Eagles 'Setting Groundwork' for 'Blockbuster' Trade Up in NFL Draft - Report

Are the Philadelphia Eagles pinpointing pass-rush help in this NFL Draft? That would explain in part the "trade-up'' buzz.

A bushel of rumors have the Philadelphia Eagles pinpointing pass-rush help in this NFL Draft and now comes a report that they are “setting the groundwork” for a blockbuster Draft Night trade.

The smart names? Defensive tackle Jalen Carter of Georgia thinks it's about him, with an Eagles "promise'' of sorts. An NFL source tells us Philly thinks highly of another Georgia star, edge-rusher Nolan Smith. And then there are the two candidates being considered by the Houston Texans at No. 2, Will Anderson Jr. of Alabama and Tyree Wilson of Texas Tech. And maybe there a couple more surprises.

What has to happen? A payoff to trade-up while gauging what teams in front of them - like Chicago (No. 9), Atlanta (No. 8), Las Vegas (No. 7), or Detroit (No. 6) - want. And we'd better include one more club in our countdown, Seattle (No. 5) as they Seahawks have been connected to Carter and some of these same prospects.

According to Pro Football Network’s Tony Pauline, the Eagles are "setting the groundwork'' for this move. ... but keep in mind, it is conceivable when we do the draft math game of Musical Chairs that a big move up won't be needed at all. That's why Philly (like the rest of the NFL teams) continue to participate in in-house "mock drafts,'' or "simulations,'' in an attempt to calculate who might go where and when.

Part of the point: "Groundwork'' is always put down, and that is happening as you read this. But you don't just trade to trade - and if GM Howie Roseman and company are lucky, they can get their guy at No. 10 without sacrificing draft capital.

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