Football
While I have watched highlights from the Super Bowl every day since it happened, apparently a NEW season of football is still going to start in September. Before that can happen however, each team gets to select a number of former college standouts in the annual NFL Draft (April 24-April 26) which takes place in Green Bay, Wis. this year.
The Philadelphia Eagles will have the last pick in the first round, due to being the defending Super Bowl champs of course, and seven picks in rounds two through five, although Executive VP/GM/Wizard Howie Roseman has been known to make a deal or two on draft weekend.
2025 Picks:
1st round (PHI), No. 32
2nd round (PHI), No. 64
3rd round (PHI), No. 96
4th round (DET), No. 130
5th round (HOU), No. 161
5th round (CLE via DET), No. 164
5th round (WAS), No. 165
5th round (PHI), No. 168
2026 Picks:
1st round (PHI)
2nd round (PHI)
3rd round (PHI)
3rd round (NYJ)
4th round (PHI)
5th round (PHI)
5th round (HOU)
7th round (PHI)
four compensatory picks too (3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th rounds)
Potential Team Needs (2025 free agents in parentheses):
EDGE (Josh Sweat, Brandon Graham)
LB (Zack Baun, Oren Burks, Ben VanSumeren; Nakobe Dean FA in 26)
OG (Mekhi Becton, Fred Johnson)
OT (Jack Driscoll; Darian Kinnard, Brett Toth FAs in 26)
TE (C.J. Uzomah FA; Dallas Goedert, Grant Calcatarra, E.J. Jenkins FA in 26)
CB (Isaiah Rodgers, Avonte Maddox FA; Darius Slay, Tristin McCollum, Eli Ricks, James Bradberry FAs in 26)
RB (Kenneth Gainwell)
IDL (Milton Williams; Jordan Davis, Thomas Booker IV FAs in 26)
Now that a number of free agent decisions have been made, we have a better idea of what the Birds might do during the draft.
The Eagles lost: Sweat (Cardinals), Rodgers (Vikings), Gainwell (Steelers), Williams (Patriots), Slay (Steelers), Burks (Bengals), Becton (Chargers), Maddox (Lions), Johnson (Jaguars), Graham (FA), Bradberry (FA)
The Eagles retained: Baun, VanSumeren
Undecided: Uzomah, Driscoll
The Eagles signed free agents: LG Kenyon Green (Texans), EDGE Joshua Uche (Chiefs), RB A.J. Dillon (Packers), CB Adoree’ Jackson (Giants), LS Charley Hughlett (Browns), TE Harrison Bryant (Raiders), TE Kylen Granson (Colts), EDGE Patrick Johnson (Giants), PR/KR/WR/RB Avery WIlliams (Falcons), EDGE Azeez Ojulari (Giants)
The Birds lost a quarter of corners this off-season, with James Bradberry, Darius Slay, Isaiah Rodgers, and Avonte Maddox all moving on. To offset those departures, 29-year old Adoree’ Jackson was signed from the Giants to bring a veteran presence to the cornerback room. While he has played some nickel, Jackson is primarily an outside corner and could potentially start opposite Quinyon Mitchell.
Cooper DeJean is entrenched as the nickelback and, if Jackson doesn’t start, Kelee Ringo will most likely be the other outside corner. Eli Ricks and Parry Nickerson should also be in the mix for snaps, but there is no reason a rookie couldn’t earn immediate playing time. So, with that being said, let’s take a look at a pair of cornerbacks the Eagles could draft in April.
(Age listed is “age on first day of the season.” Height and weight is as listed on NFL.com draft profile.)
Shavon Revel, ECU, 6-foot-2, 194 pounds, fifth year senior, 24 years old
- prototypical height for a boundary corner and has extremely long arms which allow him to break up passes that other DBs can’t reach (watch third highlight in the clip below); could use some more weight on his frame
- will be unfortunately, but accurately, labeled as “injury prone” (fractured skull sophomore year of HS; broken collarbone junior year of HS; hand injury in 2022; torn ACL in 2024)
- blocked two kicks in 2023, showcasing explosive athleticism
- willing tackler who doesn’t mind mixing it up with larger players
- 2024 accolades: only played in three games last year due to season-ending ACL injury, but still earned All-AAC Honorable Mention status from College Football Network
- 2023 accolades: Second Team All-AAC
- 2024 stats: 8 tackles (4 solo), 0.5 TFL, 2 interceptions, 4 passes defended, 1 touchdown
- Fun fact: Per PFF, in 2023 he forced incompletions on 26% of his targets in coverage, which ranked right behind Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell (!!!)
- The Eagles should draft him in: 2nd round
Cobee Bryant, Kansas, 6-foot-0, 180 pounds, senior, 23 years old
- like any great cornerback he has a bordering on insane belief in his own ability
- scored touchdowns via interception, fumble, and blocked field goal return during his career
- plays bigger than he is when tackling but he can sometimes veer into Napoleon Complex Territory where he has to PROVE how big and tough he is, which can lead to penalties
- has good hands…not so good speed
- 2024 accolades: Second Team All-America (Sporting News, AFCA); First Team All-Big 12 (third straight season)
- 2024 stats: 37 tackles (26 solo), 3.5 TFL, 0.5 sacks, 4 interceptions, 11 passes defended, 1 forced fumble
- Fun fact: his parents named him after Kobe Bryant because “they knew [he] was going to have a big dawg mentality.”
- Fun fact No. 2: apparently hosts a podcast (“Kickin’ it with Cobee”) which knocks him down a few spots on my personal big board tbqh
- The Eagles should draft him in: 5th round
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