Philadelphia Eagles reportedly 'wild card' to target Georgia defender in first round of 2024 NFL Draft

Howie Roseman and the Philadelphia Eagles have solidified a significant pipeline from the University of Georgia in the last couple of NFL drafts, a trend that appears poised to continue for 2024.

With the Eagles’ acquisitions of Jordan Davis, Nakobe Dean, Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, and Kelee Ringo in the 2022 and 2023 draft classes, South Philadelphia has essentially transformed into a satellite of Georgia’s football program.

Looking ahead to the 2024 NFL draft, there’s a possibility that the Athens to Philadelphia connection may persist, especially considering the Eagles’ pressing need for a cornerback of the future, with Georgia’s Kamari Lassiter gaining traction on draft boards.

Pro Football Focus has tagged the Eagles as one of two “wild card” teams likely to select Lassiter in the first round, holding the 22nd overall pick.

“The Eagles are another team to look out for at No. 22. Darius Slay (66.0) and James Bradberry (54.4) continue to man the outside, while C.J. Gardner-Johnson will likely handle slot duties. With Slay and Bradberry aging, and coming off down years, Philadelphia needs a reliable player behind them. The Eagles have drafted five Bulldogs over the past two seasons, and Lassiter could be next in line. Offensive line could also be a first-round priority after Jason Kelce‘s (82.7) retirement.”

The Eagles find themselves in a cornerback conundrum, particularly following Bradberry’s struggles with coverage and missed tackles towards the end of the 2023 season.

Yet, parting ways with Bradberry would incur a hefty $15.11 million dead-money hit against the cap this season, alongside a $10.81 million loss in cap space for the Eagles.

Opting for Lassiter could involve a strategy where the Georgia standout gradually assumes a starting role late in the 2024 season or undergoes a year of development to potentially become the Week 1 starter in 2025.

Despite a collectively underwhelming season for the Eagles’ secondary, the team is retaining Avonte Maddox, Darius Slay, and Bradberry. However, given Bradberry’s contractual situation and performance decline in 2023, Roseman and the Eagles might seek to reinforce cornerback depth through the draft.

The prospect of the Philadelphia Eagles pursuing the talented Georgia cornerback adds an intriguing layer, potentially addressing a critical positional need while extending their recent streak of successful Georgia draft picks.