2023 NFL Draft: Let’s Take a Look at Philadelphia Eagles’ Squad

The Philadelphia Eagles have wrapped up their 2023 NFL draft class, and they did so in an impressive fashion.

The team entered the draft with six selections, including two in the first round, but they made seven trades and finished the weekend with seven picks and even more draft capital for next year.

Here’s a closer look at the Eagles’ draft picks:

First round, 9th pick: DT Jalen Carter, Georgia First round, 30th pick: LB Nolan Smith, Georgia Second round, 65th pick: OL Tyler Steen, Alabama Third round, 66th pick: S Sydney Brown, Illinois Fourth round, 105th pick: CB Kelee Ringo, Georgia Sixth round, 188th pick: QB Tanner McKee, Stanford Seventh round, 249th pick: DT Moro Ojomo, Texas.

Jalen Carter, the ninth overall pick, is an impressive defensive tackle out of Georgia. Although there is always a risk with any draft pick, Howie Roseman, the Eagles’ GM, did his best to help Carter transition to the NFL by insulating him with ex-Georgia Bulldog defenders.

Carter, one of the best players in the draft, should be an immediate starter in the middle of the Eagles’ defense, which is currently reshaping at the defensive tackle position.

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Last year, Carter was a second-team All-SEC selection with 37 tackles, 8.5 for loss, three sacks, two blocked kicks, and two starts in 15 matches.

The 30th overall choice, Nolan Smith, is a talented mid-first-round player who rushes the passer off the edge while providing agility as a run defender.

Although listed as a linebacker, Smith could be a valuable asset in the Eagles’ defense.

He started one game in 2020, with 22 tackles and 2.5 sacks, before breaking out in 2021.

Smith started 14 games for the national champions, with 56 tackles, nine for loss, 3.5 sacks, one interception, and three fumbles.

The Bulldogs exhibit a selfless defensive style, and Smith’s production can be graded solely on stats alone.

Tyler Steen, the 65th overall pick, is an athletic hybrid offensive lineman who began all 12 games at the proper tackle position before playing as a left tackle in all nine games in 2020 and all 12 games in 2021.

Last season, Steen earned second-team All-SEC honors for his performances in 13 starts at left tackle. He will battle Cam Jurgens for the right guard spot.

The 66th overall pick, Sydney Brown, is one of the most agile players and will likely be utilized in multiple positions.

He is a Swiss Army Knife that Sean Desai, the Eagles’ defensive coordinator, can match up at his discretion.

During his last season with the Illini, Brown earned a first-team All-Big Ten pick on the country’s top-scoring defense.

In 12 starts, he intercepted six passes to tie for third in the FBS, in addition to 59 tackles, 3.5 for loss with one sack, and seven pass breakups.

Brown is in for one of the two safety positions with Terrell Edmunds, Reed Blankenship, and Terrell Edmunds.

 Desai could also utilize Brown at the STAR position or implement him in packages that feature three safeties.

Kelee Ringo, the 105th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft, was selected by the Atlanta Falcons in the third round.

Ringo, a highly touted cornerback out of the University of Georgia, was a consensus five-star recruit in high school and considered one of the top prospects in the country.

He played in seven games for Georgia as a freshman in 2020, recording eight tackles and one pass deflection.

The Falcons hope that Ringo’s athleticism and ball skills will translate to success at the professional level. With his size (6’2″, 205 pounds) and speed (4.4-second 40-yard dash), he has the potential to be a shutdown corner in the NFL.

Ringo will likely compete for playing time in Atlanta’s secondary right away, but he may need some time to adjust to the speed and complexity of the NFL game.

Overall, Ringo was a solid pick for the Falcons in the third round, and he has the potential to develop into a critical contributor to the team in the years to come.

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