NFL draft: If the Eagles trade up, it will likely be for a top-tier defensive tackle | Jeff McLane

As many as a dozen defensive linemen could be selected in the first round of the NFL draft on Thursday night.

The front liners on defense, and that includes 3-4 outside linebackers, have been high-value picks for decades, but it’s been eight years since more than that number were chosen in the first 32 slots. But even among this crop, there will be only so many difference-makers, and more often than not they go in the top half of the first round.

The Eagles own the No. 25 pick, which puts them at a disadvantage if they hope to play the odds in landing a difference-maker. Conventional wisdom suggests Howie Roseman and company would prefer to beef up the trenches with their top pick, and with the large pool of defensive linemen, it’s likely they have focused on that side of the ball, particularly inside.

But it will likely take a trade up for Roseman to procure a defensive tackle who is in the Eagles’ top tier of prospects, unless he is willing to wait for the injured Jeffery Simmons. Quinnen Williams and Ed Oliver are likely out of range if the Eagles are only willing to part with one of their two second rounders. Christian Wilkins, Rashan Gary, or Dexter Lawrence, however, could be within striking distance.

Roseman’s first-round track record is this: When he has picked in the top half, he has done well (Brandon Graham, Fletcher Cox, Lane Johnson, Carson Wentz, Derek Barnett), and when he has picked in the bottom, he has not (Danny Watkins, Marcus Smith). And of the defensive linemen from the former group, he moved up for a four-time Pro Bowler (Cox) and the longest-tenured homegrown player still on the roster (Graham).

In January, Roseman said the Eagles had been anticipating a draft deep at defensive line and cited the additional second-round pick they obtained in last year’s draft as proof.

“It’s clearly a very good defensive line group,” Roseman said then, “probably a historical defensive line group, and that’s both at end and tackle.”

Among recent drafts, the 2011 class can be labeled as historic. Of the 13 defensive linemen chosen in the first round, nine have gone to Pro Bowls — most of them more than once — and Von Miller and J.J. Watt could be branded as future Hall of Famers.

While that group was notable for its depth, it illustrated the difference between the top and bottom halfs in terms of talent. Seven top-16 defensive linemen went to a total of 21 Pro Bowls vs. seven for six from the bottom-16 that year. Since 2010, there have been 58 Pro Bowl honors for 41 from the top 16 vs. 14 for 34 bottom-16 defensive linemen.

Joe Douglas, Roseman’s lieutenant, didn’t go quite as far as his boss when asked last week whether this year’s group would be a historic one. But the vice president of player personnel did say the position was deep throughout the draft.

It’s important to note that the Eagles could also address the defensive line after the first round.

“It is a good D-line class, but it’s a good class in other positions, too,” Douglas said. “I think there’s some dynamic players at both D-end and D-tackle, and there’s a different flavor. If you’re a [3-4] team, there’s a good guy for you. If you’re up-field-attack front, there’s a guy for you.”

The Eagles fall under the latter category with their aggressive 4-3 front. Wilkins, in theory, would be an ideal three-technique defensive tackle in coordinator Jim Schwartz’s scheme. The Clemson product might not have elite talent — at least that’s been the general consensus among many evaluators — but he’s a powerful and explosive inside rusher. Wilkins is a high-character leader, although his age — he will turn 24 this fall — could be one mark against him. He was one of the Eagles’ 30 predraft visits.

Gary has potentially greater upside, but some consider him a tweener. He played all across Michigan’s front. If the Eagles have interest, they would likely view the 6-foot-4½, 276-pounder as predominantly a defensive tackle, although they value inside-outside versatility.

The primary issue with Gary, aside from a reported shoulder injury, is that his production didn’t match his talent. Scouts don’t tend to love “wishing and hoping” prospects, while some general managers can be convinced the player can be coached up.

“There’s people that love him because of what he has from a height, weight, speed [standpoint] and what he can become,” NFL Network draft analyst Daniel Jeremiah said. “Now, he’s got to get healthy, and you’ve got to hope the production is going to follow the ability at some point in time. … So in terms of how high could he go?”

Jeremiah said he could see Gary going as high as No. 4 (Raiders) or No. 5 (Buccaneers) or as late as No. 13 (Dolphins). Miami has a new coach, a stopgap quarterback, and numerous holes. They could be open to drafting a project or to trading back and adding to their seven picks.

The Eagles would need to jump 12 teams to pick at No. 13. The last time they drafted at that spot, they forfeited two third-round picks to move up 11 spots for Graham.

Lawrence might not look, on paper and in the flesh, like a defensive tackle the Eagles would take with their top pick, but the 6-4½, 338-pounder isn’t considered just a two-down nose tackle. He ran a 40-yard dash (5.04 seconds) as fast as Wilkins, who is 25 pounds lighter, and has pass-rush abilities.

Simmons might be on par with Williams and Oliver, but he tore his ACL in February and could miss his rookie season. The Eagles are in position, unlike many teams, to be patient because of their depth. They similarly drafted the injured Sidney Jones two years ago in the second round. While the cornerback’s slow development might give the Eagles pause, or make a Simmons pick a tough sell to fans, one shouldn’t be used against the other.

If there’s a hang-up, it’s the video of Simmons hitting a woman in 2016, when he was in high school. He has said that he was protecting his sister, who was also involved in the altercation. He pleaded no contest to simple assault and paid about $800 in fines, and he has stayed out of trouble since.

The Eagles had dinner with Simmons the night before Mississippi State’s Pro Day in March. If they view the assault as an isolated incident, and owner Jeffrey Lurie gives clearance, the 21-year old could be on the team’s board. But it would seem unlikely that Roseman would use two picks to move up for a player who is unlikely to contribute this season.

Notre Dame’s Jerry Tiller could be an option, as well, although he doesn’t have quite the caché of the other defensive tackles. Simmons at No. 25, however, would be getting a potential difference-maker without moving up and a prospect who has drawn comparisons to Cox, also a product of Mississippi State.

“I can see a few things,” Cox said last week of their similarities.