Drafting is hard. Honestly, it’s probably the most stressful part of an NFL executive’s life. One minute you're the smartest guy in the room because you snagged a franchise cornerstone, and the next, you’re the guy who passed on a Hall of Famer for a player who’s out of the league in three years. For fans of the Birds, Philadelphia Eagles first round picks have been a wild, emotional rollercoaster that somehow ended up at the top of the mountain.
If you’ve been following this team for a while, you know the vibes. There was a dark period there—roughly between 2014 and 2020—where every time the Eagles went on the clock in the first round, the collective city of Philadelphia held its breath in a bad way. We’re talking about the Marcus Smith era. The Andre Dillard years. And, of course, the "He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named" pick of Jalen Reagor over Justin Jefferson. That one still stings. You can't even go to a bar in Delco without someone bringing up Jefferson's stats compared to Reagor's.
But something changed.
Howie Roseman, the team's polarizing but undeniably effective General Manager, basically went to "drafting school" after the 2020 disaster. He stopped trying to be the smartest person in the room and started taking the best players from the best programs. It sounds simple. It’s not. But by leaning into the "Georgia to Philly" pipeline and prioritizing the trenches, the Eagles have turned their first-round luck around in a way that’s fueled two Super Bowl runs in four years.
The Turning Point: 2021 and the DeVonta Smith Heist
Before we look at the most recent guys, we have to talk about the 2021 draft. This was the moment the ship straightened out. The Eagles were sitting at pick 12. They knew the Giants, picking at 11, wanted a wide receiver. So, what does Howie do? He trades with the Cowboys—yes, the hated rivals—to jump ahead of New York and grab the "Slim Reaper," DeVonta Smith.
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It was a masterclass in aggression. Smith wasn't just a "fast guy" or a "project." He was a Heisman winner from Alabama who could actually run routes. Since then, he’s been the perfect complement to A.J. Brown (who was acquired for a first-round pick himself, but we'll get to that).
Why the 2022 Trade Was Better Than a Pick
In 2022, the Eagles had a weird amount of draft capital. They had three first-round picks at one point. They ended up using one on Jordan Davis—a human mountain from Georgia—but the real "pick" was trading the 18th overall selection to the Tennessee Titans for A.J. Brown.
Think about that. Usually, a first-round wide receiver is a 50/50 shot. Instead, Roseman traded a question mark for a proven superstar. It’s arguably the best use of a first-round asset in franchise history. Brown and Smith became the first duo in team history to both go over 1,000 yards in the same season. Basically, they broke the "Eagles can't draft receivers" curse by simply trading for one and then drafting a guy who was too good to fail.
The Georgia Infiltration: 2023 and Jalen Carter
By 2023, the strategy was clear: if you played defense at the University of Georgia, you’re probably moving to Philly. The Eagles took Jalen Carter at No. 9 and Nolan Smith at No. 30.
Carter was the big one. Most scouts had him as the most talented player in the entire draft, but he slid because of off-field concerns. Roseman bet on the culture. He figured that putting Carter in a room with former college teammates like Jordan Davis and Nakobe Dean would keep him on the right path. It worked. Carter was a monster from day one, wrecking interior offensive lines like they were made of wet paper towels.
Nolan Smith took a bit longer to find his footing, but his speed off the edge is undeniable. In 2024 and 2025, we’ve seen him develop into a legitimate rotational force. The logic is simple: you can never have enough guys who can hit the quarterback.
Solving the Secondary: 2024 and 2025 Picks
For years, the Eagles ignored the cornerback position in the first round. The last time they’d taken a corner that high was Lito Sheppard back in 2002. That’s a long time. Fans were screaming for help in the secondary, especially after the 2023 defense collapsed down the stretch.
Roseman finally listened.
Quinyon Mitchell: The Lockdown Answer
In 2024, the Eagles stayed put at 22 and let the draft come to them. Quinyon Mitchell, the standout from Toledo, was still there. He didn't play at a Power 5 school, but his tape was undeniable. He became the first Eagles rookie corner to start Day 1 since Eric Allen in 1988. He didn't just play; he locked people down. Combined with Cooper DeJean (a second-round steal who many thought was a first-round talent), the Eagles' secondary went from a weakness to a massive strength.
Jihaad Campbell: The New Breed of Linebacker
Fast forward to the 2025 NFL Draft. The Eagles were picking late—31st overall—after another deep playoff run. Most people expected another defensive lineman. Instead, they went with Jihaad Campbell, a linebacker out of Alabama.
This was a "break the mold" pick. The Eagles famously hate spending first-round picks on linebackers. The last one they took in the first was Jerry Robinson in 1979. Seriously. But Campbell isn't your traditional "thumper." He’s 235 pounds of pure speed. He can cover tight ends, blitz the A-gap, and chase down screens. In a league where offenses are getting faster, Campbell was the "modern" pick the defense needed.
Philadelphia Eagles First Round Picks: The Last 5 Years
To see how much the strategy has shifted, you just have to look at the list. It’s no longer about "traits" and "potential." It's about production.
- 2021: DeVonta Smith (WR, Alabama) - Elite route runner, consistent 1k-yard threat.
- 2022: Jordan Davis (DT, Georgia) - The anchor of the run defense.
- 2023: Jalen Carter (DT, Georgia) - Pro Bowl-caliber interior pass rusher.
- 2023: Nolan Smith (EDGE, Georgia) - High-motor speed rusher.
- 2024: Quinyon Mitchell (CB, Toledo) - Shutdown corner and DROY finalist.
- 2025: Jihaad Campbell (LB, Alabama) - Versatile, sideline-to-sideline playmaker.
The common thread? All these guys came from massive programs (mostly) and had elite tape. No more projects like Marcus Smith. No more reaches like Danny Watkins (the 26-year-old firefighter/guard).
Why This Matters for 2026 and Beyond
The Eagles won Super Bowl LIX because their young core—built through these picks—hit their stride at the right time. When you have guys like Carter and Mitchell on rookie contracts, it allows you to pay Jalen Hurts and Saquon Barkley the big bucks.
Looking ahead to the 2026 draft, the buzz is already starting about the offensive line. Lane Johnson isn't going to play forever. Jordan Mailata is a beast, but the interior needs refreshing. Don't be surprised if Howie goes back to the trenches. Names like Salua Ioane from Penn State are already being mocked to Philly because they fit that "Jeff Stoutland mold"—big, mean, and technically sound.
The lesson here is that the Eagles stopped trying to outsmart the NFL. They realized that the draft is a volume game, and if you take talented players from winning programs, you’re going to win. It sounds obvious, but it took a few years of heartbreak for it to stick.
Your Next Moves as a Fan
If you want to keep tabs on how these picks are panning out, here’s what you should be watching:
- Track the Snap Counts: Keep an eye on Nolan Smith and Jihaad Campbell. Their impact isn't always in the box score; it's about how they allow the vets like Josh Sweat to stay fresh.
- Watch the Offensive Line Depth: The 2026 draft will likely focus on the "post-Lane Johnson" era. Start looking at the top-tier tackles in the SEC and Big Ten.
- Trust the Process (The Howie Version): Even if a pick feels weird at first (like Campbell), look at the track record since 2021. The "hit rate" is currently through the roof.
The Eagles have built a juggernaut by valuing their first-round assets properly. Whether they’re trading them for stars or drafting "sure things" from the SEC, the days of the first-round bust in Philly seem to be—knock on wood—mostly over.