Eagles Top-30 Visits: 13 Players Philly Will Reportedly Meet Ahead of NFL Draft

Philadelphia Eagles hosted four of their first five picks in last year's draft on top-30 visits, so who is reportedly on their list leading up to this year's NFL draft?
Philadelphia Eagles v Dallas Cowboys
Philadelphia Eagles v Dallas Cowboys / Kevin Sabitus/GettyImages

PHILADELPHIA – Jalen Carter, Nolan Smith, Tyler Steen, and Kelee Ringo were each part of last year’s draft class for the Philadelphia Eagles.

You know what else they had in common?

All four of them had top-30 visits with the Eagles leading up to the draft. Yes, the visits mean something.

They are a chance for the team and the player to get to know each other better, in an informal setting, to have some fun. Usually there is a hoops game involved. Specifically, a game of h-o-r-s-e with head coach Nick Sirianni.

Carter and Smith talked about doing it last year, with Carter tagging his future head coach with a letter on a windmill slam dunk.

With that in mind, here are 13 players on the top-30 list who will reportedly meet with the Eagles:

Nolan Smith
Philadelphia Eagles vs. New York Giants / Cooper Neill/GettyImages

OFFENSE

Zak Zinter, OL, Michigan

After suffering a broken fibula and tibia in Michigan’s regular-season finale against Ohio State, he hasn’t been able to work out for teams, but Zintner is a polished, punishing blocker who wouldn’t take long to become a starter. The best news is, due to the injury, he could still be sitting on the board when the Eagles hit the clock early on Day 3, when the Eagles hit the clock at No. 120 overall.

Christian Mahogany, OL, Boston College

A three-year starter who measured 6-3, 314 pounds, the interior offensive lineman ran a 5.13-second 40-yard dash and tested well in other areas at the NFL Scouting Combine. He is likely a day three pick, perhaps at No. 120, and could be someone to add to the depth that was depleted with the free-agent defections of Sua Opeta and Jack Driscoll.

Brandon Coleman, OL, TCU

Another potential Day 3 target to groom as a reserve after losing Opeta and Diriscoll. Coleman is a 6-4, 316-pounder who can swing between guard and tackle. He started 22 games at left tackle with TCU and 11 games at left guard.

Cooper Beebe, OL, Kansas State

Another interior line prospect who the Eagles wouldn’t dare take at No. 22, would they? The last time they went with an IOL was Danny Watkins in 2011 as the 23rd overall pick. That was a colossal bust, but had nothing to do with the position, but Watkins himself, whose passion was more as a firefighter than a footballer.

Beebe is a beat in the run game, displaying unparalleled strength after moving to left guard in 2022. He is a three-time, first-team All-Big 12 performer who could compete with Tyler Steen to start.

To get him, the Eagles probably have to trade down or hope he’s there to take with their 50th or 53rd overall selection.

Tyler Guyton, OL, Oklahoma

This match would be too good to be true.

One, because Guyton was produced by Oklahoma, which is the same school that gave the Eagles Lane Johnson as the fourth overall pick in 2013.

Two, because Guyton is considered a still-developing prospect, but once he gets there he could be as good as Johnson. He would have time to work on his game and learn from one of the best in the game in Johnson.

Keep in mind, general manager Howie Roseman doesn’t always draft players who need to step in right away but looks two or three years down the road at what their potential could be. Guyton fits that mold.

Travis Glover, OL, Georgia State

He could be a late-round pick or priority free agent, but the Eagles are interested or they wouldn’t have scheduled a visit. He is 6-6, 323 and would be like a piece of Clay that offensive line coach Jeff Stoutland could mold.

Brenden Rice, WR, USC

If that last name is familiar, it should be. He is the son of the great Jerry Rice. He had a productive final two seasons in Southern California with 84 catches, 1,402 receiving yards, and 16 touchdowns. He could be hitting his stride and would be a solid Day 3 pick.

Ainais Smith, WR, Texas A&M

At just 5-9, 190 pounds, he was used at running back, slot wide receiver and on special teams. Not on the outside. He combined for 25 total collegiate touchdowns (19 receiving, four rushing, and two on punt returns).

Defense:

Trevin Wallace, LB, Kentucky.

He’s considered a late-third-day pick, an area the Eagles could look to when bringing in a player at this position.

Khristian Boyd, DL, Northern Iowa

Although he wasn’t invited to the Scouting Combine, he has done well on the pre-draft trail, so he may not come off the board earlier than expected, but if his still there at a position the Eagles feel comfortable taking him, they will have done their homework on the 6-2, 320-pound interior defensive lineman. His college tats aren’t flashy, but he as a good burst and can generate pressure up the middle if used in a situational role.

Edgerrin Cooper, LB, Texas A&M

A linebacker in round 1? No. In round 2? Maybe. Cooper who had 84 tackles, eight sacks and one forced fumble in his final season at Texas A&M and has put himself in position to hear his name called in the top 50 picks, which could put him out of reach for Philly.

Cooper DeJean, CB, Iowa

He can play three defensive back spots, which makes him versatile. He’s big and physical. What’s not to like if the Eagles make him their first first-round pick at cornerback since Lito Sheppard in 2002?

Maybe one thing – he is recovering from a broken fibula suffered in November.

Laiatu Latu, Edge, UCLA.

Boom-or-bust talent at 6-5, 259 pounds, because of a neck injury suffered during a spring practice his sophomore year at Washington. Doctors told he wouldn’t be able to play again, but went to UCLA, got cleared, and dominated. He had 34.5 sacks in two seasons with the Bruins, including 21.5 last year when he was named the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year.

The Eagles may be bringing him for a closer look at his medicals.


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Ed Kracz
ED KRACZ

Ed Kracz has been covering the Eagles full-time for over a decade and has written about Philadelphia sports since 1996. He wrote about the Phillies in the 2008 and 2009 World Series, the Flyers in their 2010 Stanely Cup playoff run to the finals, and was in Minnesota when the Eagles secured their first-ever Super Bowl win in 2017. Ed has received multiple writing awards as a sports journalist, including several top-five finishes in the Associated Press Sports Editors awards.