Iggles Blitz

by Tommy Lawlor

Eagles Mock Draft

Posted April 21st, 2025 | 3 Comments »

Draft week is finally here. We are only days away from finding out which college prospect will become the next great Eagles player. Hall of Famer? Pro Bowler? At least better than Jalen Reagor? So many different levels of greatness.

Here is my ideal scenario for the Eagles. I kept it as realistic as possible. I just don’t see Abdul Carter falling to pick 32, although I did start some rumors that his favorite writer is Jimmy Bama and that is sure to raise a few red flags around the league.

1st Rd – 32 – OL – Gray Zabel – North Dakota State – 6-6, 312

Zabel was a great OT for the Bison, starting 40 games. He has size, athleticism and skill. The only real knock is length. He’s got short arms. Because of that NFL teams are projecting him at C or G. Zabel played G/C while at the Senior Bowl and had a great week. He followed that up with a strong showing at the Combine. The key question now is how high he’ll go. My guess is he won’t make it to 32, but since this is an ideal scenario, I have him lasting to the Eagles pick.

Zabel would be a great fit for the Eagles, on and off the field. He could challenge for the RG spot immediately. He could play center if needed. He also has OT experience. We know Jeff Stoutland loves versatile OL. Zabel is a high character player and team leader. He would be a great fit in Philly from a culture standpoint.

2nd Rd – 64 – Edge – Josaiah Stewart – Michigan – 6-1, 249

Stewart began his career at Coastal Carolina. He racked up 16 sacks and 4 FF while playing for the Chanticleers. He then transferred to Michigan and racked up 14 sacks and 2 FF while playing for them over the past two seasons. I’m sure many of you aren’t so keen on an undersized pass rusher. Making matters worse, Stewart didn’t run well at his Pro Day. But, the tape. Watch the tape.

Stewart is a badass. He will remind you a lot of Nolan Smith, but maybe an angrier version. Stewart knocks the crap out of everyone/everything he can. He isn’t a great athlete like Smith, but was more productive in college. He is a good pass rusher and a good run defender. I think Stewart has a play style that Vic Fangio will love. Stewart is one of my favorite players in the whole draft. I’d love for him to end up in Philly.

3rd Rd – 96 – SAF – Jonas Sanker – Virginia – 6-1, 206

Sanker was a 3-year starter for UVA. He has a good combination of size and speed. He’s an aggressive, physical player. He only had 2 INTs, but does a good job of breaking up passes. He can play in the slot if needed. He ran 4.48 at the Combine and that’s good speed for someone his size.

The Eagles have Reed Blankenship at one spot. Sydney Brown could be the other safety. Sanker has plenty of experience so he should come in ready to push for playing time. Sanker isn’t a project. If Brown wins the job, Sanker offers depth and STs ability.

4th Rd – 134 – DL – Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins – Georgia – 6-4, 276

Ingram-Dawkins is a tweener, having played DE and DT. He was productive and disruptive from both spots. He was up about 300 pounds in the past, but lost weight and had his best season in 2024, with 8 TFLs and 3 sacks. I think Ingram-Dawkins found his ideal weight and that helped him to play his best football.

Milton Williams was a tweener when the Eagles drafted him. We wondered if he would be a big DE or athletic DT. He played inside and developed into an outstanding player. Ingram-Dawkins is a bit taller, but is similar overall. I think he would give the Eagles a good inside rusher to help replace Williams. We know the team has shown some interest in him. And he went to Georgia.

5th Rd – 161 – CB – Caleb Ransaw – Tulane – 6-0, 199

Ransaw started 31 games in his career, playing both the slot and outside. He has excellent speed at 4.33. Ransaw got some reps at safety while at the Senior Bowl and had an INT in the game. The biggest knock on him is that he only had 1 INT. Some of that is due to playing so much in the slot, but some of that is on him not having great ball skills. Ransaw is a good hitter and tackler.

We know the Eagles like fast CBs. Ransaw checks that box. We know they like versatile DBs. He checks that box as well. And Fangio would like the fact he’s tough and tackles well. He helps with depth on the outside and in the slot. Could also cross train him at safety in the future.

5th Rd – 164 – LB – Teddye Buchanan – Cal – 6-2, 233

Buchanan began his career at Sacramento State and was a playmaking LB there for 4 years (15 TFLs, 8 INTs). He transferred to Cal for 2024 and had a great season with 114 tackles, 12 TFLs, 5 sacks, 2 FF. That’s a playmaker. Buchanan then had a great showing at the Combine. He is a big time athlete.

We don’t know when Nakobe Dean will be back. He wants to be ready for the start of the season, but that doesn’t seem realistic. Jeremiah Trotter Jr can start in his place, but you need competition for him and depth. Buchanan offers both. I think he has the kind of athleticism the Eagles need when facing young athletic QBs like Jayden Daniels and…Russell Wilson. The Eagles have shown interest in Buchanan.

5th Rd – 165 – OT – Carson Vinson – Alabama A&M – 6-7, 314

This is not a good OT class. After the first few things get sparse. Vinson is a project, but he is an interesting project. He started 48 games at LT. He was good vs his level, but struggled at times against better competition. I thought he had a solid showing at the Senior Bowl. Vinson has a good frame and long arms (35 inches). He has okay feet. There is potential.

The Eagles have great starting tackles. They signed Kendall Lamm to offer depth at LT. They have Darian Kinnard as the backup RT. Matt Pryor has OT experience, but I prefer him at OG. There is definitely a need for a young OT to develop. Vinson has “tools in his body” as someone likes to say.

5th Rd – 168 – TE – C.J. Dippre – Alabama – 6-5, 256

Dippre transferred from Maryland to Bama in 2023. He only caught 65 passes in college so he’s nothing special as a receiver. He’s better than his stats would indicate. He played on some less than great passing offenses. Dippre looked solid in the gauntlet drill at the Combine so I think he’s got good hands. He isn’t a great athlete, but has some good moments after the catch.

The Dallas Goedert saga continues. I’d love to see the Eagles keep him, but that confusingly doesn’t feel like it will happen. I would love for the team to go get a TE early. The Eagles haven’t had visits with key TEs so I’m guessing they won’t prioritize the position. I could be dead wrong on that, though. The reason I like Dippre is that he’s a good blocker and can be an effective receiver. I’d love to go find a star, but at this point I’ll settle for a better version of Jack Stoll to add to the mix. I think Dippre has that kind of potential.

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A couple of quick thoughts.

I hate waiting that long to take a TE. The Eagles have me thoroughly confused at that position. Maybe they’ll trade for one. Michael Mayer from the Raiders would make some sense.

This is a really deep group of RBs. I’m hoping the Eagles either take one late or get good value as a priority free agent.

WR is another spot I hated to pass on. That would be a priority UDFA position. There are some late round guys who could be of interest.

This isn’t a strong QB class. I can see the Eagles taking one late if there is someone they love. If not, that’s another UDFA spot.

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Draft Thoughts

Posted April 20th, 2025 | Comments Off on Draft Thoughts

The draft is only a few days away. A lot of teams are trying to figure out which QB to take and when to take them. The Eagles have that under control. They just have to sit back and wait to see who is going to be available toward the end of the first round. I don’t have a good feel for what the Eagles are going to do. This is going to be an odd first round because of the way some positions are so stacked and others are so lean. The Eagles just have to be patient and see what their options are. Thursday will be a long night with the Eagles at 32, but it will be interestinig to see how things play out in front of them.

Here are some random draft thoughts.

I’m not in love with any player at 32. The guy I would probably want more than any other is OL Gray Zabel from North Dakota State. He was the LT for the Bison, but played G and C at the Senior Bowl. He is a terrific blocker and could challenge for the RG spot immediately. He also would be a great cultural fit. Zabel had NIL offers to leave NDSU, but chose to stay out of loyalty. I can see Nick Sirianni loving this guy.

Most people think he’ll be gone by 32. If he is available, I could see Howie Roseman taking him. Heck, I could see Howie considering a trade-up to get him if the price is reasonable.

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One of the key things in regard to the first round is focusing on players over positions. Which players do you covet? You are looking for someone who can be a difference-maker on the field and a strong fit off the field. The first round pick will hopefully be with the team for 5 to 10 years. Don’t obsess on what the 2025 Eagles need. Think about how the player can help the Eagles from 2025-2034. Is that the kind of player you’re getting?

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One player I’m hoping the Eagles don’t draft is edge rusher James Pearce from Tennessee. He is 6-5, 245 and a talented pass rusher. He had 17.5 sacks over the past two seasons. Pearce ran 4.47 at the Combine. There is a lot to like. I just didn’t love Pearce on tape. He isn’t as physical as I think edge rushers need to be, especially in Vic Fangio’s scheme. He wasn’t as consistently disruptive as it felt like he should have been based on his talent. There are also some reports of character concerns. Pearce might turn out to be a great pro, but he doesn’t feel like an Eagles player to me.

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The Eagles need to add a safety in the draft. Most of the focus is them going for Malaki Starks in the first round. If they take him, I’m fine with that. He is a good player. The Eagles don’t need to force things. There are other options.

Billy Bowman from Oklahoma will go on Day 2. He’s not the biggest guy, but is a good playmaker and solid tackler. I love the way he flies around the field. He might remind you of a more polished Sydney Brown.

Penn State has a pair of prospects. Kevin Winston is the better player, but he’s coming off a knee injury. I really enjoyed watching him in 2023. He only had 1 career INT so that’s not ideal. Jaylen Reed was an excellent playmaker for the Nittany Lions in 2024. He is a high energy, athletic player. Reed is fiery and might remind you at times of CJGJ. Reed’s biggest issue is that he can be a sloppy tackler. He grabs too often instead of wrapping up his targets.

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I don’t think the Eagles should take a WR early, but would be fine with them taking one on Day 3. Isaac TeSlaa from Arkansas is an interesting guy. He is 6-4, 214 and ran 4.43. TeSlaa was good at the Senior Bowl and the Combine. He only played at Arkansas for two years after transferring from Hillsdale. TeSlaa only caught 62 passes for Arkansas, but that is a selling point for me. The Eagles need receivers that can handle minimal targets. Most guys come in after being a workhorse receiver in college. TeSlaa has NFL ability. He could develop into a part of a good WR corps.

TeSlaa is a great athlete. He feels like the kind of WR you take a chance on when Day 3 rolls around.

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Harold Fannin is a TE prospect from Bowling Green. He caught 117 passes last season and played like a star TE. Fannin is only 6-3, 241 so he’s a guy that you flex out and play in space. He did some good things at the Senior Bowl and Combine. Most people think Fannin could go in the second round.

I’m not a fan of him as an Eagles target. I love the player, just not the fit. The Eagles have a couple of smaller TEs in Grant Calcaterra and Kylen Granson. They don’t need to add a similar player. And Fannin is a volume receiver. He is used to getting 8 to 10 targets a game. That just wouldn’t happen in Philly.

The Eagles might feel different and draft him. I would prefer a TE who is bigger and can contribute more as a blocker. The Eagles did hire Scott Loeffler as QBs coach. He was the head coach at Bowling Green the past few years so there is a strong connection to Fannin.

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