Eagles mock draft roundup: Will Howie Roseman draft Lane Johnson’s successor? Target an A.J. Brown replacement?

As far as draft strategies go, Eagles general manager Howie Roseman’s seems easy to predict for the national media.

With Lane Johnson on the brink of retirement, many draft projections have the Eagles bolstering their offensive line with the 23rd pick on Thursday in the first round of the NFL draft.

Just one predicted that the Birds will make a defensive selection in the first round after Reed Blankenship was traded to the Houston Texans.

» READ MORE: We ranked all of Howie Roseman’s Eagles draft classes: What’s his best haul?

The rumored trade of wide receiver A.J. Brown adds another layer of possible draft scenarios, but most projections seem to agree, the Eagles are focusing on the offensive line.

Here is what some experts predict the Eagles will do in the draft — and our writers’ analysis of the player they have the Birds picking ...

ESPN’s take: No team drafts ahead of need better than Philadelphia, which makes its offensive line situation confusing. Both right tackle Lane Johnson and left guard Landon Dickerson considered retirement last offseason with no clear-cut replacements on the roster. Expect that to change in this draft. — Matt Miller

NFL.com’s take: Miller checks a lot of boxes with his size (6-foot-6 3/4, 317 pounds) and experience (54 college starts), and the Eagles have to continue reinforcing their offensive line. This could be Lane Johnson’s 2027 replacement. — Eric Edholm

Our Take: Standing at 6-foot-7, 317 pounds, Miller has light feet in pass protection and a strong vise grip as a pass protector to stop pass rushers in their tracks. — Jeff Neiburg and Devin Jackson

» READ MORE: 2026 NFL draft, position by position: Why offensive line help is critical for the Eagles

The Athletic’s take: He’s raw and still needs polish, but there’s time for Lomu to develop — he doesn’t turn 22 until December — and the Eagles don’t need him to step into the lineup immediately. — Zach Berman

NFL.com’s take: Blake Miller is a consistent target here for mock drafters, but Lomu is younger, has higher upside in pass protection and can play swing tackle in Year 1 as he learns from Lane Johnson. — Lance Zierlein

Our take: Lomu, a likely first-round pick, wouldn’t be forced to start early in his career and his skill set could match a more outside zone-based offensive system under Sean Mannion. He also could be Lane Johnson’s successor. — Devin Jackson

Their take: Howie Roseman can go a lot of directions with this pick, including finding a replacement for A.J. Brown should the disgruntled receiver really be on the trading block. I love the idea of McNeil-Warren’s range and talent for creating turnovers amid all the talent on this Eagles defense. — Rob Rang

Our take: McNeil-Warren, the latest player to be developed at Toledo, is a big (6-3, 201), explosive safety who can run the alley in run support and has short-area coverage ability and good coverage instincts that show up breaking on routes in front of him. — Olivia Reiner and Devin Jackson

Their take: The Eagles haven’t taken an offensive lineman in the first two rounds since Cam Jurgens in 2022. Like Jurgens, Iheanachor would be drafted before he’s needed. The Arizona State tackle has all the tools to eventually replace Lane Johnson at right tackle. — Mike Renner

Our take: Iheanachor, who took a predraft visit to Philly recently, has promising athletic traits, size, arm length, and lateral quickness to mirror pass rushers and to cut off back- and front-side defensive linemen at 6-6, 321. He also excels at climbing to the second level on double-team blocks up to second-level defenders. — Jeff Neiburg and Devin Jackson

» READ MORE: 2026 NFL mock draft 4.0: Will the Eagles stand pat or make a first-round trade?

Their take: Freeling really came along in the second half of the 2025 season and has the size and athleticism to hang on the left side. His improved strength and cleaner hands will make him a clean fit on the right side as Lane Johnson’s heir apparent as well — Nate Tice

Our take: Freeling, though he has just 16 career starts, feels like he is slipping from the Eagles’ range in the first round. His final game at Georgia, a College Football Playoff quarterfinal loss to Ole Miss, was the most complete performance of his career and he now seems unlikely to get out of the top half of the first round. — Devin Jackson

Their take: At 6-6, 352 pounds, he fits the franchise’s profile for the position. He’s durable (he started 40 games in three seasons) and disciplined (18 straight starts without a holding penalty). His proficiency in the run game fits the Eagles’ needs in restoring an identity. — Brooks Kubena

Our take: Proctor, a massive 6-7, 352 pounds, has been linked to the Eagles throughout the draft process. The two-year starter at left tackle for Alabama has powerful striking power upon contact and is an aggressive run blocker who can create displacement in one-on-one and double-team blocks. — Jeff Neiburg and Devin Jackson

» READ MORE: Biggest questions about Eagles 2026 NFL draft strategy, and other AMA highlights

Their take: Ioane improved each season as a run blocker and had his best pass-protection season last year, allowing no sacks, no hits, and four hurries. — Nathan Jahnke

Our take: Ioane, the only projected first-round interior lineman who also took a predraft visit to Philly, is a mauling lineman who has power as a run blocker and consistently creates running lanes with his physicality at 6-4, 320. — Jeff Neiburg and Devin Jackson

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The Eagles have a solid stash of draft picks (8) and, for a team just one season removed from winning the Super Bowl, a lot of positions that need to be addressed. Several elite members of the offensive line could be on the verge of retirement, while the wide receiver corps appears destined to lose a dynamic member. After bolstering the defense in the early rounds of the draft in recent years, will general manager Howie Roseman pivot this spring? The Philadelphia Inquirer’s Jeff McLane and Devin Jackson combine their reporting and analysis to forecast how the Eagles might attack the 2026 NFL Draft, which gets underway Thursday in Pittsburgh. Listen here.

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