Eagles 2022 draft: Analysis of every pick, trade and more

The 2022 NFL draft is here, and the Inquirer’s team of Eagles insiders will have it covered all the way to pick No. 262.

Who’s off the board? When do the Eagles pick next? What does this pick mean for the Birds? Follow along in real time with our Eagles draft live blog. And follow all of our draft coverage here throughout the weekend.

The Eagles feel like they were able to grab a player atop their draft board in the third round. Georgia linebacker Nakobe Dean, who some predicted would go in the first round (he did too after appearing on the red carpet in Las Vegas on Thursday), fell all the way to the No. 83 overall pick. Howie Roseman and Co. couldn’t pass on the opportunity to grab him there.

After the pick, despite medical red flags that appear to have caused his stock to drop, both the Eagles and Dean declared him healthy enough to be on the field for rookie minicamp. If the Eagles did land a top linebacker prospect and he stays on the field, that’s great value.

Nebraska center Cam Jurgens went to the Eagles with the 51st overall pick. In fact, Jurgens was evaluated by the player he’s headed toward eventually replacing — Jason Kelce. And after watching film and even discussing cattle ranching, Kelce endorsed the pick.

Whether or not the Eagles reached too early for a center when they have other needs will be debated. But an offensive line that’ll eventually need to deal with Kelce’s retirement one day just added his heir apparent.

The course of the franchise was changed when GM Howie Roseman did the blockbuster deal with the Titans to acquire wide receiver A.J. Brown in exchange for draft picks No. 18 and No. 101 overall, as Brown agreed to a $100 million contract extension with the Eagles.

The Eagles wanted Brown enough to where they gave up the picks for a proven 24-year-old top target. They believe in him, and he’ll instantly improve an offense that was in need of another receiver. Will the gamble ultimately pay off? No matter what happens, fans will look back upon Thursday as a day to remember.

Jason Kelce learned about the Brown trade as he watched the draft as part of Bleacher Report’s coverage. He was blown away by the deal, likened Roseman to Santa Claus, and put a face on how the offense feels to be getting a top receiver.

And then there’s Jalen Hurts, who in recent days had posted on Instagram that he had worked out with Brown and cited their close relationship. After the trade, the two couldn’t help but have a video chat as only two friends could in this situation.

There’s a big reason why the Eagles gave up the 15th pick in the draft along with a fourth-round pick and two fifth-round picks just to move up two spots. That’d be to select Jordan Davis, the 6-foot-6, 341-pound defensive tackle.

We caught up with Davis in Las Vegas, and he was just excited. He’s happy to be reunited with Eagles defensive line coach Tracy Rocker, who once recruited him to Georgia. And he’s thrilled for his mom, who already had been an Eagles fan.

If it seemed like the selection was meant to be, Davis was in fact the player that The Inquirer’s Eagles beat writers had traded up to select in mock drafts, written about, and discussed the most leading up to the draft.