NFL Network expert Brian Baldinger, who possesses one of the keenest eyes when it comes to the NFL Draft and interior line play, recently took a few minutes to discuss where potentially the Eagles could look in Thursday’s 2025 NFL Draft.
Baldinger sees the Eagles addressing a need on the defensive line, where Bryce Huff has been an abject failure as an edge rusher, disappearing off the face of the earth, and lost both Josh Sweat to free agency, signing with the Arizona Cardinals and reconnecting with former Eagles’ DC Jonathan Gannon, and Milton Williams, another free agent casualty, to the New England Patriots and their four-year, $104 million deal.
The Eagles have tried to bolster the edge with free agent signings Josh Uche and Azeez Ojulari to one-year prove-it deals, and each have had moments in their brief careers when they shined, but Baldinger brings up the point that this is a deep draft at defensive line.
“To keep the d-line rotation strong, the first priority I see for the Eagles is the defensive line, and the second priority would be tight end,” Baldinger said. “This is a great draft for defensive line and for tight ends. It doesn’t look like that they are going to sign Dallas Goedert (to an extension) with his injury history and the Eagles sent out Brent Celek to the NFL Combine to interview tight ends, and I think Brent interviewed them all. You can find really good tight ends in the first three rounds.
“The Eagles are trying to keep as much talent around Jalen Hurts as possible.”
Baldinger likes Tennessee’s 6-foot-5, 243-pound defensive end James Pearce, who is described as an explosive pass rusher, who can get around blocks, and can run down a ball carrier in space, but needs work in the strength department, and will struggle against the longer, physical tackles.
“Pearce is a top 15 pick, and if he drops, he will be hard to pass up,” Baldinger said. “He is the prototypical 4-3 defensive end. There are questions about him, though, some things out there that make people nervous about taking him. Darius Alexander, out of Toledo, is also a possibility. He is a 6-4, 305-pound defensive tackle and he looks like he can replace Milton Williams inside, and another guy I like is JT Tuimoloau from Ohio State. Maybe he’s a second rounder, but he’s someone I love. He has the ability to set the edge, and he has size and power. No. 32 may be a little high for him, but if you love him, you go get him.”
Baldinger did not rule out safeties Malaki Starks, from Georgia, or Notre Dame’s Xavier Watts, or South Carolina’s Nick Emmanwori from being on the Eagles’ radar. There were no safeties taken in the first-round last year.
“These guys have special ball skills, but with the deeper draft at defensive line, I think it’s where the Eagles may go,” Baldinger said. “If it were up to me, I would take Darius Alexander, out of Toledo. The Eagles struck gold with Quinyon Mitchell from Toledo last year, and maybe they go back to the well one more time. Lining up next to Jalen Carter is a big help to anyone. Alexander has size, he has length, he’s physical. You can get great players from any conference. I was down at the Senior Bowl for two days, watching him play up against SEC competition, and Alexander looked really good.”
