The anticipation surrounding the Philadelphia Eagles’ first-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft has reached a fever pitch as mock drafts and projections swirl. Among various analysts, Ole Miss defensive lineman Walter Nolen has emerged as a strong candidate for the Eagles, particularly given the team’s pressing needs along the defensive front.
Several local reports indicate that general manager Howie Roseman is primed to make a bold move. Jeff McLane from the Philadelphia Inquirer believes Roseman has the resources to trade up in the draft order. He suggests a potential deal with the Houston Texans, as the Texans have a number of offensive line prospects to consider at their pick of 32. McLane projects the Eagles may be able to trade up to pick 25 to secure Nolen.
Similarly, Devin Jackson, also from the Inquirer, echoes McLane’s sentiments. He emphasizes Nolen’s explosiveness, ability to disrupt both as a pass rusher and run defender, and his fit within the Eagles’ current defense. Jackson further notes that Roseman’s aggressive trading style aligns well with their interest in Nolen.
However, some analysts suggest that if the Eagles remain at the 32nd pick, a situation may arise where no first-round graded players are left on their board. E.J. Smith also from the Inquirer posits that in such a scenario, Philadelphia could opt to trade down, opening the door to valuable additional Draft capital. He highlights the interest in Donovan Jackson, an offensive guard from Ohio State, who has the versatility and traits the Eagles typically look for in trench players.
Contrasting predictions arise as Zach Berman from PHLY suggests Nolen may not even be available by the time the Eagles are on the clock at 32. He anticipates Nolen could go as high as pick eight to Carolina or number 11 to San Francisco. Yet, he also recognizes scenarios where Nolen could slide down to the Eagles’ pick, specifically contingent on the draft’s quarterback selections. According to Berman, if three quarterbacks are chosen within the first 20 to 25 picks, they may see a shift towards more defensive line picks than expected.
Bo Wulf from PHLY proposes a novel approach, suggesting that the Eagles might part ways with Dallas Goedert to maneuver for a chance to draft Colston Loveland, a tight end out of Michigan. Meanwhile, Fran Duffy mentions Georgia safety Malaki Starks as a worthy consideration. Although the Eagles have a history of valuing offensive linemen in the first round, Duffy highlights the need for versatile players that Fangio prefers in the secondary.
In the sphere of defensive linemen, Dave Zangaro from NBC Sports Philly emphasizes the ongoing prioritization of this position historically linked to the Eagles. He argues that drafting a strong interior defensive lineman remains a wise strategy, especially following the free agency loss of Milton Williams. In that regard, Zangaro points to Oregon’s Derrick Harmon as a potential fit, who brings flexibility and a strong demeanor to the line.
Reuben Frank from NBC Sports Philly captures the longstanding Eagles tradition of securing interior linemen in the first round. He sees Nolen as an ideal candidate to fill Milton Williams’ former role, describing him as an explosive three-down lineman similar in stature to Williams himself.
Eliot Shorr-Parks at WIP also lists Nolen as a preferred target, although without further commentary detailing his thought process. Ed Kracz from Athlon Sports similarly opines that pairing Nolen alongside Jalen Carter could yield substantial dividends for the Eagles’ defense in the future.
Andrew DiCecco from ITB reiterates that selecting Nolen aligns with the best player available strategy and fits well within the organization’s positional values. Notably, losing Williams left a considerable gap in the Eagles’ defensive tackle rotation, amplifying the need for a replacement.
Jimmy Kempski from PhillyVoice has Nolen pegged as the Eagles’ selection, projecting them to trade up to the 21st overall pick for him. This overarching trend within various reports paints a clearer picture of the Eagles’ draft strategies, with a significant focus on establishing a robust defensive line.
In summary, 11 analysts have linked the Eagles directly to Walter Nolen in their projections for the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft, underscoring a strong consensus around the Ole Miss standout. Meanwhile, two analysts favor Malaki Starks, while others consider Donovan Jackson, Colston Loveland, Derrick Harmon, Grey Zabel, and Shemar Stewart as potential alternatives.
The next few hours as the draft approaches will be critical in determining whether Walter Nolen becomes a Philadelphia Eagle or if the team opts for another direction in their first-round selection.
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