Ranking Philadelphia Eagles' Biggest Needs in 2017 NFL Draft

While the Philadelphia Eagles need help at plenty of positions entering the 2017 NFL draft, they find themselves needing quality starters at a few critical spots that will define the team's draft for years to come.

It became apparent after 2016 that the Eagles needed significant personnel improvements on the outside of both units, and the front office has done about as much as they can within the cap to reinforce the offense. Now there's a ton of pressure to fill depth-chart gaps in the first few rounds of the draft at crucial positions.

There are only one or two dire needs, but beyond that lie a series of positions where it's important to find some young talent to develop and rookie standouts who can play early on. 

The Eagles did well to improve their roster via free agency, but it's no secret that they've left plenty of work to be done in the draft. Let's take a look at where their priorities need to be and in what order.

6. Offensive Line

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Starting with the Eagles offensive line as the least significant need shouldn't hide the looming reality of Philly's offensive front and their aging core.

Unless future starters emerge in the late rounds of the draft, the Eagles' need for an infusion of young talent on the line will grow more important over the next few offseasons. While the starting five is stout, in 2018, Jason Peters will be 36 and Allen Barbre will be 34. And who knows where Jason Kelce will be next week, much less next season.

Lane Johnson would be the incumbent left tackle to build around, but there are few younger guys in the offensive line unit to count on. Halapoulivaati Vaitai showed glimpses of promise and Chance Warmack is new to the team, but it's too early to tell if they could be a part of a future core.

Sooner rather than later, the Eagles will restructure their offensive line, and it would be wise to get a head start on finding young talent.

5. Wide Receiver

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A little over a month ago, wide receiver would be contending for the No. 1 spot on this list. The splash signing of Alshon Jeffery and savvy three-year deal with Torrey Smith changed the Eagles' outlook on the perimeter substantially.

That doesn't change the fact that there's a possibility neither Jeffery nor Smith will be Eagles in 2018, and they could be right back where they started in a year's time. Even if the duo remain intact for a few years, there are doubts as to whether the remaining wideouts can elevate the offense further.

Jordan Matthews is the only young receiver who can be counted on to play a role for the years to come. Former first-round pick Nelson Agholor has endured a treacherous first two years, and Dorial Green-Beckham didn't come along as anticipated in 2016.

The importance of having big-time receivers in the NFL could sway the Eagles to still look at receivers in Rounds 1 and 2, but that wouldn't be wise considering the other needs.

Nevertheless, a heady mid-to-late round pick could still produce a difference-maker for the Eagles at receiver.

4. Linebacker

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Starting linebackers Jordan Hicks and Nigel Bradham have come along incredibly well and look like long-term pieces for defensive coordinator Jim Schwartz. It's the third starter who makes more than each of them, Mychal Kendricks, who needs to be replaced in 2017.

It's not that Kendricks isn't a capable every-down linebacker, it's that he's a poor fit for Schwartz's 4-3 scheme. A pass-rushing presence whose blitzing tendencies are his strength, Kendricks has been overshadowed and overmatched with the coverage responsibilities at weak-side linebacker.

While the Eagles could do well with a rangy, athletic linebacker to fill that spot, the depth also isn't there to avoid catastrophe if injuries took their toll. Najee Goode, Joe Walker and Kamu Grugier-Hill are the depth linebackers and none of them have significant experience.

3. Running Back

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It may come early and it may come later, but the Eagles seem almost guaranteed to address the need at running back immediately with an impact rookie in the draft.

Ryan Mathews has the look of a cap casualty with an impending physical likely delaying his release or trade, and that would leave Wendell Smallwood and Darren Sproles as the only remaining backs.

With Sproles playing a jack-of-all-trades position in head coach Doug Pederson's offense, Smallwood is the only real backfield rusher.

While the Eagles surely want to give more opportunity to Smallwood and allow him a chance to break out, there's an inherent need to give him a partner in the backfield. That could be a dynamic, game-changing one like Christian McCaffrey or Alvin Kamara in the first or second round, or a less splashy and more realistic mid-round selection who can split the workload with Smallwood.

2. Defensive End

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It's become a quarterback's league for offenses, and a get-to-the-quarterback league for defenses. Pass rushing is at a premium in today's NFL, but the Eagles' pass-rush is anything but premium.

Brandon Graham contributed the only real consistent pressure off the edge in 2016, a jarring development for a defense that is supposed to hound quarterbacks up front. With a disruptive interior led by Fletcher Cox and now Timmy Jernigan, the Eagles' edge rushers should be feasting with constant one-on-one matchups.

Vinny Curry hasn't been nearly worth the big contract he signed last offseason, and new signing Chris Long from the Patriots will likely only contribute in select packages. It's easy to see where the opportunity lies for a skilled draft pick to steal early playing time and quickly earn a starting spot.

On paper, the Eagles' defensive ends will look like a pretty big weakness entering 2017 if there isn't a big addition made in the draft.

1. Cornerback

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If there was an article that ranked all of the NFL teams' positions of need in one uniform list, the Eagles cornerbacks would probably take one of the top spots. That's how bad things are in the Philly secondary entering the draft.

It's possible that the Eagles' two starting cornerbacks in Week 1 aren't on the roster yet, and it's obvious that quality long-term reinforcements are needed regardless of what stop-gaps the Eagles may think they have on the roster.

The only promising youngster is Jalen Mills, who projects as a slot corner, and he's joined by a couple of former CFL standouts along with veterans Ron Brooks and Patrick Robinson.

In a perfect world, the Eagles would select cornerbacks with their first two picks and give the defense a real level of hope on the perimeter. At the least, getting one Day 1 starter feels like an absolute must with the lack of capable players they currently have.

Top-flight cornerback prospects Marshon Lattimore and Marlon Humphrey may be off the board before Philadelphia comes up at No. 14, but there are plenty of stud cornerbacks in this class.

If the Eagles don't pick up one or two of them at least, the weakness at cornerback could easily derail their season.