B
Philadelphia Eagles
Grand theft in No. 161: the Eagles steal Smith and grade out a B.
by PhillyGuy75 ·
2024 NFL Draft
· 8 picks
· 3 steals
· 0 reaches
Every so often the board makes a mistake, and the Eagles were there to profit. Ainias Smith, the No. 141 name on the board, should have been long gone before the Round 5 slot.
The interior defensive lineman hole is the one line item this class does not answer. Cornerback was the priority and it is no longer a question, which is most of the job.
The trenches got the money picks, top to bottom.
In sum, a sturdy weekend with one asterisk, the interior defensive lineman spot they never got to.
Pick-by-Pick
A slide stopped in Round 1, Pick 22, with Dallas Turner worth more than the price. Better still, it is exactly the hole they had to fill.
A clean, defensible pick in the 50th pick with a little surplus value in Chris Braswell. Top of the wish list, and they did not leave without it.
Edgerrin Cooper in the Round 2 slot lands just on the right side of the ledger. A minor need, but a need all the same.
Elijah Jones at pick 120 is a sensible buy, a touch better than market for the cornerback. A glaring weakness, addressed head on.
They will replay Ainias Smith at the 161st overall pick for years; that is how good the value is. It answers the question that was keeping the coaches up at night.
They did well to land Jaheim Bell in slot 171, just ahead of his grade. A sensible fit for a spot that needed help.
Nice patience on Walter Rouse, who had no business lasting to pick No. 172. A need, and now a little less of one.
By-the-book stuff, Drake Nugent at No. 210 squarely in line with his ranking. It patches a soft spot without any drama.