With the final month of the NFL season upon us, some teams have begun shifting their attention to the 2023 off-season. Alas, the Philadelphia Eagles are not one of those teams. They currently have the best record in the league at 12-1 and are hoping to have a long playoff run ahead of them.
But, that doesn’t mean that the scouting department isn’t hard at work identifying players that they could target for the 2023 NFL Draft. Philadelphia’s pick will be near the end of the draft, and in most mocks right now they have the last pick. But, thanks to a trade with the New Orleans Saints during the 2022 NFL Draft, the Eagles have their first-round pick as well.
That selection could very well be inside the top five, which would give the Eagles a chance to nab an elite prospect or receive a haul from a quarterback-needy team willing to make a trade. A trade with their own selection also has a strong possibility.
Philadelphia, as things currently stand, doesn’t have any glaring holes on their roster. When they are on the clock with their pick, it would not be a surprise to see them field trade offers. However, if they do hold onto it and make the selection, expect them to go with the best player available.
With that thinking, Josh Edwards of CBS Sports believes that the Eagles will take Texas A&M safety Antonio Johnson with the selection. Philadelphia’s secondary has become a strength of the team with Darius Slay and James Bradberry working the perimeter at quarterback, but their lineup could have a void if they are unable to re-sign C.J. Gardner-Johnson.
Gardner-Johnson was acquired from the Saints in another trade later in the offseason and has been converted to a full-time safety with the Eagles. He is a free agent after the season and if he departs, the secondary will have an opening at one starting spot.
In could step Johnson, a safety with unique characteristics standing 6’3” and weighing 195 pounds. He has experience operating as a slot defender, bringing some versatility to the table, and excels at identifying and bringing down ball carriers in space.
The Texas A&M product would not only fill a potential void but provide solid value as well at this spot in the draft. In nine games this season, Johnson has 71 combined tackles, five tackles for a loss, one sack and one pass defended with three forced fumbles.
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