The Eagles are heading to the NFC Championship game and will face the Washington Commanders for the third time this season. Even with the Birds locked in a playoff run, it’s never too early to look ahead at the 2025 NFL draft. Philadelphia has many free agents, and a significant decision has to be made regarding linebacker Zack Baun. With Wednesday practice set to begin, Mel Kiper released his first 2025 NFL mock draft for ESPN. Kiper has the Eagles reloading in the trenches.
GM Howie Roseman favors the trenches in Round 1, so don’t be surprised if he finds another impact defensive tackle with the Eagles’ first pick. Yes, it would be the third time in four years that he used a Day 1 selection at the position (Jalen Carter and Jordan Davis), and according to ESPN Research, we’ve seen a team do that only three times in the common draft era. But hey, if the Eagles are picking at No. 32, it means they won the Super Bowl and the strategy is working.
Plus, Milton Williams is a free agent. Grant’s instincts and ability to bat balls at the line of scrimmage would be welcomed in Philadelphia. Here’s a wild card to watch, though. The Eagles need edge rushers, too, and Boston College’s Donovan Ezeiruaku could rise draft boards this spring. He had 16.5 sacks this season.
Kiper lists the 6-3 339-pound Grant as the No. 19 overall prospect for the 2025 draft and the No. 4 draft-eligible defensive tackle prospect. A native of Gary, Indiana, Grant formed the nation’s best interior defensive line tandem with Mason Graham, who declared for the draft earlier this month and ranks No. 4 on Kiper’s Big Board.
Grant led Michigan with two fumble recoveries and ranked second on the team with five pass breakups, adding 3.0 sacks, 6.5 tackles for loss, and 3.0 quarterback hurries. He earned second-team All-Big Ten honors and third-team AP All-America honors. Grant had four tackles and an assisted tackle for loss in Michigan’s 13-10 upset win over archrival Ohio State on Nov. 30.
