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Philadelphia entered Thursday night with eight draft picks. Still, after GM Howie Roseman did some wheeling and dealing on Days 2 and 3, the Eagles came away with an impressive, athletic, and versatile 10-player draft class.
After watching 12 players depart in free agency, Roseman added two dynamic SEC linebackers, an All-American pass rusher, three offensive linemen, and an accomplished quarterback from Philadelphia.
With the rookie minicamp fast approaching, we're looking at five takeaways from the ten-player draft class.
Since passing on Justin Jefferson for Jalen Reagor, Howie Roseman and the Eagles have continuously focused on acquiring SEC talent, and more importantly, Power 4 talent. The "Power Four" conferences in college football are the Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and Southeastern Conference (SEC). These conferences are at the top of the college football landscape, with the SEC and Big Ten often considered the most prestigious. The ten-player class includes four players from the SEC, two from the Big 10, one from the Big 12, and three from the ACC.
Philadelphia has one of the NFL's most explosive offensive units, but saw eight players depart on defense. Roseman used the Eagles' first five picks to land defensive players, and six defenders total.
Roseman values the quarterback position, and since taking over as GM, he has drafted signal-callers once a year, or at least every other year. Roseman drafted Mike Kafka in 2010, Nick Foles in 20212, and Matt Barkley in 2013, but then he lost power to Chip Kelly. Upon getting that power back, Roseman drafted Carson Wentz in 2016, Clayton Thorson in 2019, Jalen Hurts in 2020, Tanner McKee in 2023, and now McCord this past weekend.
The Eagles have drafted a player from Georgia in three of the past four NFL drafts. After drafting Smael Mondon and signing Azeez Ojulari in free agency, they now have eight former Bulldogs on the roster.
Philadelphia does the draft better than most teams around the league and somehow got value at every pick. Jihaad Campbell is one of the top ten talents, while Mac McWilliams had high-profile matchups with Travis Hunter. Drew Kendall (OL), Myles Hinton (OL), and Cameron Williams (OL) are developmental prospects who could become future starters. The biggest steal could be Virginia Tech pass rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland. Powell-Ryland has spent the last two seasons at Virginia Tech after transferring from Florida before the 2023 season.
In 2024, the 6-foot-2, 258-pounder started all 12 games he played, accumulating 43 total tackles and 16 sacks, which ranked third in FBS. Powell-Ryland earned first-team All-ACC and Associated Press All-American third-team honors during his redshirt senior season with the Hokies.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 5 takeaways from the Philadelphia Eagles' 2025 draft class
Continue reading...
After watching 12 players depart in free agency, Roseman added two dynamic SEC linebackers, an All-American pass rusher, three offensive linemen, and an accomplished quarterback from Philadelphia.
With the rookie minicamp fast approaching, we're looking at five takeaways from the ten-player draft class.
Eagles continue renewed focus on Power 4 talent
Since passing on Justin Jefferson for Jalen Reagor, Howie Roseman and the Eagles have continuously focused on acquiring SEC talent, and more importantly, Power 4 talent. The "Power Four" conferences in college football are the Big Ten Conference, Big 12 Conference, Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC), and Southeastern Conference (SEC). These conferences are at the top of the college football landscape, with the SEC and Big Ten often considered the most prestigious. The ten-player class includes four players from the SEC, two from the Big 10, one from the Big 12, and three from the ACC.
Eagles focused on defense
Philadelphia has one of the NFL's most explosive offensive units, but saw eight players depart on defense. Roseman used the Eagles' first five picks to land defensive players, and six defenders total.
QB factory continues
Roseman values the quarterback position, and since taking over as GM, he has drafted signal-callers once a year, or at least every other year. Roseman drafted Mike Kafka in 2010, Nick Foles in 20212, and Matt Barkley in 2013, but then he lost power to Chip Kelly. Upon getting that power back, Roseman drafted Carson Wentz in 2016, Clayton Thorson in 2019, Jalen Hurts in 2020, Tanner McKee in 2023, and now McCord this past weekend.
Georgia on our Minds
The Eagles have drafted a player from Georgia in three of the past four NFL drafts. After drafting Smael Mondon and signing Azeez Ojulari in free agency, they now have eight former Bulldogs on the roster.
Value reigns supreme
Philadelphia does the draft better than most teams around the league and somehow got value at every pick. Jihaad Campbell is one of the top ten talents, while Mac McWilliams had high-profile matchups with Travis Hunter. Drew Kendall (OL), Myles Hinton (OL), and Cameron Williams (OL) are developmental prospects who could become future starters. The biggest steal could be Virginia Tech pass rusher Antwaun Powell-Ryland. Powell-Ryland has spent the last two seasons at Virginia Tech after transferring from Florida before the 2023 season.
In 2024, the 6-foot-2, 258-pounder started all 12 games he played, accumulating 43 total tackles and 16 sacks, which ranked third in FBS. Powell-Ryland earned first-team All-ACC and Associated Press All-American third-team honors during his redshirt senior season with the Hokies.
This article originally appeared on Eagles Wire: 5 takeaways from the Philadelphia Eagles' 2025 draft class
Continue reading...
