The Philadelphia Eagles currently hold eight selections in the 2025 NFL Draft, but four of them are bunched together in the middle of the fifth round.
It’s highly unlikely that GM Howie Roseman and Co. will select four players in the fifth round this year. They’ll almost certainly look to leverage those picks in trades up the board, especially early on Day 3 of draft weekend.
Anthony DiBona of Philly Sports Network recently proposed a full seven-round mock draft with trades, and he proposed a deal between the Eagles and Pittsburgh Steelers to land a new running mate for safety Reed Blankenship.
DiBona predicts the Eagles will package two of their fifth-round picks, Nos. 165 and 168, to move up 42 spots into the fourth round and draft Jaylen Reed, the playmaking safety from Penn State. Here was DiBona’s take on the hypothetical move:
“While Sydney Brown is expected to push for the starting job,” DiBona wrote, “he hasn’t proven enough to be handed that role. Jaylen Reed is a versatile safety that would immediately fight to start alongside Reed Blankenship in 2025. Reed had a top 30 visit to Philadelphia during the pre-draft process.”
The Eagles have been linked to some of the top safety prospects in this class, most notably Georgia’s Malaki Starks. But if Roseman goes with his tried and true strategy of addressing the trenches early — EDGE rusher will also be a top need — it would make sense for the team to make a bold move for a safety in the latter rounds.
Reed would be somewhat of a project. He made plenty of plays for Penn State in 2024, notching 2.5 sacks, three interceptions and three passes defensed. He also earned high grades both against the rush and as a pass rusher from PFF.
Reed had a rough year in coverage though, allowing a passer rating of 108.8 when targeted and giving up four touchdowns. He projects as a true box safety at the next level, which could work for the Eagles with Blankenship manning centerfield.
The Steelers have just six selections in this year’s draft, so they would be a realistic trade-back candidate. If Pittsburgh ends up making a move up the board to select a quarterback in the early rounds, a trade like this would make even more sense in the middle of Round 4.
