NFL Analyst Rips Into Eagles For Third-Round Selection

The Philadelphia Eagles were lauded for their work on Day 1 of the 2023 NFL Draft. General manager Howie Roseman has done an excellent job of not only maneuvering up and down the draft board, but pinpointing prospects that fit perfectly into their schemes.

Philadelphia swapped picks with the Chicago Bears, moving up to No. 9 from No. 10 to select Georgia defensive tackle, Jalen Carter. Some people believed Carter was the best prospect in this year’s draft class despite some off-the-field concerns.

With the No. 30 pick, the Eagles got one of the biggest steals of the draft with Georgia linebacker Nolan Smith. Philadelphia found major upgrades for their defense, addressing needs that were created in free agency.

However, for how good they started, Day 2 was the opposite. Philadelphia didn’t have a second-round pick after making a trade with the Houston Texans. They landed back-to-back picks early in Round 3, selecting 65th and 66th.

With the 65th overall pick, the Eagles selected Alabama offensive lineman Tyler Steen. With Isaac Seumalo and Andre Dillard departing in free agency, there was a need along the offensive line. However, Chris Trapasso of CBS Sports didn’t love the pick.

“A widely-liked prospect I never understood. Certainly versatile and athletic, but defenders slipped off him with relative ease and he’s not powerful or well-balanced. Philadelphia type redshirt trench pick.”

Trapasso gave this selection a grade of D+, which is among the worst grades that he has given any pick thus far. While he played tackle for the Crimson Tide, he profiles more as a guard in the NFL, making up for his shorter arms.

For a team with a roster as strong as the Eagles, it makes sense to take some project picks to develop down the line. They don’t need Steen to step in and start right away, but with some patience and development, he could become a useful player in the trenches.