The Philadelphia Eagles NFL draft picks 2023 are the selections that the Philadelphia Eagles made in the 2023 National Football League (NFL) draft. The NFL draft is an annual event where NFL teams select eligible college football players to join their rosters. The draft order is determined by the previous season’s standings, with the worst team picking first and the Super Bowl champion picking last. The draft consists of seven rounds, with each team having one pick per round, unless they trade their picks with other teams. The 2023 NFL draft was held from April 27 to April 29, 2023, in Las Vegas, Nevada.
History: The NFL draft was first proposed by Bert Bell, the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles, in 1935. Bell wanted to create a system that would allow the weaker teams to acquire the best players and improve their competitiveness. The league owners agreed to his idea and held the first NFL draft in 1936 at the Ritz-Carlton Hotel in Philadelphia. The first player ever drafted was Jay Berwanger, a halfback from the University of Chicago, who was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles but never played in the NFL.
The draft, like the NFL, evolved in the face of competition — specifically the emergence of the upstart American Football League (AFL) in 1959. The competition between the new league and the NFL for draft picks was fierce. The addition of another league meant more teams and more roster spots for drafted players. To attract more talent, both leagues began to hold their drafts earlier in the year, before the college football season ended. This led to some players being drafted by both leagues and having to choose which one to sign with. The most famous example of this was Joe Namath, who was drafted by both the St. Louis Cardinals of the NFL and the New York Jets of the AFL in 1965. Namath chose to sign with the Jets for a then-record $427,000 contract.
The rivalry between the NFL and the AFL ended in 1970, when the two leagues merged into one. The draft also became a unified event, with teams from both leagues picking from the same pool of players. The draft order was determined by a weighted lottery system that gave more chances to the teams with worse records. The first pick of the merged draft was Terry Bradshaw, a quarterback from Louisiana Tech University, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Steelers.
The draft has continued to grow in popularity and importance over the years, as it is seen as a vital way for teams to build their rosters and plan for their future. The draft has also become a major media event, with extensive coverage and analysis by various outlets. The draft has also moved to different locations and formats, such as New York City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Nashville, and Las Vegas. The draft has also expanded from one day to three days, with different rounds being held on different days.
Here is a 2023 NFL draft pick-by-pick breakdown for the Philadelphia Eagles:
Round 1, Pick 9 (from CAR through CHI): Jalen Carter, defensive tackle from Georgia. Carter is a powerful and athletic interior lineman who can disrupt both the run and pass game. He has great size (6’4″, 305 lbs), strength (36 bench reps), and speed (4.87 40-yard dash) for his position. He can play anywhere along the defensive line and has a high motor and competitive spirit.
Round 1, Pick 30: Nolan Smith, linebacker from Georgia. Smith is a versatile and explosive edge rusher who can also drop into coverage when needed. He has excellent burst (4.56 40-yard dash), bend (7.01 3-cone drill), and agility (4.18 20-yard shuttle) for his position. He can play either as a stand-up outside linebacker or as a hand-in-the-dirt defensive end.
Round 2, Pick 65 (from HOU): Tyler Steen, offensive tackle from Alabama. Steen is a solid and reliable blocker who can play either left or right tackle. He has good size (6’6″, 315 lbs), length (34″ arms), and technique for his position. He is a strong run blocker who can create lanes for his running backs. He is also a decent pass protector who can anchor against bull rushes and mirror speed rushers.
Round 3, Pick 66 (from ARI): Sydney Brown, safety from Illinois. Brown is a smart and instinctive safety who can play either free or strong safety. He has good ball skills (10 career interceptions) and tackling ability (188 career tackles) for his position. He is a leader on and off the field who can communicate well with his teammates. He is also a special teams contributor who can play on coverage and return units.
Round 4, Pick 105 (from ARI through HOU): Kelee Ringo, cornerback from Georgia. Ringo is a fast and physical cornerback who can play either man or zone coverage. He has great size (6’2″, 205 lbs) and speed (4.35 40-yard dash) for his position. He is a former track star who can run with any receiver in the league. He is also a willing tackler who can support the run defense.
Round 6, Pick 188 (from NO through HOU): Tanner McKee, quarterback from Stanford. McKee is a developmental quarterback who has a lot of upside and potential. He has great size (6’6″, 220 lbs) and arm strength for his position. He can make all the throws on the field with accuracy and touch. He is also a good athlete who can extend plays with his legs. He needs to improve his decision making and consistency, as he only started one season at Stanford after serving a two-year Mormon mission.
Round 7, Pick 249 (from KC through DET): Moro Ojomo, defensive lineman from Texas. Ojomo is a versatile and productive defensive lineman who can play either tackle or end. He has good size (6’3″, 290 lbs) and quickness for his position. He is a disruptive force who can penetrate the backfield and make plays behind the line of scrimmage. He had 9.5 tackles for loss and 5 sacks in his senior season at Texas.
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The Philadelphia Eagles have made some interesting draft picks in the last five years. Here are their top draft picks from each year, based on the order of selection:
- 2023: The Eagles had two first-round picks in 2023, thanks to a trade with the Chicago Bears. They used their first pick (9th overall) to select Jalen Carter, a defensive tackle from Georgia. Carter is a powerful and athletic interior lineman who can disrupt both the run and pass game. They used their second pick (30th overall) to select Nolan Smith, a linebacker from Georgia. Smith is a versatile and explosive edge rusher who can also drop into coverage when needed.
- 2022: The Eagles had one first-round pick in 2022, which they used to select Jordan Davis, a defensive tackle from Georgia. Davis is a massive and dominant force who can clog up the middle and collapse the pocket.
- 2021: The Eagles traded down from the 6th to the 10th pick in 2021, acquiring a future first-round pick from the Dallas Cowboys in the process. They used their pick to select DeVonta Smith, a wide receiver from Alabama. Smith is a Heisman Trophy winner who has elite route running, hands, and speed.
- 2020: The Eagles had one first-round pick in 2020, which they used to select Jalen Reagor, a wide receiver from TCU. Reagor is a dynamic playmaker who can stretch the field and make defenders miss.
- 2019: The Eagles traded up from the 25th to the 22nd pick in 2019, giving up a fourth-round pick to the Baltimore Ravens in exchange. They used their pick to select Andre Dillard, an offensive tackle from Washington State. Dillard is a smooth and agile pass protector who can slide and mirror edge rushers.
ALSO READ: New Orleans Saints picks in 2023 NFL draft: Complete Round-by-Round Selections Report
FAQs
Q: Who did the Eagles draft in the first round of the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Eagles drafted two players in the first round: defensive tackle Jalen Carter from Georgia at No. 9 overall and linebacker Nolan Smith from Georgia at No. 30 overall.
Q: How many picks did the Eagles have in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Eagles had seven picks in the 2023 NFL draft, including two first-round picks, one second-round pick, two third-round picks, one sixth-round pick, and one seventh-round pick.
Q: What positions did the Eagles address in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Eagles addressed their needs on both sides of the ball, drafting four defensive players (DT, LB, S, CB) and three offensive players (OT, QB, RB).
Q: Why did the Eagles trade up to No. 9 overall in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The Eagles traded up to No. 9 overall to select Jalen Carter, a dominant defensive tackle who can disrupt the opposing offense with his strength and quickness. Carter was considered one of the best prospects in the draft and a potential game-changer for the Eagles’ defense.
Q: Who was the most surprising pick by the Eagles in the 2023 NFL draft?
A: The most surprising pick by the Eagles was quarterback Tanner McKee from Stanford in the sixth round. McKee was a highly rated recruit who served a two-year mission before playing college football. He has great size, arm strength, and intelligence, but he is also very raw and inexperienced. The Eagles may see him as a developmental project behind Jalen Hurts.
