After securing the second Super Bowl title in franchise history, the Philadelphia Eagles have some important decisions to make in the first-round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
While most of the offensive core returns, the Eagles have underwent some major changes on the defensive side of the ball.
CJ Gardner-Johnson was traded to the Texans, and Philadelphia lost Milton Williams, Josh Sweat, Isaiah Rodgers, Darius Slay and Oren Burks to free agency.
It wouldn't be a surprise to see the Eagles turn to a cornerback with questions at the position following departures of Gardner-Johnson, Rodgers and Slay.
However, according to a new mock draft from NFL.com's Chad Reuter, Philadelphia is projected to keep the current trend alive by trading up for an All-American defensive lineman.
Reuter projects general manager Howie Roseman to trade with the Los Angeles Rams for the No. 26 overall pick, opening the door for an opportunity to take Walter Nolen out of Ole Miss.
Ole Miss DT Walter Nolen Petre Thomas-Imagn Images Petre Thomas-Imagn Images
The Eagles have selected a defensive lineman within the first three rounds over the last four drafts. And defensive linemen Jordan Davis and Jalen Carter were taken in the first round in back-to-back years from 2022-23.
"Why change something that works?" Reuter wrote. "Philadelphia moves up in Round 1 for a defensive lineman once again – after doing so to acquire Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis – plugging Nolen into the void left by free-agent departure Milton Williams."
Reuter's projected trade would send the Eagles' third-round pick and one of four fifth-round selections to the Rams, who send back a sixth-round pick.
Nolen (6-foot-4, 296 pounds) put together a career year at Ole Miss after spending his first two seasons at Texas A&M. With the Rebels, the former five-star recruit posted career-highs in total tackles (48), tackles for loss (14) and sacks (6.5) in a consensus All-American season.
The Eagles fielded the best defense in the league in their Super Bowl season and adding a talent like Nolen to play alongside Carter and Davis could help keep Philadelphia a force in that phase.
The 2025 NFL Draft will take place from April 24-26 in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
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This story was originally published March 22, 2025 at 3:37 PM.