Eagles add another playmaker to stacked offense in latest mock draft

On Monday, the Eagles agreed to terms on a three-year, $37.75 million deal with two-time Pro Bowl running back Saquon Barkley during the free agency "tampering" period.

Barkley is added to a strong Philadelphia offense that already includes two-time Pro Bowl QB Jalen Hurts, star wide receivers A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith and tight end Dallas Goedert. 

CBS Sports' Garrett Podell doesn't think Philadelphia is done adding to their stacked offense either. He believes the team will add another playmaker with its first-round pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

According to Podell's latest mock draft, he projects that the Eagles will select LSU wide receiver Brian Thomas Jr. with pick No. 22.

"The Eagles struggled to find a reliable third receiver after A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith, which hindered what they were able to do through the air last season," Podell writes. "Thomas fixes those issues and provides Philly with a potent trio of wideouts."

Thomas Jr. would certainly do that after leading the nation with 17 receiving touchdowns in 2023 and posting 68 receptions for 1,177 yards.

The massive 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver currently ranks as the fourth-best wide receiver and No. 27 overall prospect on Pro Football Focus' big board, which puts him right in the range of Philadelphia's first selection in the draft.

Pairing Thomas Jr. with Brown and Smith would create arguably the best wide receiver trio in the league for years to come while also helping Hurts, who had a career-high 35 touchdowns (23 passing, 15 rushing) last season.

The Eagles seemed to fall apart at the end of 2023, losing six of their final seven games, including their wild-card round matchup against the Buccaneers. Thomas Jr. could help prevent a collapse like that from happening again.

Philadelphia may opt to address its secondary instead after it allowed the second-most passing yards per game (252.7) in the NFL last season. It is difficult to argue against potentially strengthening the scariest offense in football.