Eagles 2025 NFL mock draft: Interior DT at No. 32, EDGE following Round 2 trade
What the heck.
Lets give a full-draft mock a shot.
The Philadelphia Eagles have already taken significant steps to secure the strength of their roster for what they believe will become their golden era.
No draft picks have yet been spent, although trade speculation persists .
So far, the Eagles have only been dealing in cash truckloads of it.
The organization first made Saquon Barkley the NFLs highest-paid running back in history with a two-year, $41.2 million extension that includes $36 million guaranteed, then prevented Zack Baun from truly entering free agency by signing the linebacker to a three-year, $51 million contract with $34 million guaranteed.
By converting nearly 76 percent of the total money within those two contracts into bonuses, the Eagles, according to their budget strategy, will spread out the cap hits of both lucrative deals over void years.
Advertisement Still, general manager Howie Roseman must rely on draft picks to balance out the cost of Philadelphias veteran-laden roster.
The Eagles have seven selections, all within the Top 169.
That arsenal of picks can be a useful surplus: 2 of Philadelphias 22 offensive and defensive starters in Super Bowl LIX were drafted by the organization within that range of selections.
By extending Barkley and Baun, the Eagles may no longer be able to re-sign Josh Sweat and Milton Williams once free agency opens.
By releasing Darius Slay and James Bradberry, the Eagles only have four active cornerbacks on their roster.
Could 2025 be a defense-heavy draft? Not even Roseman knows how the first round of the draft will play out, much less all seven.
But lets crack a beverage and give it a good ponder.
GO DEEPER NFL free-agency rankings: Which teams and players deliver the best value? Round 1, No.
32: Walter Nolen, DT, Ole Miss Dane Brugler made this pick , and I agree so long as Walter Nolen is available.
The closest thing to a sure-fire prediction with the Eagles is Roseman using a first-round draft pick to fortify the trenches.
Three of Philadelphias last four first-round picks were spent on eventual starters along the defensive front (Jordan Davis, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith).
Roseman called his fixation on linemen an unhealthy obsession at the NFL combine.
Williams is No.
2 in The Athletic s latest free agency rankings; hell almost certainly secure the raise he desires, but from another team.
Its sensible that the Eagles spend their No.
32 pick to backfill Williams slot along the defensive interior.
Nolens frame (6-3, 300 pounds) is similar to Williams (6-3, 290), and Nolen also has versatility in where he can position himself along the line of scrimmage.
The majority of Nolens snaps in 2024 were within the interior (432) but he logged a significant sum at defensive end (130), according to Pro Football Focus.
After spending his first two seasons at Texas A&M, Nolen flourished into an All-American game-wrecker at Ole Miss, amassing 6.5 sacks, 14 tackles for loss and two fumble recoveries while being named a finalist for the Outland Trophy, awarded to the best interior linemen in college football.
Advertisement Eagles defensive coordinator Vic Fangio would likely lobby for a Williams-esque addition an all-around defensive linemen who can stay on the field in base and pass-rush packages.
There are some intriguing options in free agency.
The Eagles could reunite with Javon Hargrave, poised to be released by the San Francisco 49ers after playing only three games because of a torn triceps.
Defensive passing game coordinator Christian Parker might also highlight D.J.
Jones, who coincided with Parker for two seasons with the Denver Broncos.
But considering the cap hits of future seasons, it might be most sensible for the Eagles to secure an interior lineman within the control of a rookie contract that could last up to five seasons.
Round 2, No.
56 (from Bills): JT Tuimoloau, EDGE, Ohio State Eagles trade pick No.
64 along with Nos.
96, 129 and 169 to Bills for Nos.
56, 108 and 131.
Did we mention Rosemans unhealthy obsession? In a draft flush with edge rushers, the Eagles make an aggressive move to snag the sort of defender they definitely need.
If Sweat walks and Brandon Graham retires, the Eagles are left with only three edge rushers under contract.
One of them is Bryce Huff.
Roseman, who admits hes stubborn, wont soon pronounce his splurge signing from last cycle a failure.
Huff, 26, may yet become the every-down defender he wasnt in 2024, although he missed five games after undergoing mid-season wrist surgery.
But the Eagles like to give themselves options.
They can flip their picks to get into the mix for a coveted edge rusher.
Measuring 6-4, 265 at the combine, Tuimoloau supplies the size lost by Sweats departure.
Tuimoloau can also rush standing or with his hand in the dirt, a willingness to be flexible that was instead a point of contention between Huff and Fangio.
Tuimoloau also shined in big moments.
Of his 12.5 sacks in 2024, he logged 7.5 in three playoff games against Oregon, Texas and Notre Dame.
Roseman collected five members of Georgias star-studded defense because he fell in love with their dominance at the collegiate level.
Tuimoloaus success in competitive settings with a pedigree program should score extra points.
Advertisement Brugler on Tuimoloau: A flexible, long athlete, Tuimoloau creates lift and extension through contact and uses his football GPS and short-area agility to close on the ball carrier.
He frequently saw four hands as a pass rusher opponents knew he was the main threat on a talented Buckeyes defensive line but he needs to develop more seamless counter sequencing when left one-on-one on the edge.
GO DEEPER NFL free agency predictions: One top target for every team in 2025 Round 4, No.
108 (from Bills): Gunner Helm, TE, Texas The Eagles could give themselves another option at a position with inconsistent production.
Dallas Goedert was one of the most effective offensive players in Philadelphias playoff run.
In four postseason games, Goedert recorded 17 catches, 215 yards and a touchdown.
Hes effective when healthy.
But Goedert, 30, hasnt been fully available since his rookie season, and he missed seven games last year with knee and hamstring injuries.
Hes scheduled to be the teams fifth-highest cap hit ($11.8 million) in what will be the final year of his contract.
Is he worth that sum? Or could the Eagles gain cap relief by releasing Goedert with a post-June 1 designation? Roseman can afford the organization options by drafting Helm.
Even if the Eagles stick with Goedert, theyd have another all-around tight end available if another injury occurs.
Grant Calcaterra emerged as a pass-catching threat in 2024 with a career-high 24 catches, 298 yards and his first-ever touchdown most of which was recorded while Goedert was sidelined.
Calcaterra, a 2022 sixth-round pick, wont count more than $1.2 million against the cap in either of the next two seasons.
Match that with a rookie contract, and the overall value is tempting, considering what else that extra money could make possible.
Round 4, No.
135 (from Dolphins): Chase Lundt, OT/OG, Connecticut Eagles trade pick No.
131 to Dolphins for Nos.
135 and 226.
Advertisement Days before Super Bowl LIX, I was talking to Eagles offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland about Mekhi Becton and remarked that Stoutland liked Bectons size (6-7, 363 pounds).
I like unusual , Stoutland corrected.
I dont care where that is.
You could be a smaller guy who has unbelievable foot and body quickness, explosiveness, change of direction, intelligence level.
Thats unusual.
Something about a player has to be highly unusual for me to feel like theres a lot of value in that guy.
Lundt might hit Stoutlands unusual meter.
Not just for his size (6-7, 304 pounds), but also for how he moves at that size.
After watching some of his film, plus reading several reports, Lundt appears both flexible and balanced throughout his blocks.
Its worth wondering if hed maintain that fluidity if his next team asks him to pack on more pounds.
The most unusual thing about Becton is perhaps his arm length (35 5/8 inches).
Lundts reach is shorter (32 5/8 inches).
He also never played guard at UConn.
But with Fred Johnson hitting free agency, the Eagles may soon need another swing tackle, and Lundt could be a good pupil at Stoutland U.
Round 5, No.
162 (via Houston): Smael Mondon Jr., LB, Georgia Baun, Nakobe Dean and Jeremiah Trotter Jr.
are the only linebackers under contract.
Bauns lucrative extension essentially counts as a splash free agency signing.
The Eagles will need to fill out the remainder of their depth at the position with more affordable options.
Dean, who suffered a torn patellar tendon in his knee during the playoffs, could miss the start of the 2025 season.
Where better to go for an extra defensive player than back to the well? Roseman adds his seventh player from Georgia in this prediction.
Mondon, a three-year starter at Georgia, demonstrated both strength and speed at the Senior Bowl, an enviable combination that first made him a safety during his freshman season.
He won back-to-back national championships in 2021 and 2022, playing with Dean, Davis, Smith and Ringo in that span.
Mondon totaled three sacks in each of his last two seasons at Georgia, where he was also proficient in pass coverage.
Advertisement Round 5, No.
166 (via Washington): Quincy Riley, CB, Louisville The Eagles only have four cornerbacks under contract.
Quinyon Mitchell, a defensive rookie of the year finalist, established himself as a formidable starter at outside cornerback in 2024.
Cooper DeJean, another rookie of the year finalist, flourished at nickel safety and recorded a consequential pick-six in Super Bowl LIX.
But the Eagles drafted DeJean as a cornerback and Fangio said in training camp that he still eventually wanted to get more of a look at DeJean at outside corner.
Id expect DeJean gets those looks once OTAs begin.
The Eagles will want to afford themselves options.
Once free agency begins, they could re-sign Isaiah Rodgers, whos intimated he may be open to a team-friendly deal if it means he gets to stay in Philadelphia.
Kelee Ringo, a fourth-round pick in 2023, will also compete for a role at outside cornerback.
Itd make sense for the Eagles to add another rookie to the mix.
Riley (5-11, 194 pounds) can play both cornerback and nickel and totaled eight interceptions in three seasons at Louisville, including a pick-six in 2022.
He previously played three seasons at Middle Tennessee State and was named first-team All-C-USA in 2021.
Round 7, No.
226 (via Miami): Marcus Yarns, RB, Delaware Eagles coach Nick Sirianni and special teams coordinator Michael Clay have both spoken in length about how much they value Kenneth Gainwell.
The 2021 fifth-round pick is scheduled to enter free agency.
Gainwell was quite productive in a limited capacity behind Barkley with 290 rushing yards and 116 receiving yards, and Gainwell also totaled five tackles on special teams.
Given the money the Eagles just allocated to extending Barkley, they may not have enough remaining to outbid a suitor willing to seize Gainwell for themselves.
Advertisement The Eagles could scoop a local option if Gainwell indeed leaves Philadelphia.
Marcus Yarns (5-11, 193 pounds) ran a 4.45-second 40-yard dash at the combine and was a productive every-down running back at Delaware.
In nine games in 2024, Yarns totaled 844 rushing yards and six touchdowns, plus 297 receiving yards and five touchdowns.
The Eagles can restock their depth at running back, adding yet another young option after drafting Will Shipley in the fourth round last year.
(Top photo of Walter Nolen: Matt Pendleton / Imagn Images).
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