’s most recent mock draft.
According to Zierlein, the Eagles will trade the pick to the New Orleans Saints, who would then choose Ole Miss quarterback Jaxson Dart, after moving out of the first round of the 2019 NFL draft.
Due to the Giants’ and Browns’ second-round selections, which come just after the Eagles’ at 34 and 37, the veteran draft expert observes that the Saints move quickly to get their next quarterback in order to ultimately replace former Raiders mainstay Derek Carr.
Is the Eagles going to trade their first-round selection?
Both arguments for and against the Eagles leaving the first round of this year’s draft are valid. Given the paucity of true “blue chip” talent in the draft, many observers think that there isn’t much of a difference in player quality from pick ten to halfway through the second round.
According to a February article by ESPN’s Matt Miller, one general manager thinks that the quality swiftly declines after the first few selections.
The general manager told Miler, “There are four, maybe five, blue-chip players. After that, it’s 40 guys with a late-first-round or second-round grade.”
That does not, however, immediately justify the Eagles trading their first-round pick, especially considering that they still possess all five of their original picks and three more fifth-round picks acquired through trades with the Browns, Texans, and Commanders.
With their first pick, who players may the Eagles target?
Philadelphia’s quarterback room, which presently consists of Hurts, Tanner McKee, and Dorian Thompson Robinson, might be expanded, but it is more probable that the organization would target a different position on the roster.
If Nick Emanwori or Malaki Starks end up at the bottom of the first or the start of the second round, safety may be in question. Despite being a typical general manager, Howie Roseman likes to use his early choices to target high-value skill positions (such as corners and receivers) or the trenches.
The Eagles, who lost Josh Sweat and Milton Williams in free agency last month, may consider looking at an edge rusher or defensive line if Roseman continues this pattern.
