The Philadelphia Eagles ranked 26th in total defense (360 yards per game), 30th in passing defense (255.7 yards per game), and 30th in scoring defense (25.6 PPG). This has one of the most passionate fan bases in the league clamoring to address the defensive side of the football in the upcoming 2024 NFL Draft.
The numbers from our PFN Mock Draft Simulator support that statement; Eagles fans have an overwhelming amount of top defensive prospects among the most selected players in these mock draft scenarios.
Philadelphia Eagles Strongly Target Top Defensive Prospects in 2024 NFL Mock Draft Simulator
The Eagles currently hold three of the top 53 picks in the 2024 NFL Draft, which gives them multiple opportunities to add some quality defensive prospects to a Vic Fangio defense aiming to return to its dominance from the 2022 NFL season.
The loss of Haason Reddick has mostly been nullified by the addition of Bryce Huff earlier this offseason. On the offensive side of the ball, the retirement of Jason Kelce has been a bit overshadowed by the signing of running back Saquon Barkley, who is among the most physically talented backs in the league.
The Eagles pick at Nos. 22, 50, and 53, allowing them the flexibility to simply take the best player available while still addressing multiple positions on the defensive side of the football.
9) Tyler Nubin, S, Minnesota
Minnesota’s Tyler Nubin has a legitimate case for the best safety prospect in the 2024 class. His ball skills, formidable size, and ball-hawking instincts to drift into passing lanes when reading the eyes of greedy quarterbacks wanting to attack the middle of the field are all valuable skill sets entering the league.
Despite his impressive reps on tape firmly putting him in the Day 1 conversation, questions remain surrounding his top speed — due to his decision not to run at the NFL Scouting Combine or the Minnesota Pro Day — which is the biggest concern regarding his prospect profile entering the league.
Nubin’s career production totals at Minnesota are certainly very encouraging. During his time as a member of the Golden Gophers, the talented safety prospect logged 207 total stops, two sacks, three forced fumbles, and 13 interceptions, which suggests he could immediately factor into a secondary that struggled throughout the majority of the 2023 season.
8) Quinyon Mitchell, CB, Toledo
The struggles of both Darius Slay and James Bradberry last year mirrored the Eagles’ significant drop in effectiveness against opposing passing attacks. This certainly makes the cornerback position an option in the first round.
The addition of C.J. Gardner-Johnson should help in the slot, but Toledo’s Quinyon Mitchell‘s athleticism, ball skills, and instant recovery ability provide the versatility and elite upside that could thrive in Fangio’s scheme and develop into a future star at the position.
7) Bralen Trice, EDGE, Washington
The aforementioned loss of Reddick sees the departure of 27 sacks over the last two years walk out the door. Sure, the addition of Huff and the potential development of last year’s first-round pick Nolan Smith could make this a luxury pick. However, Bralen Trice out of Washington could certainly factor in the front seven rotation.
MORE: Philadelphia Eagles Depth Chart
Despite a noteworthy lack of sack production, he flashes disruptive traits that could terrorize opposing run games and help create chaos to open rushing pass-rushing lanes for the other talented members of this unit up front. His high motor, aggressive physicality, and violent hands could make him a very popular player in Philly.
6) Jaylan Ford, LB, Texas
The Eagles’ next target in the mock draft simulator is Jaylan Ford out of Texas, as Philadelphia could not figure out the right combination of linebackers throughout the 2023 campaign.
Philadelphia added depth at the position by signing Devin White to potentially replace Nicholas Morrow who departed in free agency, and Nakobe Dean is still on the roster but has failed to make a significant impact through his first two years in the league.
Ford topped 100 total tackles in both his final two seasons in Austin and possesses the top-shelf athleticism to carry pass-catching threats up the seams, which was one of the most susceptible areas of the Eagles’ defense last season.
5) Kalen King, CB, Penn State
A cornerback prospect many Eagles fans are likely very familiar with up in Pennsylvania is Kalen King out of Penn State.
His 2022 campaign felt a bit stronger than his 2023 production, and his 40-time of 4.61 seconds at the NFL Combine definitely raises concerns about his ability to disrupt elite vertical threats at the next level, but he still possesses quality instincts that could factor favorably into Fangio’s Cover-3 schemes as an outside CB prospect.
4) Kamari Lassiter, CB, Georgia
Instinctive, technically sound, and physical in run support, Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter has some of the traits we’ve become accustomed to at the cornerback position in Fangio’s dominant defensive schemes of the past.
Despite Lassiter’s success in the SEC on a national stage with the Bulldogs, his 4.65-second 40 time at the Georgia Pro Day certainly will present limitations to what you are asking him to do in man coverage at the NFL level.
3) Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M
Edgerrin Cooper is certainly in the conversation for the LB1 overall prospect in this class with his exceptional play speed and fluid athleticism. At times, he plays like a predator hunting prey when he spots a ball carrier trying to beat him to the edge and can raise chaos as an extra blitzer on passing down situations.
Despite a great athletic profile, his top speed isn’t always paired with an equally quick processor and concerning gap integrity. Yet, playing behind one of the more talented defensive line units in the league could allow him to flow unevaded to help maximize his sideline-to-sideline athleticism.
2) Jeremiah Trotter Jr., LB, Clemson
Come on now … this pick makes way too much sense. Jeremiah Trotter Jr. is the son of an Eagles legend who excelled during his eight years in Philly by generating 914 total tackles.
The apple doesn’t fall from the tree here, with the younger Trotter showcasing excellent processing ability and the ability to regularly shoot gaps to create chaos for opposing running games.
Playing behind a team that boasts interior defensive-line playmakers like Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis would help maximize Trotter’s difference-making skill set as a run defender.
1) Kamren Kinchens, S, Miami
Despite the team’s decision to extend Reed Blankenship, bring back Gardner-Johnson, and draft Sydney Brown last year, the most popular player selected for the Eagles is Kamren Kinchens from the University of Miami.
KEEP READING: 2024 NFL Draft Scouting Reports
Kinchens has great ball skills and showcases an unquenchable thirst for wanting to make big plays, but his eagerness to be a disruptive force can lead to costly missed assignments in run support and in zone coverage. His athletic testing at the NFL Combine — a 4.65-second 40-yard dash included — didn’t exactly do him any favors either.
If Fangio can keep his playmaking instincts intact while helping him take fewer risks, then Kinchens could be a disruptive force in this defensive scheme.
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