11 Ideal NFL draft prospects for the Eagles after initial free agency moves

USA Today

15-04-2025

11 Ideal NFL draft prospects for the Eagles after initial free agency moves After Philadelphia added 14 players during the first wave of free agency, we're looking at 11 ideal 2025 NFL draft prospects for the Eagles
Philadelphia has the NFL's most explosive offense, with few holes and plenty of firepower to carry the organization back to the Super Bowl. Howie Roseman is always looking to add game-changing talent, and after adding 14 players in free agency, we've identified 11 ideal prospects who'll fit Nick Sirianni and Vic Fangio's culture.
WR Xavier Restrepo, Miami (FL)
He makes up for what Restrepo lacks in high-end athletic tools and size with short-area quickness and body control, evidenced by his 99th-percentile PFF receiving grade versus single coverage. He would be the perfect complement in the slot to A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith out wide.
James Pearce Jr., OLB, Tennessee
The 6-foot-5, 243-pound Pearce led Tennessee in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (13), and quarterback hurries (10), while adding a forced fumble and a fumble recovery in 2024. Pearce earned first-team All-SEC honors and was a semifinalist for the Bednarik, Lombardi, and Walter Camp Player of the Year awards. He also earned first-team All-SEC honors in 2023, when he had 10 sacks, 14.5 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hurries, an interception return for a touchdown and two forced fumbles.
Kevin Winston Jr., S, Penn State
Winston Jr., who missed most of the 2024 college football season with an injury, bypassed his final year of eligibility and entered the 2025 NFL Draft. Just days after being named the Big Ten defensive player of the week for his 12-tackle performance at West Virginia, Winston sustained a partially torn ACL. Winston attempted to play in Penn State's home opener against Bowling Green on Sept. 7 but managed just 15 snaps and left the game in the first half. He later had surgery and missed the remainder of the season. In 2023, he was an honorable mention all-Big Ten in 2023 after leading the team in tackles (60), recovering two fumbles, breaking up five passes, and intercepting one pass. Winston (6-2, 205 pounds) entered this season as one of the team's top-ranked NFL Draft prospects, ranking as a first-round pick among some draft scouts, and he could give Philadelphia size and versatility at the position.
T.J. Sanders, DT, South Carolina
Sanders is a 6-5, 275-pound defensive lineman who can play on the edge or in the defense's interior. Sanders spent four years in the Gamecock program as an All-State basketball player in high school, appearing in 39 games over four seasons with 16 career starts. Sanders logged 109 tackles with 17.5 tackles for loss and 9.5 sacks and turned pro after earning All-America and All-SEC honors.
Elijah Arroyo, TE, Miami
Dallas Goedert is 30 years old and has missed 30 games with injuries since 2022. The noise around his potential departure grows by the day. Philadelphia had an exit strategy in place for Zach Ertz. They did the same with Goedert by drafting a dynamic tight end with run-after-the-catch abilities. A late bloomer at Miami, Arroyo entered 2024 with 11 receptions in three seasons, but after quarterback Cam Ward's arrival, the pass-catcher blossomed. Arroyo averaged nearly 17 yards per catch in 2024 and is elite after the catch.
Lathan Ransom, DB, Ohio State
The safety played in 55 games and made 37 starts at Ohio State, overcoming injuries. During his final season in Columbus, Ransom finished with 74 total tackles, nine tackles for loss, one sack, two passes defended, three forced fumbles, one interception, and one fumble recovery. Alongside Downs, a unanimous All-American, Ransom earned first-team All-Big Ten honors in 2024.
Kobe King, LB, Penn State
The Eagles' defense is full of Swiss army knives, and King gives Vic Fangio another pass-rushing, run-stopping linebacker to work with. A native of Michigan, King recorded 41 tackles, four tackles for loss, and three pass deflections during his redshirt freshman season in 2022. The following season, King recorded 59 tackles, six for loss and 1.5 sacks. Last season, the Nittany Lion linebacker recorded 97 tackles, nine tackles for loss, and three sacks.
Upton Stout, DB, Western Kentucky
Upton Stout is an undersized but physical cornerback from Western Kentucky who brings serious potential at 5'8″ and 178 pounds. His slight frame and limited length make him a slot CB at the next level. Stout attacks everything downhill and will significantly contribute to the run game and against screens.
Connor Colby, OL, Iowa
Colby is a quick, agile offensive guard who will improve an NFL team's zone running scheme.
Colby started 23 straight games at right guard for the Hawkeyes. Before that stretch, Colby started seven games at left guard, six at right tackle, and 11 at right guard. With 45 career starts under his belt, Colby is among the most seasoned offensive linemen in the 2025 draft class. Colby is agile in space and rarely misses his marks.
Josh Conerly, OL, Oregon
Philadelphia loves athletic offensive linemen, and Conerly fits that mold as Lane Johnson's eventual successor. The Seattle native, who started his career as a running back before transitioning to offensive tackle as a sophomore, doesn't turn 22 until November. In his three seasons at Oregon, Conerly Jr. played 41 games and was a two-year starter. He played 1,881 snaps at left tackle in three seasons and had a 78.0 overall grade from PFF for the 2024 season.
Sai'vion Jones, Edge rusher, LSU
Standing 6'4 3/4", 280 pounds, Jones is one of the few defenders in the class capable of playing defensive end or outside linebacker and could be a game wrecker in Vic Fangio's scheme.
Jah Joyner, Edge rusher, Minnesota
The Eagles love athletic pass rushers, and after losing Josh Sweat in free agency, Howie Roseman reloads with Jah Joyner. Joyner had a standout performance at the Senior Bowl; last season had 32 tackles — 5.5 for loss — 4.5 sacks, seven passes defended, and two forced fumbles. Joyner was an All-Big Ten Honorable Mention in the last two seasons and played 42 games in his four-year career.