PHILADELPHIA -- The 2023 NFL draft was held Thursday through Saturday in downtown Kansas City, Missouri.
ESPN provided pick-by-pick analysis of each of the Philadelphia Eagles’ selections:
Analysis of every pick | Updated depth chart
1st round, No. 9 overall (from Chicago Bears): Jalen Carter, DT, Georgia
My take: Investing in the defensive line is a top priority in Philadelphia and that proved out once again with the selection of Carter. The Eagles moved up one spot to land the 2022 First-Team All-American and Lombardi Award finalist. Carter should be an immediate contributor. With Javon Hargrave departing in free agency and Fletcher Cox and Brandon Graham in the twilight of their careers, the addition of Carter helps ensure the defensive front remains strong this season and beyond.
Ties to the team to know: Former Georgia teammates Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis are both Eagles. That familiarity was no doubt critical as the Eagles worked to learn more about off-field concerns. Carter went to NFL Combine but left after an arrest warrant was issued due to misdemeanor charges of reckless driving racing in connection with a crash that killed a teammate and recruiting staff member on Jan. 15 in Athens. At Georgia’s Pro Day, he showed up nine pounds heavier than his combine weight and didn’t finish position drills due to apparent cramping and breathing issues.
What we're hearing about Carter: The Eagles did extensive homework on Carter to get comfortable with the idea of drafting him. "We talked a little bit about the people in this building, and there's no one we rely more on than [senior advisor to the general manager/chief security officer] Dom DiSandro and we rely on him for things like this," general manager Howie Roseman said during the lead-up to the draft. "At the end of the day, he does a tremendous job of getting us all the information and putting us in a position to make decisions." The fact that the Eagles have a veteran-laden locker room and strong, established culture should help create the right environment for Carter to thrive in, in their view.
1st round, No. 30 overall: Nolan Smith, LB, Georgia
My take: The Eagles are getting the old Georgia band back together, selecting Smith at No. 30 after taking Carter 10th earlier in the night and drafting Nakobe Dean and Jordan Davis in 2022. There are worse strategies than recreating one of the more dominant defenses in college football. In Smith, they get a player in the Haason Reddick mold who can work right into the rotation at the SAM linebacker spot.
What to know about Smith: He suffered a season-ending pectoral tear in October and is a bit undersized for his position at 238 pounds. But he has plenty of quickness (he ran a 4.39-second 40-yard dash at the combine) to get around the edge and has shown to be a stout run defender.
When will he be expected to get regular playing time: It would be no surprise if he jumps right behind Reddick as the No. 2 SAM linebacker and starts out as a rotational pass rusher.
3rd round, No. 65 overall (from Houston): Tyler Steen, G, Alabama
My take: Invest in the trenches. Over and over. One of the best offensive fronts in football gets another piece in Steen, who played tackle for the Tide but was announced as a guard upon being drafted. He can push Cam Jurgens for the starting right guard spot and at the very least will add depth to the unit with the potential to play multiple positions.
Ties to the team to know: Offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland served in the same role for Alabama before joining the Eagles in 2013 and continues to have ties there. Philadelphia drafted another Tide lineman, Landon Dickerson, in the second round of the 2021 draft.
3rd round, No. 66 overall (from Arizona): Sydney Brown, safety, Illinois
My take: Brown was a first-team All-Big Ten selection after recording six interceptions and seven passes defensed in 2022. With C.J. Gardner-Johnson and Marcus Epps leaving in free agency this offseason, Philadelphia addressed a need position by drafting Brown, who is also considered a high-end special teams player.
Will he start as a rookie? The favorites to start at safety heading into the summer are Reed Blankenship and Terrell Edmunds, who was signed to a one-year deal in March. But nobody is entrenched and there is a clean-slate-feel with Sean Desai taking over as defensive coordinator for Jonathan Gannon, now the head coach in Arizona. Brown will have a chance to compete for the third safety spot if nothing else.
4th round, No. 105 overall (from Arizona via Houston): Kelee Ringo, CB, Georgia
My take: The Eagles traded a 2024 third-round pick to the Houston Texans to move into the fourth round and take Ringo, who earned second-team All-SEC honors last season. Philadelphia has selected three Georgia players in this draft -- Carter and Smith were scooped up in the first round -- and five in the past two drafts, with linebacker Nakobe Dean and defensive tackle Jordan Davis going to Philly last April. Ringo ran a 4.36-second 40-yard dash at the combine, tied for fifth-fastest among defensive backs in 2023. He had a pair of interceptions and seven pass break-ups for the Bulldogs last season.
6th round, No. 188 overall (from Houston): Tanner McKee, QB, Stanford
My take: The Eagles continue to invest in the quarterback position, even after handing Jalen Hurts a five-year, $255 million extension earlier this month. The 6-foot-6, 231-pound McKee threw for just shy of 3,000 yards with 13 touchdowns to eight interceptions last season. He joins Hurts, Marcus Mariota and Ian Book in the quarterback room and will compete for a roster spot this summer.
7th round, No. 249 overall (from Detroit via Kansas City): Moro Ojomo, DE, Texas
My take: The Eagles round out their draft by adding depth to the defensive line. Ojomo appeared in 12 games last year and posted three sacks and 5.5 tackles for loss. Known for his power, the 6-foot-3, 292-pound Ojomo joins a defensive end group that includes Brandon Graham and Josh Sweat. He will compete for a spot on the 53-man roster this summer.