Eagles host explosive edge rusher Tyler Baron and USC cornerback for pre draft visit

The NFL Draft is just 15 days away, and the Eagles are burning through their Top-30 visits like Howie’s burning through the cap space he swears doesn’t exist. With Brandon Graham officially hanging up the cleats and Josh Sweat now back with his boy Jonathan Gannon in Arizona, it’s no secret we’ve got our work cut out for us on defense.

This week, the Eagles hosted a couple of intriguing prospects down at the NovaCare Complex — including USC cornerback Jaylin Smith and one guy I’m personally fired up about: former Tennessee and Miami edge rusher Tyler Baron.

Tyler Baron could be a steal for the Eagles between rounds 2-4…

Tyler Baron is a DE prospect in the 2025 draft class. He scored a 8.64 RAS out of a possible 10.00. This ranked 274 out of 2012 DE from 1987 to 2025.https://t.co/Jx8TfOzspm pic.twitter.com/DnFLhaGGiZ

— Kent Lee Platte (@MathBomb) March 31, 2025

Look, as a “die-hard” Tennessee Vols fan, it was a privilege watching Tyler Baron wreak havoc in the SEC. The dude was part of one of the most disruptive edge duos in the country last season, lining up opposite James Pearce Jr., who’s obviously getting serious first-round buzz. Baron’s presence on the line helped elevate that Tennessee defense, and while he may not have all the flashy sack numbers, his impact was felt — especially by opposing QBs.

Across four years at Tennessee, Baron tallied 13.5 sacks and 28 tackles for loss. After the 2023 season, he hit the transfer portal and ended up down in Miami — a move that raised some eyebrows, but ultimately kept him on the radar for NFL scouts.

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Solid Start in Miami, Slight Fade Down the Stretch

Baron came out hot in South Beach, racking up 4.5 sacks in just the first three games. The production dipped after that — only one sack over the final 10 — but don’t let the box score fool you. He still led the Hurricanes in sacks (5.5), tackles for loss (11), and QB pressures (30+). The tape shows a player who knows how to disrupt, even if the stat sheet doesn’t always tell the full story.

Standing at 6’5”, 258 pounds, Baron has the frame NFL teams drool over. He brings long arms, explosive traits, and versatility off the edge. He even slid inside as a sub-rusher at Tennessee, which makes him an interesting chess piece for any defensive coordinator — and we all know how much the Eagles love guys who can line up all over.

Quick Note on Jaylin Smith

The Eagles also brought in USC corner Jaylin Smith for a visit. He’s got smooth hips and quick feet, showing solid movement in man coverage, but he’s still raw. Tends to bite on head fakes and shoulder moves a bit too much — the kind of stuff that gets you torched in the NFL. That said, the physical tools are there. With the right coaching, he could turn into a quality depth piece in the secondary.

While cornerback isn’t the Birds most urgent need thanks to the arrival of Quinyon Mitchell and Cooper DeJean, it never hurts to add some depth — especially with Darius Slay now gone. That’s likely why the Eagles brought in USC’s Jaylin Smith. Smith’s a versatile defensive back who’s lined up all over the secondary — outside corner, slot, and even some safety. He’s got the tools, fluid movement, and physicality to be a solid contributor, even if he’s still a bit raw in coverage.

He’ll likely hear his name called on Day 3 of the draft, and for a team like the Eagles that values versatility and special teams play from their late-round picks, Smith could end up being a sneaky-good depth piece.

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