Expect Offensive Line To Be On Eagles' Draft Radar

The organization has taken one in the draft for five straight years and has reportedly entertained a pair of O-linemen from Ohio State with more at the position likely

When doing a mock draft for the Eagles, don’t forget to include an offensive lineman in there somewhere.

Just how much does the franchise value that group?

Enough to have selected one in five straight drafts and six of the last seven.

2022: Cam Jurgens (Round 2, expected to be starting right guard this season)

2021: Landon Dickerson (Round 2, starter since rookie year at left guard)

2020: Jack Driscoll (Round 4, valuable reserve) 

Prince Tega Wanogho (Round 7 and a Super Bowl winner with the Chiefs last year)

2019: Andre Dillard (Round 1, now with the Titans)

2018: Matt Pryor (Round 6, 24 career starts; 10 with Eagles) 

Jordan Mailata (Round 7, starting left tackle)

2017: None

2016: Isaac Seumalo (Round 3, 60 starts with Eagles, left in free agency for Steelers)

Halapoulivaati Vaitai (Round 5, starting LT on Eagles Super Bowl LII title team, left for Lions in free agency two years ago and has made 25 starts with Detroit)

Do the math and that’s nine offensive linemen taken in the last seven years and four of them have come on the first two days of the draft, but only one in the first round – Dillard.

With two picks in the first round, barring a trade for more assets on Day 3 of this spring’s draft, perhaps the Eagles lean into that first-round territory once again.

With the exception of Jason Kelce, who is back on a one-year contract once again, the rest of the starters are signed for at least two more years.

Dickerson’s rookie contract runs through 2024, Mailata was extended two years ago through 2025, Jurgens is under contract through 2025, and Lane Johnson was just extended through 2026 on Friday in a move designed to give the Eagles some salary cap relief.

Johnson will likely retire with the Eagles now, just like Kelce probably will, too, as the only franchise they will have played for in their entire careers.

The right tackle said this past fall that he would like to play at least two more years.

Even though he is still playing at a ridiculously high level – a level that has not allowed a sack in more than two years – the Eagles need to begin grooming his replacement, something they are doing with Jurgens at center.

More than likely, Jurgens will be in his third season when he finally gets to be the center.

That means there is a very good chance the Eagles look to find another tackle in the draft. Maybe even a guard to be ready for when Jurgens moves to center.

It’s interesting to note that at least two of the six known top 30 players the Eagles are allowed to host leading up to the draft have been Ohio State tackles Paris Johnson and Dawand Jones. 

Johnson has the versatility to play guard as well as tackle, so maybe he makes sense early in the first round.

There will likely, however, be more visits from O-linemen, too.

Perhaps O’Cyrus Torrence makes the list, a top-level guard from one of Roseman’s alma maters, the University of Florida.

No matter who it is, keep an eye on the position and don’t forget to add one to any mock draft you may be doing between now and the start of the draft on April 27.

Ed Kracz is the publisher of SI.com’s Fan Nation Eagles Today and co-host of the Eagles Unfiltered Podcast. Check out the latest Eagles news at www.SI.com/NFL/Eagles or www.eaglestoday.com and please follow him on Twitter: @kracze.