You know what’s cooler than the Philadelphia Eagles being in the NFC Championship Game?
The Philadelphia Eagles in the NFC Championship Game… and Owning the #10 pick in the 2023 NFL Draft over the New Orleans Saints.
That extra pick could be particularly useful if the Eagles are set to leave a number of key players in free agency this offseason.
With that in mind, Mel Kiper’s first mock draft ahead of the 2023 NFL Draft has the Eagles stocking up on the defensive closet. You can watch the whole thing on ESPN+, but here’s what he’s projecting for the tenth pick.
10. Philadelphia Eagles (via NO) – Calijah Kancey, DT, Pitt
The Eagles, one of the top four teams in the NFL, acquired this first-rounder from New Orleans last year, and now they have a chance to add a quality candidate to their well-stocked roster. They don’t have many needs at the moment, but they have some free-hand decisions to make, including whether to bring back defenders Fletcher Cox, Robert Quinn, Brandon Graham and Javon Hargrave. Let’s use this selection to help them grow younger.
Kancey’s Band of 2022 is extremely impressive and I’ve moved it to the top of my big board. He’s wreaked havoc the last two seasons, amassing 13.5 sacks when set up as a defensive tackle, the most in the country. At 6 feet and 280 pounds, he’s short, but so was former Pitt tackle Aaron Donald. (To be clear, he’s not Donald, but he’s still pretty good.) We know that Philadelphia general manager Howie Roseman is heavily invested in the D-line, and Kancey would join Jordan Davis, the first-rounder from 2022, fit.
It’s hard to tell if Hargrave will be back or not.
On the one hand, the Eagles definitely value central defenders. Especially if they offer pass rush ability. And with Fletcher Cox also reportedly a free agent, would the Eagles really let them both run?
On the other hand, Hargrave will turn 30 in February and it feels like the team would have signed him for an extension by now if he was in the plans. The Eagles don’t typically let core players enter contract years like they did at Hargrave.
Whether he’s back or not, the Eagles could very well be trying to add more talent to their defensive line. Howie Roseman is never averse to that.
Kancey somehow fits into the Hargrave mold as a relatively small DT with good sporting test numbers. The Pitt graduate made it onto Bruce Feldman’s “Freaks List” ahead of the 2022 college football season. He finished ninth overall:
He’s a little short at 6ft and 282lbs, but man, the Miami native. This was a great discovery from Panthers defensive line coach Charlie Partridge, who has deep ties to South Florida. In 2021, Kancey earned first-team All-ACC honors after producing 13 TFLs and seven sacks. Pat Narduzzi says Kancey reminds him of Panther legend Aaron Donald, and while that’s pretty heavy talk, there’s no doubt this guy is special, too. Narduzzi told The Athletic this month that Kancey was clocked at 4.69 40s. Kancey also has vertical jumps of 31 1/2 inches and bench presses of 425.
Designing the next Aaron Donald will prove to be easier said than done. But there’s definitely reason to be intrigued by Kancey. Check out how fast he can be off the ball:
While the Eagles’ first pick sits at No. 10, their second pick for the first round has yet to be determined. If all goes well and they win the Super Bowl, it will be at No. 31 (instead of No. 32 since the Miami Dolphins’ first-round pick lapsed). For Kiper’s mock, he makes the Eagles lose the Super Bowl (booooooo) and the No. Get 30 choices.
30. Philadelphia Eagles – Brian Branch, S, Alabama
After giving the Eagles a potential Hargrave replacement, he gave them a potential CJGJ replacement.
Philadelphia made a preseason trade to acquire safety CJ Gardner-Johnson, but he’s had such a great season it may be too expensive for the Eagles to bring him back. In this case, this pick is the best like-for-like substitute – Branch can play as a slot corner or deep center fielder and fill in Gardner-Johnson’s shoes. Branch is my best security, but he’ll be a cornerback on some teams’ boards. I predicted the No. 10 Eagles would add defensive tackle, and injecting that defense with young talent should be their offseason priority.
It feels like the Eagles are bringing back either CJGJ or Marcus Epps… but not both. Most would probably prefer it if it was CJGJ. But Epps will be the cheaper option.
Branch also made it onto Feldman’s Freaks List, although he was further down at number 62.
The Georgia native appeared as a playmaker on the Tide defense in 2021, making 55 tackles, five TFLs and having nine team-high pass breakups. Brand is a strong DB at 6ft 194lbs, squats 565 and cleans 335. He also has a ton of speed, having clocked 22.3mph on the GPS system.
Highlights:
Historically, Kiper’s first mock draft isn’t necessarily a good indicator of how the actual NFL draft will pan out. There’s so much that can happen between now and the end of April when it comes to all-star games, the combine, pro-days, pre-draft visits, etc.
At the moment, however, these tips seem surprisingly logical to me. At least a lot less far-fetched than Todd McShay’s first mock draft, which saw the Eagles rewind by choosing the Saints. Does not happen!