The countdown is on. Another NFL Draft approaches, pro football's 90th if we're keeping count. If nothing changes between now and the Thursday night kickoff, the Philadelphia Eagles will walk into the selection meeting possessing the final selections in Rounds 1 and 2 and another six scheduled between round three and the conclusion of round 5.
This is Howie Roseman we're discussing though. No one believes he'll sit on his hands. Does he ever?
ESPN's Adam Schefter is already on record as he believes Philly's GM will orchestrate a few deals to maneuver his way around the draft board. Might he trade up? Might he trade out of Round 1 entirely to stack up more picks?
You never know what to expect with good ol' Howie. We just know it's feasible to expect something, and based on what we've been seeing, there could be a shift in philosophy coming.
Might the Eagles draft a safety in Round 1 for the first time in their near-92-year history?
Once upon a time, Bert Bell's frustrations in constructing a winning Eagles team led to the birth of the first NFL Draft. The idea worked, and our great game has enjoyed 89 drafts since then, but how's this for a couple of potential trivia questions at your next NFL Draft party?
Did you know the Birds haven't selected a linebacker in Round 1 since 1979 (Jerry Robinson)? Did you know they have NEVER taken a safety in Round 1?
The Birds have only selected four DBs in Round 1. All were cornerbacks: Roynell Young (1980), Ben Smith (1990), Lito Sheppard (2002), and Quinyon Mitchell (2024). A shift in philosophy might be coming though.
94 WIP-FM's Eliot Shorr-Parks reports Philly used one of their Top 30 visits to host the former Georgia Bulldogs standout. For the entire list of reported visits, click here.
As you're probably well aware, this would represent a seismic shift in the Eagles' philosophy. The draft-day business model typically revolves around adding depth to the trenches first. That has been the modus operandi since Andy Reid paced Philadelphia's sideline.
Based on who they've sat with (and how those prospects have been graded), adding to the offensive or defensive front may still be the route Philly takes. Offensive tackle Josh Conerly Jr. (Oregon) has been given Day 1 grades. The same is true for prospects like Donovan Ezeiruaku and Nic Scourton.
Malaki Starks is an intriguing option. Again, he's typically not the type of defender the Birds seek out in Round 1. Philly's reputation is that they don't view the safety position as a priority.
Still, if the plan is to buck tradition and add Starks to this defense, he'd be the type of prospect teams should make this shift for.
A Freshman All-American in 2022, he became a College Football Playoff National Champion that same season. Since then, he has been named a Consensus All-American (2023), a First-team All-American (2024), and a two-time First-Team All-SEC mention (2023, 2024).
Many draft pundits name him as a Day 1 prospect. Though some think he may go early, there's a chance he may be available for Philly at the end of the night when they're on the clock with the 32nd overall selection. We'll see what transpires when the lights come on for the festivities on April 24 in Green Bay.
