Things just got a little more interesting for the Philadelphia Eagles’ potential strategy heading into the first night of the NFL Draft.

On Tuesday, the Detroit Lions sent former third overall pick CB Jeff Okudah to the Atlanta Falcons for a fifth-round selection. With Detroit and Atlanta both holding picks inside the top-10 (No. 6 and No. 8 respectively), this trade could have implications on how each organization approaches those picks. Which in turn affects who will be available when the Eagles are on the clock at tenth.

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Let’s start with Detroit.

The writing was on the wall for Okudah throughout the offseason. Detroit signed three presumed starters for their secondary during the free agency period – former Steelers cornerback Cameron Sutton, former 49ers cornerback Emmanuel Moseley, and our old pal CJ Gardner-Johnson. Sutton is the only player secured past the 2023 season, as both CJGJ and Moseley signed one-year deals.

The Lions could look to have a do-over at the cornerback position with the sixth overall pick. It’s safe to say all of the cornerback prospects will still be available by the time Detroit’s on the clock. They’ll have their pick of the litter if they decide to go that route.

However, cornerback is far from their biggest need entering next season.

Even though the team has added good players along their lines in back-to-back first rounds (Penei Sewell and Aidan Hutchinson), they could use some more blue chip players there to really get them over the hump. Pairing Hutchinson with Will Anderson or Tyree Wilson is certainly tantalizing. Or, bolstering the interior of their defensive line with Jalen Carter if he manages to get past Seattle one pick prior.

Obviously, if Detroit decides to add to their defensive line at sixth, this will hurt the Eagles. The same can be said if they go with the best offensive lineman available. Howie Roseman loves adding big guys up front and I have to imagine he ideally wants to add the best big boy on the board at tenth overall.

If Carter, Anderson, and Wilson are all gone – which is a real possibility – it’ll only heighten the chances of a trade back for the Eagles.

Detroit could also look to trade back from sixth, but that probably only happens if Carter and Anderson are off the board, which would defeat the purpose of trading up for the Eagles.

I want one of these guys on the Eagles pls, not the Lions.

Now let’s take a look at Atlanta.

Like the Lions, the Falcons are another team who will likely look to add to their trenches come draft night. Going with the best edge rusher available would probably be their safest bet, but going with the best WR on the board or even RB Bijan Robinson is in the cards.

Atlanta has a nice trio of skill players right now in TE Kyle Pitts, WR Drake London, and RB Tyler Allgeier. The front office has done a great job drafting skill players in recent years, so sticking with something that’s proven to work makes sense. A young, unproven quarterback like Desmond Ridder could always use some extra help around him as well.

Depending on who you talk to, Robinson going off the board before the Eagles are on the clock is a bad thing. I’m not in that school or thought. In fact, seeing an RB go before the Eagles are up is a good thing in my book. It means more big boys will be there for the taking at tenth. Again, we love the big boys around here.

In the end, this trade increases the chances of both Detroit and Atlanta going with a lineman. Detroit more so, but it’s in play for Atlanta as well if they decide to change things up a bit.

If both teams go with big boys, the Eagles will probably look to trade back. Howie has made trades during the first-round in three out of four drafts dating back to 2019. As of now, that looks like the most likely outcome this year as well.

>> Read More: Birds Bets: A look at which positions odds-makers believe the Eagles will target with their first pick of the NFL Draft

Mandatory Credit: USA Today Sports