We finally made it.

All the scouting, film review, and mock draft simulators culminate tonight in Kansas City as the 2023 NFL Draft gets underway. The Eagles hold two first-round selections thanks to a prior deal with New Orleans, and there is a lot of intrigue surrounding how GM Howie Roseman will utilize those picks.

Here is my final crack at the ideal scenario for Philadelphia on draft night.

First Round Trade

Lions receive: #10 overall, #94 overall

Eagles receive: #6 overall, #152 overall, 2024 4th-round

Round 1, Pick #6: Jalen Carter, DT — Georgia

Philly’s defensive line was a major strength last season, and the word in NFL circles is they’re highly motivated to pair gifted DT Jalen Carter with his former teammate Jordan Davis. The Seahawks are a team to watch as Carter is favored to be the fifth overall pick, but if Seattle goes in a different direction, expect Roseman to be aggressive in trading up ahead of Chicago.

The Eagles pull off a trade in this scenario to move up to No. 6 overall, surrendering a third-rounder this year and getting a fifth-round pick in return — a worthwhile price for a player of Carter’s stature.

“Carter is a top-three player and arguably the best prospect in the 2023 class. His raw athleticism and physical strength are a dangerous combination for blockers to handle. The way Smart used Carter is not how I envision an NFL defensive coordinator deploying him.

Carter is a day-one starter and his ceiling is very high. Iron out some of the technical wrinkles in his game and this young man can skyrocket in the NFL as a disruptive force on the defensive line.” — via The Draft Network

When breaking down Carter’s tape, you see a great deal of prime Ndamukong Suh. He’s the kind of defensive presence that can wreck an entire game, but legal issues and maturity questions have teams skeptical about his transition to the pros.

Of the potential destinations for Carter, Philadelphia’s well-established culture of winning and accountability would likely serve him best.

Jalen Carter should not be able to move this FAST 😳 pic.twitter.com/HDU8E6rAXl

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) December 15, 2022

Second Round Trade

Raiders receive: #30 overall

Eagles receive: #38 overall, #100 overall, #141 overall

Round 2, Pick #38: Jahmyr Gibbs, RB — Alabama

Remember that third-round pick Philly lost to move up for Carter? They get it back here by trading out of the first round. The Eagles have no selections in the 4th, 5th, or 6th rounds, so securing midround picks here is essential for Roseman. By trading down eight picks, Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs falls into their laps.

Although the pipedream is Bijan Robinson landing in Philadelphia (we already made a shirt), Gibbs is an explosive all-around back who possesses top-tier athleticism and excellent vision. Robinson is the consensus RB1 in this class, but scouts believe Gibbs isn’t that far behind talent-wise:

“While Gibbs is a running back, he offers a rare skill set as a receiver out of the backfield. In the modern era where the expectation for running backs is to be able to offer value as a runner and a receiver, Gibbs exceeds those expectations and may be one of the best past-catching hybrid running backs that has entered the draft in the past 10 years. 

Gibbs is a dynamic running back that should be considered an offensive weapon. His playmaking ability as a running back and as a pass-catcher makes him a mismatch. For teams looking for an explosive playmaker, Gibbs has the opportunity to fill a traditional and nontraditional running back role.” — via The Draft Network

Gibbs’ versatile skillset allows him to be deployed in multiple alignments, making him the perfect chess piece for Nick Sirianni’s offense. If Robinson is too rich for Roseman’s blood, Gibbs would be an outstanding backup plan.

#Alabama RB Jahmyr Gibbs is a Corvette. Instant ability to accelerate. Great example here of him pressing the gas. Zero to 60 and back to zero with ease. pic.twitter.com/NJQ1hlp3CT

— Jordan Reid (@Jordan_Reid) February 14, 2023

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Round 2, Pick #62: Antonio Johnson, S — Texas A&M

The Eagles did an exceptional job retaining key pieces of their No. 1 ranked pass defense from a season ago, most notably signing CBs Darius Slay and James Bradberry to new deals. One free agent they couldn’t hang onto, however, was S CJ Gardner-Johnson, who (not without theatrics) signed a one-year deal with the Lions following a productive year in Philadelphia.

Roseman has since brought in veterans Terrell Edmunds and Justin Evans to help fill the void, but both are likely stop-gap options at best. The Eagles love versatile DBs who can line up over the slot or near the line of scrimmage, and Antonio Johnson fits the bill:

“Johnson is an instinctive defender that plays a physical brand of football and lines up all over the field. Texas A&M aligns Johnson as a slot corner, split zone safety, and even occasionally as a linebacker and he shows comfort in each of those roles. Johnson is an outstanding tackler that embraces the fundamentals of arriving balanced, wrapping, and bringing his feet through.

While his ball skills have room to grow, Johnson has shown the ability to play through the hands of the receiver when driving forward on the football. Johnson’s ability to cover, tackle and play the run from a variety of alignments makes him an intriguing prospect that has the makings of a quality starter at the next level.” — via The Draft Network

Johnson is a high-energy player who can cover like a safety and hit like a linebacker. His willingness to contribute against the run makes him a logical fit to replace CJGJ.

Holy Antonio Johnson 😱

pic.twitter.com/wIRGwmyJnI

— PFF College (@PFF_College) November 20, 2021

Round 3, Pick #100: Marvin Mims, WR — Oklahoma

Philadelphia’s top pass-catchers are under contract until at least 2026, but an argument can be made that the depth behind them isn’t particularly great. Zach Pascal signed with Arizona in free agency, and third-year WR Quez Watkins came up short in critical moments last season.

The Eagles brought in ex-Falcon Olamide Zaccheaus on a one-year contract, but other than him it’s Britain Covey, Greg Ward, Devon Allen, and Tyrie Cleveland on the roster. A draft pick could certainly be in play, and Marvin Mims is your prototypical slot receiver:

“Mims is an explosive playmaker. His ability to win down the field and produce after the catch leads to frequent big plays. Averaging more than 20 yards per reception in 2021 and 2022, Mims does well to create vertical separation, track the football, and adjust and attack the football in the air. While he isn’t immune to a double-catch or using his frame on occasion to secure a catch, Mims is a consistent finisher that hasn’t struggled with drops.”

“Mims is highly competitive with the ball in his hands and his quickness, elusiveness, and field vision leads to consistent post-catch production. Perhaps he won’t be an extremely high-volume target but his skill set improves the offensive spacing with his athleticism and ability to win at every level of the field.” — via The Draft Network

Mims has one of the most complete athletic profiles in this class with his 4.38 speed and impressive catch radius. If you put him in an offense with Jalen Hurts, AJ Brown, and DeVonta Smith, Mims has the traits to become a premier deep threat for the Eagles.

This ROUTE by Marvin Mims 😳

Many scouts believe Mims has “secured” himself as a day two pick.

Mims is meeting with the Giants on a Top-30 visit today. pic.twitter.com/4H7iiyVvYw

— NFL Rookie Watch (@NFLRookieWatxh) April 12, 2023

Mandatory Credit: Getty Images