After the draft I couldn't help but look forward to the next class just to see what it looked like and what we could be looking at next year. I went through and tried to figure out what positions we could be looking at especially higher in the draft and even though we took DT in the first round the each of the last two drafts I can't help but think it could still be a position we could attack to keep a major strength going forward for the next many years. We will likely be loosing Fletcher Cox and need a replacement for him. We generally like to have 4 deep at the DT. With how much DT's get paid I can still see getting one more top end DT for the rotation to take over the fletch roll. Especially someone who can look to get some pressure and maybe hold up as a 4i tech if we are running a lot of this odd front with Reddick on the edge, maybe a Milton Williams on one side and Carter on the other of big Jordan Davis in the middle with Sweat on the other edge. With a front like that you're going to need the DT depth. I like Ojomo a lot but he was a 7th round rookie so hard to count on him for much and Tuipulotu is a solid end of the roster DT and maybe that's enough but I would like to think we add one more high end piece that could add some pass rush juice.

I did some mock drafts with PFN and PFF that had some way too early rankings and found a website that seems to have some general rankings called NFL Draft buzz. I like it because it has some information about the players and in the rankings adds the height weight speed (40 yard dash) which is something to look at and get excited about watching them next year to see how they use the tools. As I went through their list I noticed that there seem to be a lot of 6'2" to 6'3" plus almost 300 pound DT's how seems to have decent enough 40's that would make you think they have some decent athleticism to them. Then I went back and looked at the trends in drafting DT's over the past 10 years and found there was an average of 8.3 DT's drafted in the first three rounds with a high of 15 in 2016 and a low of 4 in 2022. I can see a realistic world in which we go after another DT in the first three rounds in next years draft to finish out the DT room with a young cost controlled room for the next few years while Jalen Hurts contract starts to kick in.

So with all that said here is the top 20 DT according to NFL Draft buzz with the given size and 40 yard time

I am not sure how accurate these size's and 40 yard times are and they don't exactly say where they got these numbers but if its close it shows there a lot of decent sized relatively athletic big men with what should seem like some pass rush upside that could make some sense for the Eagles to look at. Now these rankings are not the only list there are many lists out there but this seemed to have a lot of the same names many of the other lists had and I liked that that had the height weight and 40 listed with them. So this is not an end all be all list but it can help put some names out there to pay attention while watching football on Saturdays next year.

1) Maason Smith LSU 6'5" 300lbs 4.80 40

2) Michael Hall Jr. Ohio State 6'2" 290lbs 5.00 40

3) Jer'Zhan Newton Illinois 6'2" 295 4.95 40

4) Leonard Taylor Miami 6'3" 305lbs 4.80 40

5) Tyleik Williams Ohio State 6'3" 318 lbs 4.58 40

6) Ruke Orhorhoro Clemson 6'4" 295 lbs 4.98 40

7) Brandon Dorlus Oregon 6'3" 290 lbs 4.98 40

8) T'Vondre Sweat Texas 6'4" 340 lbs 5.05 40

9) Nazir Stackhouse Georgia 6'3" 320 lbs 5.10 40

10) Shemar Turner Texas A and M 6'4" 300 lbs 4.8 40

11) Tyler Davis Clemson 6'2" 300 lbs 4.99 40

12) Dontay Corleone Cinncinatti 6'2" 320lbs 5.10 40

13) Kris Jenkins Michigan 6'3" 285 lbs 4.90 40

14) Gabe Hall Baylor 6'6" 296 lbs 4.78 40

15) Braden Fiske Florida State/ Western Michigan 6'5" 300 lbs 5.10 40

16) Darius Robinson Missouri 6'5" 295 lbs 4.78 40

17) Justin Eboigbe Alabama 6'5" 292 lbs 4.90 40

18) Alfred Collins Texas 6'5" 288 lbs 4.95 40

19) DeWayne Carter Duke 6'3" 298 lbs 4.95 40

20) Mekhi Wingo LSU 6'0" 295 lbs 4.95 40

Other notable names outside top 20 with seemingly good size speed projections to look out for to see if they can emerge

Rylie Mills Notre Dame 6'5" 292 lbs 4.79 40

Kelvin Gilliam Oklahoma 6'3" 293 lbs 4.75 40

Zykeivous Walker Auburn 6'4" 304 lbs 4.75 40

Tunmise Adeleye Texas A and M/Michigan State 6'4" 290 lbs 4.75 40

Jordan Jefferson West Virginia/LSU 6'3" 310 lbs 4.70 40

This article from PFF was also an interesting read

https://www.pff.com/news/draft-2024-nfl-draft-10-draft-eligible-interior-defensive-linemen-to-know

I would like to do this for more positions to see who to pay attention to on Saturdays next year specifically with OT's, WR's, CB's, Edges, and Safeties which I think are out biggest holes coming up. I am not sure why I started with DT's as I don't think it's the top priority next year but the depth seemed so interesting.