Jackson Powers-Johnson. Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Eagles trade up for Jason Kelce's replacement in latest mock draft

By Aaron Becker | Last updated 2/13/24

Although Eagles All-Pro center Jason Kelce has yet to officially announce his retirement, ESPN's Adam Schefter said the 36-year-old was "visibly emotional" after Philadelphia's wild-card round loss and that an announcement is expected at some point.

That's why NFL.com's Chad Reuter believes the Eagles will be aggressive in his latest mock draft and trade up to land Kelce's replacement.

Philadelphia currently owns the No. 22 pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, but Reuter believes it will strike a deal with Seattle to land Oregon center Jackson Powers-Johnson at pick No. 16.

"The first round doesn't officially begin until Philadelphia trades up," Reuter writes. "The Seahawks swap first-rounders with the Eagles and send them a third-round pick in exchange for a second- and fifth-rounder. Powers-Johnson steps in for future Hall of Famer Jason Kelce."

Powers-Johnson has been climbing up draft boards ever since his impressive week in Mobile, Ala., for the 2024 Senior Bowl where he was seen tossing some of the draft's top defensive lineman prospects to the ground in one-on-ones.

Here is every one-on-one rep for Oregon C Jackson Powers-Johnson on Day 1 of the Senior Bowl: pic.twitter.com/AsRO932ANM
— Marcus Mosher (@Marcus_Mosher) January 30, 2024

The 21-year-old currently ranks as Pro Football Focus' best center and No. 22 overall prospect on its big board after allowing just one pressure on 471 pass-blocking opportunities in 2023.

Drafting a center is never a flashy first-round pick, but it would be a smart one for the Eagles, who have built their roster through the trenches and boast one of the league's best offensive lines as a result.

Philadelphia will still await Kelce's retirement announcement as a reunion would likely happen if he were to return in 2024. But that doesn't seem to be the case after discussing his football future on his "New Heights" podcast.

"When it's time to officially announce what's happening in the future, it'll be done in a way that's definitive and pays a lot of respect to a lot of people and individuals that have meant a lot to me and has led to the career I've had," Kelce said. "But I did address the team and pretty much said the same thing that I just said to you."