2025 NFL draft: Top needs for the Philadelphia Eagles
Rejoice, football fans, the 2025 NFL draft is just days away in Green Bay, Wisconsin, beginning on Thursday night at 8 p.m.
This week, WGAL is providing the top needs heading into the draft for the Philadelphia Eagles, Baltimore Ravens and the Pittsburgh Steelers.
You can view the draft needs of the Ravens and Steelers below:
In this edition, we are analyzing the reigning Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles.
Pass rusher
The Eagles have a great, young pass-rushing duo heading into the 2025 season in Nolan Smith and Jalyx Hunt, but they lost two valuable veterans in Josh Sweat (free agency) and Brandon Graham (retirement).
The team signed Azeez Ojulari and Josh Uche to deals in free agency, but each signed a one-year deal, meaning the team isn't committed to them for the long haul.
We all know General Manager Howie Roseman loves to develop players in the trenches and it makes sense for Philadelphia to use a top selection for rotational depth behind Smith and Hunt.
Potential fits:
- James Pearce Jr., Tennessee
- Shemar Stewart, Texas A&M
- Donovan Ezeiruaku, Boston College
- Landon Jackson, Arkansas
- Oluwafemi Oladejo, UCLA
Interior defensive line
Yes, the Eagles have one of the top defensive tackles in the league with Jalen Carter, along with Jordan Davis and Moro Ojomo, but the depth behind them is severely lacking.
The team lost Milton Williams to the New England Patriots in free agency and will have to make a decision on Davis's fifth-year option in 2026.
They did not draft the position in 2024 and did not address it in free agency.
Five of the team's 30 pre-draft visits were defensive tackles.
Potential fits:
- Walter Nolen, Ole Miss
- Tyleik Williams, Ohio State
- T.J. Sanders, South Carolina
- Elijah Roberts, SMU
- Omarr Norman-Lott, Tennessee
Tight end
At the annual owners meeting in Florida, the Eagles' front office refused to commit to current TE1 Dallas Goedert for the 2025 season.
Trade rumors involving Goedert have been swirling for quite some time, and if he's indeed traded, tight end becomes a glaring need.
Grant Calcaterra filled in nicely while Goedert missed some time but is considered a liability as a blocker.
The team added Kylen Granson and Harrison Bryant, but neither can be considered a starter.
It's hard to envision the Eagles spending a top selection at the position, but there is a ton of depth in the draft.
Potential fits:
- Mason Taylor, LSU
- Harold Fannin Jr., Bowling Green
- Elijah Arroyo, Miami
- Terrance Ferguson, Oregon
- Gunnar Helm, Texas
Interior offensive line
The Eagles took a chance on Mekhi Becton in 2024 after a rough start to begin his career with the New York Jets. Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland got the most out of him, but he took a deal with the Los Angeles Chargers in free agency.
The Eagles have Tyler Steen and acquired Kenyon Green in a trade from the Houston Texans in exchange for safety C.J. Gardner-Johnson, but both remain unproven at this point in time.
Also, the Eagles don't have a backup center currently on the roster.
Roseman has done a great job of drafting at the position in recent years so don't be surprised if the Birds address the position early.
Potential fits:
- G Tyler Booker, Alabama
- G Tate Ratledge, Georgia
- C Jared Wilson, Georgia
- G Dylan Fairchild, Georgia
- G Miles Frazier, LSU
- C Seth McLaughlin, Ohio State
Safety
As mentioned above, the Eagles traded Gardner-Johnson to the Texans for offensive line depth, leaving a massive hole at the position alongside Reed Blankenship.
The move was a bit of a head-scratcher for a lot of Philadelphia fans, but the front office may have grown tired of his continual distractions and decided they were better off without him in the long run.
The Eagles could look to fill the position in Day 2 or 3 of the draft, unless they are enamored with top prospects Malaki Starks or Nick Emmanwori.
Potential fits:
- Andrew Mukuba, Texas
- Xavier Watts, Notre Dame
- Kevin Winston Jr., Penn State
- Lathan Ransom, Ohio State
- Billy Bowman Jr., Oklahoma
Here is a list of the Eagles' 2025 draft picks:
- Round 1, Pick 32
- Round 2, Pick 64
- Round 3, Pick 96
- Round 4, Pick 134
- Round 5, Pick 161 (from Houston)
- Round 5, Pick 164 (from Cleveland)
- Round 5, Pick 165 (from Washington)
- Round 5, Pick 168