Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

2025 Draft Preview – Day 2

Posted April 25th, 2025 | Comments Off on 2025 Draft Preview – Day 2

The Eagles added a versatile defender on Thursday, taking Jihaad Campbell from Alabama. Nick and Howie refused to be definitive about his role, not wanting to put Campbell “in a box”. I get their point. And maybe part of this is to keep the other 31 teams confused. Are the Eagles still looking to add an edge rusher? Are they still looking to add a LB? We’ll all find out over the next two days.

I’ve come up with an alternative theory.

Pure genius.

Now let’s move onto Day 2.

NEEDS

Safety is a need. The Eagles have Sydney Brown ready to step in for CJGJ. Brown has played in 25 games, with 7 starts. While he has some experience, he is far from a sure thing. The Eagles need someone to challenge Brown and at least offer depth. McCollum was disappointing last season.

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Edge rusher is an odd spot. The Eagles have real potential already in place. Smith is coming off a good season. Hunt was playing good football by the end of the season. Still, neither of those guys has been a starter for a full season. Ojulari has a lot of talent, but he’s struggled to stay healthy. Uche is good. He’s just a role player. I have no idea what to say about Huff. He could turn out to be a key player or could be a June cut. The Eagles have shown interest in edge rushers so this is an area they want to address, whether early or late.

***

The Eagles have a pair of great corners in Mitchell and DeJean. The other spot will be a battle between Ringo and Jackson. Ringo is unproven and Jackson is an older player. The team could look to add someone who could be a long term answer. Adding a third high level CB would make the secondary imposing for several years. At the least, the team needs someone to build up depth at CB. 

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With Milton Williams gone, the Eagles need to add to the DL. They don’t have to get a player exactly like him. They need to find someone who can be disruptive. That could be someone who is 310 pounds or someone who is 280. They need a player who can make plays and affect the QB. This could be a first round pick or a mid-rounder. This is a deep class so there are plenty of options.

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TE is another weird position. Will DG stick around? Even without him, the Eagles have 3 guys in Calcaterra, Bryant and Granson. That isn’t ideal, but the team could get by with that group. I’m sure the team would love to find a stud TE to add to the offense and this is a deep class so they should have good options. Could the Eagles use pick 32 on a TE?

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The Eagles need to add an OL. This could be a young OT to serve as the swing tackle. Or they could go for a guard to come in and challenge for the RG role this season. 

***

QB, RB and WR are positions where the Eagles could spend a pick if they really like someone. They have enough talent/depth for 2025. These could be priority UDFA positions if they aren’t addressed in the draft.

*****

THE PICKS

1st round – LB Jihaad Campbell
2nd round – pick 64
3rd round – pick 96
4th round – pick 134
5th round – pick 161
5th round – pick 165
5th round – pick 168

— TARGETS AT 64 —

OT Marcus Mbow – Purdue – 6-4, 302

Highly athletic OL who started for three years. Played RT for Purdue. His arms are only 32 1/2 inches so some feel he will need to kick inside to OG. The Eagles brought him to Philly for a visit. Jeff Stoutland likes OL with special traits. Mbow isn’t the biggest or strongest guy, but his movement skills are elite. He is outstanding when pulling or blocking on the second level. Also a smart and skilled pass protector. Could challenge for RG right away.

OG Tate Ratledge – Georgia – 6-7, 308

Started at RG for 3 years for the Bulldogs. Solid athlete who is also a tough, physical blocker. Team leader and has the kind of personality that would fit in well with the Eagles OL. Had a good showing at the Combine. Could step in and challenge for the RG spot right away.

DT T.J. Sanders – South Carolina – 6-4, 297

Athletic DT totaled 8.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Has outstanding lateral agility and good quickness off the ball. Could definitely remind you of Milton Williams. The Eagles did bring him to Philly for a visit. Would be a good scheme fit. One of my favorite players in the draft.

DT Shemar Turner – Texas A&M – 6-3, 290

Athletic, playmaking DT. Highly disruptive. Fiery personality. Was ejected for punching an opponent in the groin. The Eagles brought him to Philly for a visit and I’m sure they one of the reasons was trying to get a feel for whether his personality can be harnessed and used in a good way. Would be a good scheme fit.

ED Josaiah Stewart – Michigan – 6-1, 249

I have no idea if the Eagles like Stewart. I have no idea if they would want him at 64 if they do like him. Stewart is my favorite player in the whole draft and reminds me a lot of Nolan Smith. I could see the coaches loving his tape. Really interested to see when and where he goes.

TE Elijah Arroyo – Miami – 6-5, 254

I can’t get this play out of my head. Arroyo is an athletic TE. He can flat out run.

That speed could be fun in the Eagles offense.

*****

MOVING UP

If the Eagles want to move up, there a couple of guys they could target.

TE Mason Taylor – LSU – 6-5, 246

Would the Eagles trade up for a TE? Taylor is the son of former NFL star Jason Taylor. Mason is a gifted receiver with good athleticism. He is also a more than willing blocker. Taylor has a chance to be a good starting TE in the NFL.

ED Nic Scourton – Texas A&M – 6-2, 257

Scourton came to Philly and met Brandon Graham on his visit. That’s cool because Scourton is a lot like BG. Scourton bulked up to 280 last year and wasn’t as effective. He was in the 260 range prior to that and was a force off the edge. He also could line up inside at times. Scourton is the kind of versatile, athletic rusher the Eagles front could use.

CB Trey Amos – Ole Miss – 6-1, 195

Oustanding combinatin of size and speed (4.43). Had 3 INTs and 13 PDs in 2024, his first season at Ole Miss. The Eagles like fast corners. Amos could battle for the LCB spot and offer depth.

*****

VISITS & SPECIAL INTEREST

Keep in mind that the Eagles have had visits with high picks in recent years. Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean all made visits to Philly. That isn’t a guarantee for this year, but it makes you think the first pick will come from this list. We don’t know all of the visits. We do know most of them, but some we don’t find out about until after the draft.

I didn’t list Walter Nolen as visiting. Adam Caplan mentioned him visiting on a podcast, but said it in a way that made me wonder if that was legit or Adam thinking he had heard that. Maybe Nolen did visit, but it would have been nice to get confirmation of that.

At the very least, you can tell what positions the Eagles are focused on. No shock that OL/DL lead the way.

-VISITS TO PHILLY-

RB Jaydon Blue – Texas
RB LeQuint Allen – Syracuse

OT Charles Grant – William & Mary
OT Jalen Travis – Iowa State
OT Anthony Belton – NC State
OT Marcus Mbow – Purdue
OT Josh Conerly – Oregon

OG Donovan Jackson – Ohio State
OG Dylan Fairchild – Georgia
OG Wyatt Milum – West Virginia

ED Elijah Roberts – SMU
ED Donovan Ezeiruaku – Boston College
ED Tyler Baron – Miami
ED Femi Oladejo – UCLA
ED Nic Scourton – Texas A&M

DT Shemar Turner – Texas A&M
DT T.J. Sanders – South Carolina

LB Kobe King – Penn State

SAF Jaylen Reed – Penn State
SAF Kevin Winston – Penn State
SAF Malaki Starks – Georgia
SAF Rayuan Lane  -Navy

CB Maxwell Hairston – Kentucky
CB Jacob Parrish – Kansas State
CB Trey Amos – Ole Miss
CB Jaylin Smith – USC
CB Justin Walley – Minnesota

-SPECIAL INTEREST-

RB Rocket Sanders – South Carolina – Virtual meeting
RB ShunDerrick Powell – Central Arkansas – Eagles spoke to him

WR Will Sheppard – Colorado – Zoom meeting
WR Sam Brown – Miami – Zoom meeting

OT Ozzy Trapilo – Boston College – Eagles OL coach at his Pro Day workout
OG Drew Kendall – Boston College – Eagles OL coach at his Pro Day workout
OG Jackson Slater – Sacramento St – Eagles had multiple interviews
OG Josh Priebe – Michigan – Eagles had virtual meeting with him
OL Caleb Etienne – BYU – Meeting
OL Torricelli Simpkins – South Carolina – Formal meeting at Combine

TE Thomas Fidone – Nebraska – Eagles met with him

ED Ahmed Hassanein – Boise State – Eagles had several meetings with him

DL Xavier Carlton – Cal – Eagles DL coach ran his Pro Day workout
DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins – Georgia – Eagles met with him
DT Myleik Williams – Ohio State – Eagles met with him
DT TJ Jackson – West Virginia – Eagles showing considerable interest in him
DT Zeek Biggers – Georgia Tech – Eagles in communication with him
DT Tonka Hemingway – South Carolina – Formal meeting at Combine

LB Teddye Buchanan – Cal – Eagles have had multiple meetings with him
LB Chandler Martin – Memphis – Eagles showing interest

SAF Andrew Mukuba – Texas – Eagles showing strong interest

CB Korie Black – Oklahoma St – Eagles met with him

*****

DRAFT BOARD

This is my rankings of players matched with my guess on who the Eagles will like. I left some players off because I don’t think they fit what the Eagles are looking for.

-1st Round Board for the Eagles-

TE

Mason Taylor

Edge

Donovan Ezeiruaku

S

Nick Emmanwori

CB

Trey Amos

*****

-2nd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB

N/A

RB

N/A

WR

Luther Burden
Jaylin Noel

TE

Elijah Arroyo
Terrance Ferguson

OT

Marcus Mbow
Aierontae Ersery (character issues could take him off the board)

OG/OC

Jonah Savaiinaea
Tate Ratledge
Jared Wilson

Edge

Nic Scourton
JT Tuimololau
Josaiah Stewart
Jordan Burch

DT

Shemar Turner
TJ Sanders
Joshua Farmer
Omarr Norman-Lott
Darius Alexander

LB

Carson Schwesinger

S

Xavier Watts
Billy Bowman

CB

Shavon Revel
Benjamin Morrison

-3rd Round Board for the Eagles-

QB

N/A

RB

Trevor Etienne
Damien Martinez
Bhayshul Tuten

WR

Jayden Higgins
Elic Ayomanor
Kyle Williams
Jack Bech
Jaylin Lane
Jalen Royals

TE

Harold Fannin

OT

Ozzy Trapilo
Anthony Belton
Charles Grant

OG/OC

Wyatt Milum
Miles Frazier
Seth McLaughlin

Edge

Femi Oladejo
Barryn Sorrell
Bradyn Swinson
David Walker
Jack Sawyer
Ashton Gillotte

DT

Jaramee Caldwell
Cam Jackson
Alfred Collins
Deone Walker

LB

Demetrius Knight
Danny Stutsman
Kobe King
Chris Paul
Shemar James

S

Andrew Mukuba
Jonas Sanker
Kevin Winston

CB

Jacob Parrish
Nohl Williams
Quincy Riley

*****

ALL TOMMY TEAM 

(my favorite non-1st round players)

QB Dillon Gabriel – Oregon
RB RJ Harvey – UCF
WR Chimere Dike – Florida
WR Pat Bryant – Illinois
TE Elijah Arroyo – Miami
TE Jackson Hawes – Georgia Tech
OT Chase Lundt – UConn
OG Willie Lampkin – UNC
OC Jonah Monheim – USC
OG Miles Frazier – LSU
OT Ozzy Trapilo – Boston College

DE Josaiah Stewart – Michigan
DT T.J. Sanders – South Carolina
DT Jamaree Caldwell – Oregon
DE David Walker – Central Arkansas
LB Demetrius Knight – South Carolina
LB Danny Stutsman – Oklahoma
S Lathan Ransom – Ohio State
S Billy Bowman – Oklahoma
NB Caleb Ransaw – Tulane
CB Jacob Parrish – Kansas State
CB Jaylin Smith – USC

***

Please draft a couple of these players

TE Elijah Arroyo – Miami
TE Jackson Hawes – Georgia Tech
OG Grey Zabel – NDSU
OT Charles Grant – William & Mary
OT Anthony Belton – NC State
OG Donovan Jackson – Ohio State
OG Wyatt Milum – West Virgina

DE Josaiah Stewart – Michigan
DE David Walker  – Central Arkansas
DL Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins – Georgia
DT T.J. Sanders – South Carolina
DT Jamaree Caldwell – Oregon
LB Demetrius Knight – South Carolina
LB Danny Stutsman – Oklahoma
S Billy Bowman – Oklahoma
S Kevin Winston – Penn State
S Jonas Sanker – Virginia
CB Jacob Parrish – Kansas State
CB Jaylin Smith – USC

Please avoid these players

ED Shemar Stewart – Tx A&M – Lack of production is legit concern.
ED James Pearce – Tennessee – I don’t think he fits the Eagles scheme.
TE Harold Fannin – Bowling Green – Specialty TE. I think the Eagles need a blocker/receiver type.
OL Emery Jones – LSU – Waist-bender. That’s a fatal flaw for OL.

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