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• John Short

  

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  March 14, 2024 5:59 AM EDT

  The are fortunate enough to have two first-round picks in the for the second consecutive year and a top-10 selection for the second time in three years. This is a product of general manager Howie Roseman being manipulative in the draft and stockpiling first-round picks to help the franchise win in the short and long term.Fresh off a appearance, the Eagles currently hold the No. 10 and No. 30 overall picks in this year's draft. Whether the Eagles keep both of those picks in those respective spots is up for debate (Philadelphia doesn't have a pick Malachi Flynn Jersey in the fourth, fifth, or sixth round), but the Eagles are giving hints what direction they are leaning with that No. 10 pick.The Eagles have a luxury pick at No. 10 thanks to their trade with the from last offseason. Philadelphia landed New Orleans' 2023 first-round pick and a 2024 second-round pick as part of a package which the Eagles gave the Saints two first-round picks in the 2022 draft (the Eagles' got the Saints' first-round pick which they used to acquire ). The Eagles set themselves up to win now and over the next several seasons as a result of the trade, which is why the No. 10 overall pick is considered a "luxury" pick.Could the Eagles use that pick to draft the best available player? There has been plenty of discu sion whether Philadelphia should select Texas running back Bijan Robinson, who would be the first running back the Eagles have selected in the first round since 1986. While Robinson would be an excellent a set to the Eagles' loaded offense, Philadelphia's top-30 pre-draft visits suggest why the franchise likely won't pick him at No. 10 -- and hint at the direction the organization will go with that pick.PlayerPositionSchoolJalen CarterDTGeorgiaJoey Porter Jr.CBPenn StateBijan RobinsonRBTexasNolan SmithEDGEGeorgiaPeter SkoronskiOLNorthwesternBJ OjulariEDGELSUGervon DexterDTFloridaKelee RingoCBGeorgiaEmmanuel ForbesCBMi si sippi StateLukas Van Ne sEDGEIowaDawand JonesOTOhio StateParis Johnson Jr.OTOhio StateJulius BrentsDBKansas StateJaquelin RoyDLLSUMyles MurphyDEClemsonBrodric MartinDTWestern KentuckyThe Eagles have had 16 pre-draft visits to date. Here is the breakdown:12 on defense4 on offense8 on defensive line4 in secondary3 on offensive line1 at running backThe Eagles are certainly looking on the defensive side of the ball for this draft, based on the top-30 visits that are out there. Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith and Lukas Van Ne s are potential options at No. 10, all on the defensive line -- an area the Eagles have focused on this early in the draft over the past few decades (especially in the Roseman era).Other players who could be selected at No. 10 are Porter (the only cornerback known to visit who can be selected that high), Johnson and Skoranski (two of the top offensive tackles in the draft). Aron Baynes Jersey Robinson is the lone outlier here at running back.Philadelphia could use an impact player at defensive tackle to pair with and the aging . The Eagles would also like to solidify their depth at the position outside of , which is why it's intriguing they have talked to Dexter, Roy and Martin -- as all three are projected to go on Day Two in the draft.The Eagles have one of the best edge rushing units in football, but is 35 years old and they like to have impact players in the rotation. and are excellent edge rushers who play ahead of Graham, but the Eagles would need extra help behind Graham with coming off a major injury.Could Smith or Van Ne s be a reach here? Po sibly, but if the Eagles like them and what either player brings to the pa s Chris Bosh Jersey rush -- they'll draft that player. Of the defensive linemen at No. 10, Carter is the slam-dunk selection if he falls there.Porter is the only cornerback who could go in the top 10 that the Eagles hosted. That's interesting with Christian Gonzalez and Devon Witherspoon on the board. The Eagles have the top cornerback duo with and , but Slay is 32 and Bradberry is also entering his 30s. This pick could be a developmental prospect on the second team with , and . Perhaps the Eagles use the No. 30 pick on a player like that.Never count out the offensive line at No. 10, which is why it's notable the Eagles talked to Paris Johnson and Peter Skoronski. is 32 and while he's signed through the 2027 season, it wouldn't hurt for the Eagles to find and develop his succe sor while adding depth at the tackle position ( left in free agency). Think of that pick as a "redshirt."Eleven of the 16 pre-draft visits are in the trenches, a telling sign where Roseman and the front office are leaning.The Eagles typically have gone in the trenches since Andy Reid was hired as head coach in 1999 (where the philosophy of building in the offensive and defensive line began). Roseman has continued that trend since he was hired as general manager in 2010 (and retook the position in 2016).Here's a breakdown of the Eagles' first-round picks since 1999:2 quarterbacks0 running backs5 wide receivers4 offensive linemen (2 tackles, 2 guards)9 defensive linemen (5 defensive tackles, 4 defensive ends)0 linebackers1 defensive backThirteen of the 21 picks were in the trenches and five Damon Stoudamire Jersey of the skill-position players were wide receivers. The Eagles haven't drafted a defensive back in the first round since 2002 (Lito Sheppard). The franchise hasn't drafted a running back in the first round since 1986 (Keith Byars) and a linebacker in the first round since 1979 (Jerry Robinson).Roseman has 11 first-round picks as a general manager. Five of those picks were on the defensive line and three were on the offensive line. Two selections were at wide receiver and one was at quarterback. Based on what the Eagles have at quarterback () and wide receiver (A.J. Brown, ), it's fair to rule those positions out.Looking at where the Eagles prioritize and how the front office focuses on the trenches, there's a good chance that pick at No. 10 is an offensive or defensive lineman.The outlier of the top-30 visits is Robinson, who is one of the best players in this draft cla s. The Eagles have , and at running back -- while having the No. 1 rushing offense in football the last two seasons.Robinson's skill set is ideal for the Eagles' offense, yet the Eagles don't value the running back position early in the draft (and haven't for some time). The Eagles let walk in free agency based on his second contract in market value, optioning for the cheaper Fred VanVleet Jersey player who fits their running style better in Penny.Philadelphia will likely add a running back in the draft, but it's highly unlikely at No. 10. No running back has been selected in the top 10 since in 2018 (No. 2 overall) and only seven running backs have been taken in the top 10 since 2010 (Roseman's first year as general manager).While Robinson would be a star in the Eagles' offense, the organizational philosophy doesn't value that position that high in the draft. The Eagles prioritize offensive and defensive linemen and are built to manufacture a pa s rush that gets to the quarterback at a high-pre sure rate.Perhaps Robinson will break the Eagles' way of thinking, but it's highly unlikely. There's a reason this franchise has been to two Super Bowls over the past six seasons.