Which Rookie Do Eagles 'Need Now'? 'Red-Star' Sydney Brown Begins Climb

Philadelphia Eagles rookie safety Sydney Brown is expected to challenge for a role this summer.

PHILADELPHIA – Of all the Philadelphia Eagles’ 2023 draft picks, if the organization “needs” someone to play this season, it’s safety Sydney Brown, the No. 66 overall pick out of Illinois.

Yes, the Eagles expect the No. 9 overall selection and perhaps the most talented player in the whole draft, Georgia defensive tackle Jalen Carter, to hit the ground running while toggling between 3-, 4-, and 5-techniques.

But, the need for that isn’t really there because veteran stalwart Fletcher Cox is still around, and the emerging Milton Williams seems ready for an expanded role. Veteran free agent acquisition Kentavius Street has already proven to be a competent rotational player with both the San Francisco 49ers and New Orleans Saints in those roles.

Georgia edge rusher Nolan Smith, the No. 30 overall pick, wowed observers in the spring with his Brandon Graham-like energy and enthusiasm, and Smith's athleticism is beyond reproach. He’s penciled in as the No. 4 option on the edge behind Pro Bowl stars Hasson Reddick and JoshSweat, as well as Graham, though.

Meanwhile, the player selected one spot ahead of Brown at No. 65, Alabama left tackle Tyler Steen, is in a competition to start but it’s one where the rookie will be expected to change positions at the pro level to right guard and beat out highly-regarded second-year player Cam Jurgens.

The goal over the long haul with those two players is for Jurgens to be the center and Steen to settle in at right guard once All-Pro pivot Jason Kelce retires but that’s at least a 12-month cushion for Steen to get his feet wet. More so, if both young players falter the Eagles have sixth man Jack Driscoll behind the glass in case of emergency and the versatile fourth-year player’s best position to date has been right guard.

The Eagles also have contingencies at safety (they always do) as well, but they are not nearly as impressive as the depth on the offensive and defensive lines.

Despite that, Philadelphia started Brown out slowly in the spring during the two open OTA sessions open to reporters.

The first team in both OTAs was second-year player Reed Blankenship and free-agent pickup Terrell Edmunds, who has extensive starting experience in Pittsburgh. The second team was fourth-year player and special teams constant K’Von Wallace, along with another bargain-basement free-agent signing in Justin Evans.

Brown ran with the threes next to Tristin McCollum, a very lengthy developmental prospect out of Sam Houston State who is athletic and has cornerback experience in his background. Brown did get a few reps with the No. 2s in the first OTA but was strictly with the threes in the second one.

For the most part, the slow start could be business as usual for coach Nick Sirianni and his staff, who generally default to veterans and players that have been in the program in spring work.

The expectation is that Brown will push for a role in the summer and the organization’s scouting staff thought so highly of the Toronto-area native that they labeled him as a “Red Star player,” a rare designation in the organization where the player’s intangibles often match his physical traits.

“He’s a hard worker,” Edmunds said of Brown. “He doesn’t say too much. He’s always smiling. But you just know that he wants it. He just goes out there and gives 110 percent. He’s willing to learn. He just loves football. You can tell. He gives 110 percent every day. He’s going to be a guy that’s going to be in this league for a while.”

Generally a box safety at Illinois, Brown will be asked to play in the post far more with the Eagles, and the organization evaluated him with that in mind.

That said, the Eagles also see some Budda Baker-like traits in Brown, which could foreshadow greater versatility and the ability to move around more in defensive coordinator Sean Desai’s Vic Fangio-inspired scheme.

There also is the opportunity for three safety looks by getting Blankenship, Edmunds, and Brown on the field simultaneously with either Edmunds or Brown playing a glorified linebacker role.

Slow start in the spring or not, it would be a disappointment if Brown didn’t have some kind of role on the defense by Week 1.

“I think one of Coach's central themes is 'compete',” Desai said. “That's really what it is. Regardless of whatever we all may think of the depth and all that stuff, it's about daily competition.”

No one is being handed anything even if there is a perceived need.

“That process of the competition is ongoing, and we're going to continue to nurture that feeling throughout the defense and really the organization because that's what we believe in,” Desai said.

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-John McMullen contributes Eagles coverage for SI.com's Eagles Today and is the NFL Insider for JAKIB Media. You can listen to John, alongside legendary sports-talk host Jody McDonald every morning from 8-10 on ‘Birds 365,” streaming live on YouTube. John is also the host of his own show "Football 24/7 and a daily contributor to ESPN South Jersey. You can reach him at jmcmullen44@gmail.com or on Twitter @JFMcMullen